Dear Friend, 

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

There’s a lot happening both in Washington and across the First State, so let’s dive right into this week’s newsletter. Here are five things you should know:  

Public health guidance should be grounded in science, evidence, and a simple goal: keeping Americans healthy and safe. This week, President Trump undermined those principles by signing an executive order that recommends changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. If states follow his guidance, Americans will be left to suffer with preventable illnesses and parents will have to jump through unnecessary hoops to have their children vaccinated. 

Leading medical professionals are already sounding the alarm. The American Academy of Pediatrics called the changes “unscientific and dangerous,” and infectious disease experts are warning that these efforts could have widespread effects, as illnesses that can be prevented by vaccines are already resurfacing across the country. 

Cases of chicken pox are popping up in South Carolina. California is seeing elevated levels of whooping cough. Across the country, we’re seeing the highest surge in measles cases in 35 years. And here at home, Delaware is experiencing its first measles outbreak in more than a decade. At exactly the moment public health officials are working to contain preventable diseases, the president and his HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are using the federal government to create confusion and amplify debunked claims about vaccines.

The federal government should be laser focused on protecting the people it serves, not endangering them. Instead, this administration is discrediting the infrastructure that keeps my neighbors healthy and safe. I’m working with my colleagues in Congress to push back against this misguided decision. And I’ll continue to call for Trump to listen to our nation’s medical professionals and rescind this dangerous executive order.

President Trump’s war in Iran has been a disaster for the United States and its allies. Trump’s administration has made no progress toward a nuclear deal and has handed Iran control over one of the world’s most important shipping lanes — effectively giving the regime an economic weapon of mass destruction. This week, Iran is using that leverage, keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed, and demanding concessions from the Trump administration. 

Over the weekend, Iran announced that the Strait will remain closed until the U.S. agrees to a sweeping set of demands, including the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and compensation for war-related damage to Iranian infrastructure. They are also developing a plan that would allow them to make hundreds of billions of dollars by placing a toll on ships that pass through the Strait. Trump responded to these developments with his own escalatory demands, underscoring his continued inability to bring an end to this conflict. 

And, while Iran is jockeying to rake in hundreds of billions based on Trump’s recklessness, Americans are footing the bill. Here in Delaware, gas is nearly $4 a gallon, energy bills continue to skyrocket, and grocery costs remain stubbornly high. Meanwhile, 18 U.S. servicemembers have been killed, hundreds more have been injured, and sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln — a crucial military vessel operating in the Middle East — have now spent more than 200 consecutive days at sea. This deployment is raising concerns about mental health and exhaustion, and military families are being denied answers to basic questions about the safety of their loved ones and conditions on the ship. Secretary Pete Hegseth cannot be allowed to sweep these concerns under the rug; this situation must be addressed immediately and there needs to be accountability. 

Working families and our brave men and women in uniform are not responsible for starting this war, and yet they are the ones dealing with its consequences — risking their lives, mourning the loss of loved ones, and struggling to afford basic necessities. 

Foreign policy can be complicated, but this much is simple: Trump’s war has made Iran more powerful, America less secure, and life here at home more expensive. The path forward cannot be continued violence or heated rhetoric. We need serious diplomacy that ends the hostilities, safeguards our servicemembers, and reopens the Strait. 

Older Americans spent decades building our communities, powering our economy, raising families, and helping move our country forward. These folks deserve to age with dignity and retire with financial security. That’s a promise that lies at the heart of our nation. 

Ninety-one years ago today, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law, turning that promise into a national commitment. Today, more than 250,000 Delawareans receive Social Security benefits, including veterans, retired workers, surviving spouses, and people with disabilities. For many of our neighbors, those benefits mean groceries on the table and a roof overhead when reliance on a paycheck is no longer possible.

Social Security is an earned benefit and a critical lifeline, and it needs to be expanded — not cut. Delawareans have paid into this program throughout their working lives, and they deserve to know it will continue to be there when they need it. Ninety-one years after that promise was made, honoring it means working to ensure every American has the support they need to navigate life’s challenges and thrive throughout retirement.

Every person deserves the freedom and opportunity to build a family, regardless of where they live or how much money they make. For families who rely on fertility treatments like IVF, that means protecting their right to access care and making sure that care is actually affordable. It’s why I’m a cosponsor of the Right to IVF Act — so that Delawareans can choose how and when to start their families.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, states didn’t just target abortion, many undermined access to various types of reproductive care, including fertility treatments like IVF. The Right to IVF Act is one way we are pushing back against this extremist agenda. This legislation would protect a patient’s right to access — and a doctor’s right to provide — IVF and other forms of assisted reproductive care.

It’s not enough to ensure politics cannot prevent these treatments — we should also make sure families can afford to access them. This legislation expands insurance coverage for fertility treatments, including for servicemembers, veterans, federal employees, and families with employer-sponsored insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or Affordable Care Act plans.

IVF can cost families tens of thousands of dollars, and the freedom to build a family should not be reserved for people who can afford that price tag. This legislation would ensure that folks who choose IVF to start a family have the support and freedom to do so. 

The August District Work Period is a great time to hear directly from Delawareans — from scientists and caregivers to seniors and workforce leaders, here are some highlights from my recent meetings:

At the Solenis Research & Development Center, I met with scientists developing new approaches to water treatment, sustainability, and other complex industrial challenges. Their work is creating skilled jobs here at home while developing technologies that can make a difference far beyond our state. Solenis’ work is a reminder that Delaware may be small, but when it comes to innovation, we continue to punch above our weight.

I visited Reed’s Refuge Center, which provides young people in Wilmington with a safe place for social and emotional learning. Through arts, music, mentorship, and life-skills programming, the center provides hands-on opportunities to build confidence and develop critical skills. It was inspiring to get a first-hand look at this work that is strengthening our neighborhoods and giving Delawareans the support they need to reach their full potential. 

I joined seniors and community partners at Luther Towers for its National Night Out Community Block Party. The event brought residents together with local organizations and service providers for an afternoon focused on community and continued support for older Delawareans. Aging with dignity is about more than access to services — it is also about connection, independence, and belonging. 

I sat down with Delaware Affordable Home Care, a locally owned business helping seniors and Delawareans with special needs live safely and independently in their own homes. These caregivers make an enormous difference for families across our state, and their work is a reminder that a strong care economy must support both the people receiving care and the workers providing it. As a leader of the House Democratic Caucus Working Group on Caregiving, I’ll keep working to strengthen that care infrastructure for families across Delaware.

At the Claymont Community Center, I met with participants and leaders from L.E.E.P., Inc., which helps Delawareans who have faced barriers to employment prepare for careers in construction, agriculture, landscaping, green infrastructure, and other skilled trades. A setback or difficult chapter should never determine the rest of someone’s life. Programs like L.E.E.P. give people the skills, support, and opportunity to build a new path forward.

Rep. McBride speaks with scientists at the Solenis Research & Development Center.

I’m so thankful to all the Delawareans who’ve shared their experiences and trusted me to carry their priorities back to Washington. I’m grateful for that trust — and I’ll keep doing everything I can to make sure the work happening in our state of neighbors is heard, supported, and strengthened.

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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