Dear Friend,

Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt. It has been a busy week in Washington as the Senate wraps up session for the month. This August, I’ll be in Delaware, meeting with community members and leaders, businesses small and large, and other critical stakeholders to prepare for the fight ahead when the Senate reconvenes in September.

Stay tuned for a special edition of Let Me Be Blunt next week!

This Week in Washington

Major Housing News in the Banking Committee

This week, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee unanimously advanced a major bipartisan bill to address our nation’s housing affordability crisis. The ROAD to Housing Act would be a critical first step toward boosting our housing supply, addressing soaring housing costs, reducing homelessness, and promoting the American dream of homeownership.

I am thrilled that three of my bills were included in this package:

• The Housing Supply Frameworks Act, which would give localities frameworks to reimagine their zoning, bringing it into the 21^st century,
• The Accelerating Home Building Act, which would help localities develop “pattern books,” which are pre-approved home designs to speed up housing construction, and
• The Community Investment and Prosperity Act, which incentivizes investment in community development.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this historic, bipartisan piece of legislation over the finish line.

CLICK HERE to read more about all three of my bills that were included and what they would do for you. You will also be able to watch my remarks in support of the package during the Banking Committee “markup” hearing on Tuesday.

ABOVE: This is the moment I voted to advance the ROAD to Housing Act out of committee.

Advancing Manufacturing Legislation

My bipartisan Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act also passed out of committee this week. This bill, which I recently introduced with Republican Senator Ted Budd from North Carolina, is focused on creating a unified national strategy for U.S. manufacturing. It would encourage innovation and create jobs. Read more about this important bill HERE.

ABOVE: With the Streamlining American Manufacturing Strategy Act, we’re going to do what we can to get everyone on the same page.

Defending Scientific Integrity

If you’re a regular reader of Let Me Be Blunt, you know I’ve been speaking out against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s attempts to attack the credibility of vaccines. It’s a public health issue, an economic issue, and a science issue. This is especially the case as we approach flu season and the new school year when parents and healthcare professionals need credible direction. I have written an op-ed, pressed nominees in committee, and written multiple oversight letters to the administration urging them to take vaccine safety seriously.

This week, I added a new piece of legislation to the list of actions my team and I have taken: the VACCINE Act. This bill would protect vaccine science and integrity by strengthening protections for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). This includes directing the immediate reappointment of members on the advisory committee who were recently fired. CLICK HERE to learn more about the VACCINE Act and why it’s so important.

This Week in Delaware

The Delegation’s Veterans Summit

On Monday, I joined Senator Coons and Representative McBride, as well as Governor Meyer, Brigadier General James A. Benson of the Delaware National Guard, and representatives from the Delaware VA, for the annual Delegation Veterans Summit at the Major Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center. This event is always an opportunity for us to share the work we’re doing to support and honor our veterans – including our work on legislation like my Veterans Housing Stability Act – but more importantly, it’s a chance for us to hear from veterans and veterans organizations.

ABOVE: The conversations I had at the summit will be at the front of my mind as I advocate for the VA to have the resources it needs.

Our State of Neighbors

Last weekend in Wilmington, I attended The Party 5, an event that brought together 50 organizations to participate in and celebrate community service.

So many people ask me what they can do to help others in the challenging moment we’re in. Connecting with your local service organizations is a perfect way for you to play your part and be there for your neighbors.

ABOVE: The Party 5 was an amazing opportunity for members of our community to connect with service organizations.

ABOVE: At The Party 5, I made a furry friend who is ready for adoption.

An Incredible Honor

Last week, I told you about the Delaware FFA State Fair Awards Breakfast in Harrington. But there is one more thing I left out. At the end of the event, I was so humbled to be given an Honorary State FFA Degree.

This is a special honor that I will cherish. Thank you to all the young leaders of Delaware’s FFA for this thoughtful recognition!

ABOVE: I was honored to receive my Honorary State FFA Degree from Delaware FFA State President Kailyn Pippin last week.

This week, I want to share a story I heard from Kate, a social worker in New Castle County.

Kate told me, “Over the years, I have seen how much these federal cuts negatively impact everyday Delawareans who are just trying to get by. I think there is a common misconception that people who are struggling financially are just irresponsible; however, in my experience, the clients I see are usually just people working in jobs that don't pay enough while trying to cover the cost of ever-increasing bills.” 

Kate understands that food assistance, medical care, and the economy are all interconnected; without access to healthy food, people get sicker. And without access to treatment, their medical expenses increase, putting additional strain on the programs that help to support them. And when people get sick without coverage, that cost is passed on to all of us. I hope my colleagues who voted to gut these critical programs take the opportunity to hear from their constituents who are saying these same things.

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:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 the MOT Little League team from Middletown, who won the 2025 Delaware Little League Baseball Championship. With their 7-3 victory on Friday, the team is headed to the Little League Mid-Atlantic Regional, where a win would secure their place in the Little League World Series and make them the third-ever entrant from Delaware. Congratulations, MOT, and good luck! 

I would also like to shout out all the players participating in the 2025 Senior League Softball World Series, which is happening this weekend in Roxanna, bringing teams from around the world to Sussex County!

ABOVE: The 2025 Delaware Little League Baseball Champions (Photo: Sean Greene)

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