Dear Friend, 

Welcome back to the McBride Memo, my weekly dispatch to Delawareans. 

This was our first week of the August District Work Period, so I’ve had the opportunity to visit with a ton of folks this week. I’m excited to be back in our state of neighbors — and I hope I get to see you soon!

Here are five things you should know:  

Every Delawarean deserves a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home — that’s a reality I’m working to deliver. I recently joined Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester in celebrating a nearly $1 million federal investment in the Milford Housing Development Corporation to support the construction of 24 homes for families in Kent and Sussex Counties. 

These federal dollars will make a real difference by helping families move toward the stability that comes with homeownership. Through Milford Housing Development Corporation’s self-help housing program, these families will gain financial education, practical knowledge, and a meaningful stake in the community they are helping to create.

Housing is a crucial piece of the affordability puzzle. The current cost-of-living crisis touches just about everything — from groceries and healthcare to child care and transportation. But a safe, affordable home is the foundation beneath it all. When families have that security, they are better able to pursue work opportunities, support their children, care for their health, and build out their savings. That’s the bare minimum my neighbors deserve. 

Investments like this one in the Milford Housing Development Corporation are a meaningful step in the right direction. I’m proud to work alongside Senators Coons and Blunt Rochester to bring federal investments back to Delaware, and we’ll keep working together to lower costs and make the American dream more accessible to families across the First State. 

You may have seen that the Senate Judiciary Committee voted this week, along party lines, to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination to become the next Attorney General of the United States. Blanche is the current acting attorney general who previously worked as Donald Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney. That history alone should raise serious concerns. But the situation gets worse: since taking over at the Justice Department, Blanche has actually described himself — not as the people’s prosecutor — but as Trump’s personal lawyer. 

This isn’t just a slip of the tongue. Blanche’s actions make it clear that he’s interested in serving the president, not the American people. He led the cover-up of the Epstein files; designed a $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded slush fund to pay January 6th insurrectionists and other convicted criminals; and granted Trump, his family, and their businesses a “Super Pardon” that shields them for life from any federal investigation, audit, lawsuit, or prosecution for violations of federal law. If that’s not bad enough, he also let it slip this week that he intends to further roll back abortion access nationwide.

This record of blatant contempt for the American taxpayer was initially enough for two Senate Republicans to block his nomination in the Senate Judiciary Committee. These Senators voiced concern about the slush fund and the president’s immunity from investigation. But following pressure from the Trump Administration, these Senators caved. The door is still open for Blanche to revive the slush fund and Trump’s immunity from investigations remains intact. 

Delawareans deserve so much better. Our nation was founded on the idea that no one is above the law. But today that principle is under threat because Congressional Republicans consistently choose loyalty to Donald Trump over the rule of law and the American people. There is still time for Senate Republicans to vote against Blanche’s nomination, but regardless of what happens, I’ll keep working to prevent corruption, hold the administration accountable, and create a federal government that my neighbors can rely on. 

Preparing for retirement can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate that transition alone. I wanted to make sure you saw that my office will be hosting a financial literacy event for Delawareans age 55 and older at the Georgetown CHEER Community Center on Thursday, August 20, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from special guests, including state and local experts on Medicare, Medicaid, elder law, consumer protection, long-term care, and more. Whether you are approaching retirement or helping a loved one prepare, this event is an opportunity to ask questions and get the information you need. Please note that this event is for educational purposes only and not meant to be interpreted as legal advice nor establish a fiduciary relationship. 

RSVPs are strongly encouraged, but not required. 

You can learn more about the event and RSVP by clicking here.

This week, I joined The Julie Mason Show on SiriusXM to talk about my bipartisan bill, the Disabled Access Credit Modernization Act. You may remember that I recently introduced this legislation alongside Congressman French Hill to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities while supporting the small businesses that employ them. 

On Julie Mason’s show, I explained that our bill modernizes an existing tax credit to help small businesses afford the accommodations that make workplaces more accessible. That could mean screen technology for an employee who is blind or has low vision, an alternative keyboard or hands-free technology for someone with mobility limitations, or hearing-aid-compatible equipment for an employee who is hard of hearing. 

