Dear Friend, 

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

Last night, strong storms rolled through Delaware, culminating in a tornado that touched down in Dover. The storm caused significant damage in parts of the city, but as of right now, there are no reported injuries, which I’m grateful to hear.

I’ll continue monitoring the situation, but it’s good to know we can always count on our neighbors to help us through difficult moments.

As for this week, I was all around Delaware — celebrating everything from environmental preservation to the importance of volunteer firefighters. Here are five things to know about the week: 

I was proud to be in Georgetown this week to see how $2.6 million in federal funding I secured is helping Delaware build its first Family Justice Centers. 

For survivors of domestic violence and related crimes, finding safety can often feel overwhelming. Too often, getting help means traveling from agency to agency and retelling the same traumatic story again and again, just to access critical services. Family Justice Centers can help solve this problem. The idea is simple but powerful: bring the services survivors need together in one place, so someone in crisis can spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time focusing on their safety, their family, and rebuilding their life.

That kind of support can be life-changing. More than half of unmet domestic violence service requests in Delaware involve housing, and these centers are designed to help close that gap while connecting survivors with advocates, counselors, legal assistance, law enforcement support, and other critical resources. 

This federal investment will help turn existing spaces in Sussex and New Castle Counties into places of safety, stability, and hope for families across the First State. I’m grateful to Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester for their collaboration in helping to secure these funds. I also want to thank Representative Krista Griffith, Senator Nicole Poore, and the advocates and service providers who have worked tirelessly to bring Family Justice Centers to Delaware. 

Together, we are taking an important step toward justice for survivors across Delaware. Because in our state of neighbors, when someone has the courage to ask for help, our response should not be a series of obstacles. It should be compassion, dignity, and a clear path toward safety. Read more here.

This week, President Trump’s 60-day agreement with Iran expired. There’s no peace deal. No agreement that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. And traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is still restricted. Yet on Tuesday, Trump insisted the Strait was open and said he wasn’t planning any further talks with Iranian leaders. He is continuing his brazen attempts to convince Americans that this war is behind us, but the facts tell a very different story.

Iran continues to attack ships that try to transit the Strait, and traffic is down as a result. Before the war, more than 100 ships were passing through the Strait daily, but these days, we’re seeing only a handful get through. This is putting pressure on the global economy — oil and energy prices continue to rise and Delawareans are paying nearly $4 a gallon for gas.

And an even greater cost is being borne by the Americans President Trump put in harm’s way. Eighteen servicemembers have been killed. Hundreds have been wounded. And last week I talked about the sailors and Marines enduring abysmal conditions aboard the USS Lincoln. That ship has been at sea for an astounding 240 days, and when Trump was asked about the deployment he said it hasn’t gone on “nearly long enough.”

And while Americans are suffering, reports indicate that the Iranians have spent the last two months ramping up missile and drone production and contemplating attacks against U.S. bases or allies in the region. It also seems that power is concentrating in the hands of hardliners within Iran’s military and security apparatus, raising the risk of an even wider conflict. 

War is not a game a president can pick up when he wants to project strength and put down when the consequences become inconvenient. President Trump may be ready to stop talking about his war, but the families mourning loved ones, the servicemembers living with its wounds, and the Delawareans still paying its costs do not have that luxury.

Last week, I told you about President Trump’s dangerous executive order undermining longstanding childhood vaccine recommendations. This week, my colleagues and I demanded the President immediately rescind this order. We are standing together to make it clear that this executive order replaces public health with political ideology at the expense of kids and America’s working families. 

Take just one example: the order could force families to make multiple trips to the doctor for vaccinations children have long been able to receive in a single visit. That means more time away from work or school, more out-of-pocket costs, and more opportunities for kids to fall behind on the protection they need. That is a recipe for disaster that places an unfair burden on families already struggling to make ends meet.  

As I mentioned last week, all of this is happening while vaccine-preventable illnesses are surfacing across the country, and the United States is experiencing its worst measles surge in 35 years. Families should be able to trust that the guidance they receive about their children’s health comes from doctors, scientists, and decades of evidence — not the political preferences of whoever occupies the White House. 

