Dear Friend, 

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

These past few days have brought their fair share of challenges, but we are continuing to see Delawareans meet the moment with service, ingenuity, and care. 

Here are five things you should know this week: 

I was in Sussex County last weekend to monitor the Nor’easter that tore through our state. And I returned this morning — alongside Senator Chirs Coons, Dewey Beach’s Mayor Bill Stevens, and several other local leaders — to see firsthand the damage that was done to our coastline. 

For context, this storm caused some of the worst coastal damage we’ve seen in years. DelDOT was forced to close parts of Route 1, neighborhoods along the coast were flooded from high tides, and emergency rescue workers responded to calls about downed power lines and people trapped inside their vehicles. 

I want to thank the first responders, transportation safety officials, local leaders, and everyday Delawareans who stepped up to help keep our neighbors safe — you all are a large part of the reason that there are no reports of life-threatening injuries. The scenes from last weekend are a stark reminder that we cannot prevent these storms from happening, but we can and must prepare in order to minimize their impacts. 

I have been working to ensure that our state has the resources it needs to combat coastal erosion and strengthen our coastal resilience. Earlier this year, Senator Coons, Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, and I secured $10 million for sand replenishment across our beaches, helping protect our coastline from flooding while preserving the beaches that are vital to Delaware’s economy and environment.

I'm working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to make that funding available as quickly as possible, and I’ve requested $30 million for the next fiscal year. I also secured $600,000 to support the continued operation of the Indian River Inlet Sand Bypass System. This system reduces flood risk by helping to maintain the beach and dune barrier that protects Route 1. 

Last weekend demonstrates that we cannot afford to sit around and wait while Washington plays politics with disaster preparedness. As the lowest-lying state in the nation, we know how much is at stake. Our economy, our communities, and the lives of our neighbors depend on our ability to respond effectively when a storm hits or disaster strikes. I’m committed to helping fortify our state against these threats, pushing the administration to release funds that will help with beach replenishment, and I will keep working with partners at every level of government to bolster the research and technologies that protect Delawareans. 

What we fund is a reflection of our values. The President continued to make his priorities painfully clear last week when he rescinded nearly $1 billion that Congress had already approved for life-sustaining federal programs. These programs do everything from helping working families find stable housing and supporting research that improves healthcare to connecting minority-owned small businesses with capital and supporting legal permanent residents as they prepare for their citizenship tests. 

The Constitution makes it clear that Congress maintains the power of the purse. That’s not some minor procedural inconvenience, it’s a foundational feature of our democracy — one that promotes checks and balances, facilitates fiscal accountability, and gives the American people ample say in how their tax dollars are spent. So when Congress decides that kids should not go hungry or that research for treating cancer is important, those things deserve to remain funded. No one person or president should be permitted to upend our political system on the whims of their own personal preferences. 

But let’s be clear: Trump’s recision of these life-saving funds is not just unconstitutional, it’s also further evidence of the president’s immoral priorities. Just as he was cutting funding for housing support and education services, he was pouring millions of your tax dollars into primetime, campaign-style ads that serve no purpose but self-promotion. 

While my neighbors are paying $4 a gallon for gas and struggling to afford basic necessities, President Trump is cutting services that Americans rely on and stealing tax dollars to boost his ego on screens across the country. Like I said, what we fund is a reflection of our values — and I think it’s abundantly clear that the President only values himself.

FYI – today is Manufacturing Day! Manufacturing takes many forms. From the products coming off factory floors to the cutting-edge biopharmaceuticals being developed right here in Delaware, it’s an essential part of our state’s economy and our nation’s future. So, today is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the people whose skill and ingenuity power our economy — and to commit to supporting the next generation who will lead the industries of tomorrow.

As your representative, I’ve worked to back the people and businesses doing this work. When federal support for the Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership was put at risk, I led the push to restore funding for this vital tool that helps small and mid-sized manufacturers modernize, grow, and compete in today’s marketplace. And earlier this year, I introduced the bipartisan Biotechnology for All High School Students Act to help more young people access careers in advanced manufacturing and other growing industries.

