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Dear Friend,
Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt. It was a busy week in Washington that ended on a high note – connecting with you at the Delaware State Fair. This week was full of opportunities to highlight all the First State has to offer.
This Week in Washington
Leading a Hearing on the State of Education
On Wednesday, I was proud to lead my first hearing as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Education & the American Family. It was focused on the state of K-12 education across the nation, and I used my platform to highlight the importance of investing in and improving public schools to ensure that all students have access to a quality education.
I also pushed back on efforts from my Republican colleagues to divert public funding for students’ K-12 education to private schools. Ninety percent of students – including 95% of students with disabilities – attend public schools. They’re the first to suffer when we pull funds from those schools. As the Trump administration tries to shutter the Department of Education, our work to defend and invest in public schools continues to be more important than ever.
After much advocacy and push, I was pleased that on Friday, we received an update: the Trump administration announced that it will release billions of dollars that it had been illegally withholding from schools across the country. I have been continuously pushing to get these dollars to our schools. In early July, I joined my Democratic colleagues in sending a letter urging Secretary of Education McMahon and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Vought to release the funds. Most recently, I called for the release of the funds in this hearing on Wednesday, where we heard from a bipartisan group of witnesses about the importance of teachers having the proper training needed for effective literacy instruction – an effort that these funds directly support. While this announcement is good news, my colleagues and I will continue to monitor the release of the funds and ensure that they are appropriately delivered to our schools as directed by Congress.
CLICK HERE to read more about this hearing and what this all means for students across our nation.
ABOVE: I was proud to lead my first hearing as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Education & the American Family this week.
More Team LBR News on Housing Affordability
In Delaware and across the nation, it’s no secret: we’re facing a housing affordability crisis. That’s why, this week, I was proud to introduce another housing bill to address it – the bipartisan Accelerating Home Building Act with Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno. This bill would make it easier for communities to build new housing through pattern zoning, an innovative and streamlined process that accelerates new construction projects. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to our housing crisis, but we can be more efficient, cut time, and cut red tape to get more people into homes they can afford. I’m excited to be taking this important step toward ensuring all Americans have a place to call home. More exciting news to come on housing in next week’s edition! CLICK HERE to learn more about our bill.
Shining a Light on Critical Issues
Senate Democrats hosted two very important spotlight forums this week aimed at highlighting the negative impact of this administration’s policies on education and the environment.
On education, the Trump administration is canceling grants that are already underway, holding up funds Congress already appropriated, proposing major budget cuts, and dismantling the Department of Education. This is leaving states, school districts, and communities to pick up the pieces. We know what we need to do to support our students, parents, and educators – our conversation was proof of that – the question is: do we have the collective will to do it? CLICK HERE to read more about it.
ABOVE: My colleagues and I came together to shine a light on the harms caused by these education cuts.
The second forum centered on the harmful effects of high levels of methane on our climate and communities. As a member of both the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, I know the impact is not just on our planet, but also on our health. Gases like methane pose a real danger to our communities, and they don’t respect local and state borders – we simply can’t afford inaction. And while excessive methane gas in the atmosphere is a problem no matter where you live, it disproportionately impacts frontline communities and those who are least equipped to protect themselves. It’s why it's more important than ever that we invest in stronger air quality monitoring and protect the programs and agencies that keep us safe and healthy. CLICK HERE to read more about this forum.
Delawareans in DC
I welcomed some amazing Delawareans to my office in Washington this week. On Tuesday, I met with the Citizens Climate Lobby to talk about how we can work together to advocate for joint efforts to ensure clean energy solutions. I also welcomed a group of extraordinary students from the Bank of America Student Leaders Summit to hear about their interest in politics and to share how I got my start. We discussed a range of issues, from their concerns about the hunger in Delaware with the passage of the Big Bill, to pieces of legislation on issues like NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) in collegiate sports. It was a powerful conversation.
ABOVE: Delawareans with the Citizens’ Climate Lobby presenting me with letters from Delawareans who want climate action
ABOVE: I was inspired by my conversation with these students from the Bank of America Student Leaders Summit.
This Week in Delaware
Visiting the Delaware State Fair!
Congratulations to the Delaware State Fair on another successful year! Everyone knows that the Delaware State Fair is a summer staple in the First State. Not only is it a fun time for the family, but it’s also an opportunity for our Ag community to shine – as agriculture is a main pillar of Delaware’s strong economy.
It’s always great to talk with folks who work hard to show in competitions, see the outstanding student exhibits, and visit the New Castle Building. I was proud to secure federal funding for the New Castle Building while I was in the House on behalf of Delaware’s 4-H and FFA students, who use it year-round. Oh, and don’t forget all of the “Fair Foodies” who get to try new things – this year, the Pizza-on-a-Stick was my fav.