Since my time in the Delaware State Senate, I have been working to expand access to dental care, and I recently supported three bills to close some of the largest gaps in dental coverage we’re facing right now.

Untreated dental problems can mean chronic pain, missed work or school, and serious consequences for a person’s overall health. Yet for too many Americans, whether they can see a dentist still depends on their age, income, or what kind of health insurance they have.

The Medicaid Dental Benefit Act would guarantee comprehensive dental coverage for adults on Medicaid. The Medicare Dental Benefit Act would finally add dental coverage to traditional Medicare. And the Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act would protect children from arbitrary limits that can prevent access to necessary treatments. 

In Leg Hall, I helped expand access to dentists in underserved communities. The same reality that motivated those efforts is driving me today: when care is out of reach, people put off treatment, pain gets worse, and minor problems become serious and more expensive to address.

These bills move us closer to a healthcare system where dental care is treated as essential — not as a luxury available only to those who can afford it.

I was honored to spend National Volunteer Firefighter Day in Delaware visiting fire stations across all three counties, including stops in Claymont, Dover, and Millsboro. These conversations offered a valuable chance to hear directly from fire leaders about the challenges facing this important work and how our local, state, and federal government can help.

At the Claymont Fire Company, I sat down with fire-service leaders from across New Castle County to hear about the pressures facing the brave men and women who keep our communities safe. Rising costs, increasing emergency calls, and recruitment challenges are stretching departments thin. Our firefighters and EMTs show up for us every day, and they deserve a government that shows up for them, too.

In Dover, I toured the Delaware State Fire Commission and Delaware State Fire School, where firefighters learn skills that save lives. I’ve requested federal funding to help modernize training technology across Delaware’s Fire School campuses, because keeping our neighbors safe means making sure our first responders have the tools and training they need to do their jobs effectively.

I visited Indian River Volunteer Fire Company’s Station #2, which serves the rapidly growing Long Neck and surrounding communities. As Sussex County grows, the demands on our volunteer fire companies are growing with it. Public safety has to keep pace with that growth, and I’m grateful to the volunteers who continue answering the call to serve their neighbors.

I had breakfast with the Lewes Chamber of Commerce and the University of Delaware’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. There is something special about bringing local business owners, civic leaders, and lifelong learners together around the same table. Those conversations — and the relationships behind them — are part of what keeps communities like Lewes vibrant, connected, and moving forward.

I joined the Sussex County Land Trust to celebrate the preservation of Ard Na Gréine — 89 acres of farmland, forest, and marsh whose name fittingly means “the rise that catches the sun.” Protecting places like this honors the farmers who cared for this land, safeguards habitat for generations to come, and preserves the natural heritage that makes Sussex County such a special place to call home.

I also spent time with the Pilots’ Association for the Bay & River Delaware, whose highly skilled mariners help safely guide commercial ships through the Delaware Bay and River every day. Their work often happens out of sight, but it is essential to keeping our waterways safe and our regional economy moving. Investing in the infrastructure they depend on means investing in Delaware’s role as a gateway for commerce up and down the East Coast.

Finally, in Georgetown, I hosted an informational session that brought together financial experts and community organizations to help Delawareans 55 and older prepare for retirement. Growing older should come with security and peace of mind — not confusion about finances, healthcare, or the benefits you have earned. I’m grateful to everyone who shared their expertise and helped our neighbors feel a little more prepared for whatever their next chapter holds.

Rep. McBride tours Indian River Volunteer Fire Company's Station #2.

Rep. McBride with advocates and stakeholders, including Emella Kamara, Executive Director for the Delaware Family Justice Centers, and State Representative Krista Griffith, at the Stockley Center Campus in Georgetown.

This week was a busy one, with chances to connect with some of our bravest neighbors and spend time with Delawareans planning for their future. It is always a delight to spend a week around the First State. 

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

• 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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