Dear Friend, 

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

Before we get to anything else, I would like to start this week with a tribute to an incredible Delaware leader whose loss is being felt all across our state: 

This week brought the incredibly sad news of Patti Blevins’s passing. My heart is with her husband, Michael, their daughter, Julia, and the countless Delawareans whose lives were touched by Patti’s tireless commitment to our entire state of neighbors.

Patti was a longtime leader in the Delaware Senate who brought a rare combination of kindness and conviction to her work as a public servant. Throughout decades of service, she earned the respect of people across our state by treating folks with dignity and never losing sight of the everyday Delawareans who government is ultimately supposed to serve.

I had the privilege of seeing those qualities firsthand when Patti and I worked together to pass nondiscrimination protections in 2013. It was one example of the steady, thoughtful leadership she brought to so many causes throughout her career. She always knew how to build trust, bring people together, and find a path forward on difficult issues without sacrificing her principles. 

Patti meant so much to me and to so many others here on Team McBride. Her impact reaches far beyond any one bill or office she held. It lives on in the communities she strengthened, the lives she improved, and the generations of public servants who learned from her example. Delaware is a better place because Patti chose to serve it, and my team and I will miss her dearly.

We are seven months into President Trump’s war with Iran, which has sparked a global energy crisis and spiraled into a regional conflict. Instead of working to bring this chaos to an end, the President argued this week that Americans are only paying a small price for this war and ridiculously suggested that Iran should consider attacking Los Angeles or San Diego with a nuclear weapon. 

That would be an asinine comment for anyone to make. But coming from the president of the United States … the commander-in-chief of our armed forces? Absolutely outrageous. 

But even beyond the obvious fact that no American city should be sacrificed as collateral in an illegal and unpopular war effort, the President’s statements underscore just how utterly detached from reality he really is. My neighbors pay more than $4 a gallon to fill up at the pump. Dozens of American servicemembers have been killed — hundreds more are wounded. And the President thinks we’re only paying a small price for his new forever war? 

Maybe the price does appear small from behind his gilded desk in the oval office, but, Mr. President, I can tell you without a doubt that the cost of your chaos is real, and painful, and simply too much to bear for families in Delaware and across the country. Instead of trying to score political points by casually raising the potential destruction of entire American cities, you would do well to step outside your ivory tower and listen to the people who’ve lost everything because you can’t seem to care about anyone, besides yourself. 

FYI — A quick reminder for my neighbors across Delaware: the deadline to register to vote is tomorrow, October 10 at 11:59 p.m. You can double check your voter registration status — or register to vote if you haven't already — by clicking here. Our democracy works best when all of us have the opportunity to participate and make our voices heard.

That principle guides my work in Congress. I’m proud to cosponsor the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to strengthen protections against voter discrimination and help protect equal access to the ballot box. Democracy is not something we can take for granted — it depends on all of us showing up and defending one another’s right to be heard.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) exists precisely for moments like this one. Russia’s war against Ukraine rages on, and millions of families remain displaced as Ukrainian cities continue to face attacks and devastation. Despite this reality, protections for roughly 100,000 Ukrainians living in the United States are set to expire on October 19th. That’s why this week I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues in introducing legislation to extend TPS for Ukrainians through June 2029. 

TPS gives people who cannot safely return home the ability to remain here while dangerous conditions persist in their countries. It’s rooted in a basic principle: We should not force our neighbors to return to situations that we know are unsafe. That is the same principle that led me to vote earlier this year to extend protections for Haitian families here in Delaware, and it is why extending TPS for Ukrainians is so important in this moment. This legislation would allow thousands of Ukrainians to continue keeping their families together, sending their kids to school, and contributing billions of dollars to our nation’s economy. 

Russia’s invasion has already taken enough from Ukrainian families. We should not add additional fear and instability by ripping away the protections they have relied on here in the United States. Extending TPS is a bipartisan, commonsense recognition of our responsibility to treat people fleeing war with dignity and humanity. The choices we make in moments like this are a reflection of our values, and I’ll continue working to ensure that immigrants across this country are treated with the fairness and respect every person deserves.

The most meaningful moments in this job are always the ones I get to spend with all of you — from celebrating local small businesses to spending time with organizations that help people live with greater independence and dignity. Here are some highlights from the past few days:

I stopped by Dover Pools to celebrate 50 years of this family-owned Delaware business and spend some time with Chris and Terri Anderson. What started in 1976 has grown into a multigenerational company with locations across our state, while staying rooted in the community that helped it grow. Small businesses like Dover Pools do more than create jobs — they become part of the fabric of the places they serve, and I’m grateful for the families who keep investing in Delaware generation after generation.

At the Easterseals Annual Celebration in Wilmington, I had the chance to help recognize Ken Sklenar for 31 years of service and welcome Pam Reuther as she takes on the organization’s next chapter. Easterseals helps Delawareans with disabilities, seniors, caregivers, and families access the support they need to live with greater independence and dignity. That work is a powerful reminder that every person deserves the opportunity to participate fully in their community, and I'm grateful for the wonderful leaders like Ken and Pam who help make it possible.

Rep. McBride stands next to Chris Anderson, president of Dover Pools, during her tour of their facility in Dover.

Rep. McBride speaks with Ken Sklenar, former president and CEO of Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore, at their annual dinner in Wilmington.

Whether it's the decisions we make in government or the work happening every day in communities across Delaware, our choices have consequences. They can create fear and instability, or they can make life safer, fairer, and a little more hopeful.

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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