Manufacturing Day is about celebrating the people who make things, recognizing the enormous value they bring to our communities, and making sure this work can continue for generations to come. I’m grateful for the thousands of Delawareans helping to build, produce, and innovate every day — and I’ll always be committed to ensuring they, their companies, and those who come after them have opportunities to thrive.

Families across Delaware are being squeezed by the rising cost of groceries, housing, healthcare, and energy — and as winter approaches, another expensive heating bill could push a tight budget beyond its breaking point. To help make sure that doesn’t happen, I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make sure funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) reaches states as quickly as possible.

LIHEAP helps our neighbors here in the First State, from working families to seniors, afford the energy they need to keep their homes safe and warm during the coldest months of the year. Unfortunately, HHS has delayed these funds before, which raises serious concerns about whether the Department has the staffing and resources necessary to avoid those same issues in the coming months.

Any delay in LIHEAP funds is totally unacceptable. No family should have to choose between keeping the heat on and putting food on the table, filling a prescription, or making their next rent payment. Our government should show up to help prevent families from reaching a crisis — not stand by while hard-working Americans are forced to make impossible decisions. I'm going to keep pressing on this issue and do everything I can to ensure Delaware families receive the resources they are owed, on the timeline they were promised. Read more about this effort here.

This week, I had the privilege of seeing Delawareans do what they do best: show up for the communities we call home. Here are a few highlights from my past few days in our state of neighbors:

I joined Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County to break ground on new homes at Masons Row in Wilmington. Through Habitat’s homeownership program, first-time buyers will put in sweat equity, receive homebuyer education, and purchase these homes with affordable 0% mortgages. And because the homes are being built to high energy-efficiency standards, families will save on utility costs after they get the keys. I’m so grateful that Habitat for Humanity is doing this work because creating affordable housing means making sure people have the resources to not only purchase a home, but also to stay and build a life in the communities that they care about.

I attended the 25th anniversary celebration of Sacred Heart Village I, a Ministry of Caring community that has provided affordable housing for older Delawareans since 2001. Over the last 25 years, Sacred Heart Village has offered 77 affordable apartments for seniors in the First State — giving residents not just a place to live, but the safety and security that allow them to remain rooted in the communities they call home. That’s what aging with dignity should look like: having a safe, affordable home in a place where you know you belong. I’m grateful to the Ministry of Caring and everyone at Sacred Heart Village I who has helped sustain that promise for the last quarter century.

I visited the newly completed Freeman Arts Pavilion in Selbyville and spent some time with Patti Grimes, Darren Silvis, and the Freeman Arts team learning about the venue’s growth and what comes next. Freeman Arts has become an important part of the cultural life of Sussex County, creating opportunities for neighbors of all ages to experience the arts close to home. Strong communities need more than infrastructure — they need spaces that bring people together, spark creativity, and remind us of our shared humanity. That’s exactly what the arts are capable of and I’m grateful to everyone who helped make this new chapter possible.

Rep. McBride listens as local leaders discuss damage to our coastline at Dewey Beach.

Rep. McBride stands alongside the Freeman Arts Pavilion's Executive Director, Patti Grimes, and Development Director, Darren Silvis, after touring the new venue in Selbyville.

This week was a reminder that so much of good government is about preparing for what comes next — strengthening our coast before the next storm, investing in the workers and industries building our future, and helping our neighbors plan for their future and age with dignity. None of that work happens alone. It takes government, community partners, businesses, and neighbors showing up and lending a hand. I’m grateful to everyone across Delaware who is doing exactly that. I will always be your partner in this important work. 

Thank you for reading along and allowing me to serve our community. 

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

• Changes to SNAP: On October 1st, President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill” went into effect, which may impact food assistance for our neighbors. October 1st also marked the beginning of the federal fiscal year. This means that if your previous SNAP case was closed for failure to comply with work reporting requirements, or if you were kicked off your benefits, you can now reapply through SNAP online at Delaware ASSIST or call 866-843-7212.
• 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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