These are practical tools that can open the door to meaningful work for millions of Americans across the country. But small businesses often operate on tight margins, and may worry about the costs of implementing these changes. Our bill aims to address that worry so these businesses can recruit and retain talented employees. That’s especially important here in Delaware, where 98% of businesses are small businesses. 

When we remove unnecessary barriers to employment and make workplaces more accessible, workers gain opportunity, businesses gain talented employees, and our entire economy grows stronger. I’ll keep working to support small businesses, expand opportunity, and build an economy where every American is treated with dignity and respect. You can listen to the full conversation here.

I always enjoy spending time with Delawareans. Recently, I’ve been meeting with neighbors who are strengthening our communities, driving innovation, and serving our state and country. Here are a few highlights:

At the Chemours Discovery Hub in Newark, I met with employees and toured the company’s liquid-cooling laboratory, where Delaware workers are developing technology that could help data centers use less energy and water. This kind of innovation deserves federal investment. I was proud to secure $5 million to support testing of this technology, and I’ll continue looking for ways to support responsible development. Chemours, and innovators across the First State, are demonstrating that we can advance economic growth while remaining good stewards of our environment. 

I also visited the Bellevue Community Center, which provides child care, educational programs, food access, and other family support services to many of our neighbors in New Castle County. Touring the community center and hearing directly from its dedicated staff, I was reminded that strong communities are built not only by providing essential services but also by creating spaces where people feel supported, connected, and heard.

I met with Wilmington Tug’s owner Chris Rowland and Port Captain Jamie Pyle. Wilmington Tug is a family-owned business that operates near the intersection of the Christina and Delaware rivers. Wilmington Tug has served our region for more than six decades, helping ships safely navigate our ports and waterways. Much of our economy is powered by skilled workers whose expertise often goes unseen, so I was grateful for the opportunity to connect with Chris and Jamie.

Finally, I joined families, friends, and fellow Delawareans to send off the 165 Airmen from the Delaware Air National Guard’s 166th Airlift Wing as they deploy in support of an overseas mission. These Airmen represent the very best of our state of neighbors: courage, service, and an unwavering commitment to others. And their families serve and sacrifice alongside them, carrying the burdens of deployment here at home. Delaware is proud of every one of these Americans, we are grateful for their service, and we look forward to the safe return of the brave servicemembers of the 166th Airlift Wing.

Rep. McBride speaks to the executive director at the Bellevue Community Center.

It’s been another busy week here in Delaware. I’m grateful to everyone who opened their doors, shared their work, and trusted me with their stories.

Thank you for reading along and allowing me to do this work.

Whatever you are up to this weekend, I hope it’s a good one.

Stay in touch, and I'll do the same. Sarah McBride Delaware's Congresswoman

• Ready, Set, Retire!: Preparing for retirement can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate this transition alone. On Thursday, August 20, my office will be hosting a financial literacy event for Delawareans age 55 and older at the Georgetown CHEER Community Center. Attendees can hear from state and local experts on Medicare, Medicaid, elder law, consumer protection, long-term care, and more. The event runs from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. RSVP is encouraged but not required. Learn more and RSVP  here.
  
• Service Academy Nominations: Our office is accepting applications from Delaware students seeking nominations to our nation’s prestigious service academies! As a member of Congress, it is my honor to support these students in their efforts to serve our nation in uniform. The application deadline is October 15 and you can find more information on eligibility and application requirements here.
• Congressional App Challenge: Calling all young coders! The Congressional App Challenge is now open to all middle and high school students in Delaware. This nationwide competition is a chance to flex your creativity, build real-world STEM skills, and develop your very own app. The winner will also be invited to the national #HouseOfCode celebration in D.C.! Learn more and get started here.
• Help navigating a federal agency—If you can't get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, our office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. While we cannot guarantee you a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem. If you need help navigating a federal agency, please visit: https://mcbride.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency

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