The fair is a great reminder that, while our state has so much to offer, our farms are at the heart of it all.
ABOVE: The 4-H and FFA exhibits were outstanding, as always.
ABOVE: Ninety-nine percent of the farms in Delaware are family owned. I was grateful for the opportunity to hear from some of those families at the Fair.
Celebrating the Next Generation
On Friday morning, I joined the Delaware FFA State Fair Awards Breakfast to celebrate the future of our state’s storied agricultural tradition. One of the largest youth organizations in the country, Future Farmers of America (FFA) focuses on the breadth and depth of the agriculture industry through Ag education and experiences – from agribusiness to veterinary school, botany, and everything in between. Another focus of FFA is career and professional development for youth and building leadership skills.
And speaking of leaders, members of the FFA state executive team below visited me at the Capitol last week. Because of their advocacy, I am now the newest member of the Senate FFA Caucus! I look forward to seeing them continue to shape the future of our state.
ABOVE: The FFA State leadership team includes President Kailyn Pippin, Vice President Edwina Chen, Secretary Jason Wilkins, Treasurer Katie Argo, Reporter Kayla Parks, and Sentinel Jackson Wills. They represent our promising future!
There is a Blood Emergency
This week, the Blood Bank of Delmarva declared a blood emergency. That means that our region’s supply of blood has dropped below a 2-day inventory (far below the standard 7-day inventory). If you can donate blood, now is the time to do it. It can truly save lives!
CLICK HERE to watch a video I filmed in 2023 about how critical this is to support friends, family, and others living with diseases such as sickle cell.
In the wake of devastating federal funding cuts from the “Big Ugly Bill,” we’re highlighting how state and federal programs work together to create a safety net for Delawareans – and how that net unravels when we start cutting threads. Deb from Wilmington wrote in to tell me how Medicaid funding has provided her son with healthcare as well as access to local community programs.
Deb’s son has Mitochondrial disease, which means he needs assistance with everyday activities, so Deb stays home full-time to take care of him. He’s found belonging and purpose through community programs, but those programs rely on federal funds.
Deb told me, “If there are budget cuts, he may lose the assistance for this program, which he looks forward to going to. He is with peers, working out, and also [is] able to be in the community. It has taken us 5 years to find a program that will accept him and that he likes. Please don’t take that away from him.”
We’re working with state and local officials and community leaders up and down our state to find ways to fill the gaps that federal funding cuts would create. Now more than ever, we must come together as a state of neighbors to support each other.
Do you have a story to share? I want to hear from you! Please click here to share your story.
Please note that your stories may be used on the Senate floor, on social media, or with the press.
Below are some helpful resources for you:
- Cybersecurity Training: If you’re a small business owner with a cooperative agreement or grant with the SBA, you can access brand-new cybersecurity training designed by Delaware’s award-winning Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Visit northstarcert.americassbdc.org.
- Lower Energy Costs: You can lower your energy costs thanks to tax credits and rebates made available by the Inflation Reduction Act. Learn more at energy.gov/save.
- Look Before You Book: Before you book your next international trip, make sure your passport is up to date! Visit travel.state.gov to check your passport expiration date, apply for a new passport, and more.
- Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): Before you go overseas, consider downloading STEP, a free service that will send you safety and security alerts from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Travel with peace of mind and enroll today at mytravel.state.gov/s/step.
- 988 National Suicide Prevention Helpline: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org, the 24/7, free and confidential support National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
- Delaware 211: Delawareans in need of emergency housing, utility assistance, food assistance, and more should call 211, Delaware’s free, confidential resource hotline.
- U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Programs: The State Department sponsors several programs across the world that can give Americans educational, cultural, and professional experiences. Find out more at exchanges.state.gov/us.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: Medicare Part D beneficiaries can spread out the costs of prescription drugs over the course of a year thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. Payment plans have zero-interest installments and a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap. Learn more at Medicare.gov/prescription-payment-plan.
This week’s Constituent Corner honors 1st Lt Ray Firmani, an incredible Delawarean who passed away this week at the age of 103. He was a World War II veteran who served our country as a B-17 pilot, flying 25 missions over Germany, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1945 for his service. Ray was inducted into the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame in 2017, and his life was chronicled in the book Against All Odds: The Ray Firmani Story. I had the honor of meeting him many times, and he holds a special place in the hearts of so many Delawareans. We will miss you, Ray!
ABOVE: Shaking Ray’s hand was always a highlight of any event honoring veterans in Delaware. Here we are pictured at a Memorial Day event in 2024.
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