Dear Friend,

Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt. I had another busy week in D.C. working for you.

This week marked 100 days of President Trump’s unauthorized, unwanted war in Iran. This operation, which he claimed would last six weeks, is now on week 14 with no end in sight. The ongoing conflict has caused inflation to soar, yet the President continues to make threats that risk our economic and national security.

The President might not be thinking about how his actions are hurting our communities, but Congress is. Just last week, the House passed a bipartisan resolution directing the President to end the war in Iran, and we’re working on passing a similar resolution in the Senate. This war has already gone on for 100 days too long. It’s time for it to come to an end.

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Supporting Our Community

During the current affordability crisis, we must come together to support our neighbors and address homelessness. We cannot do this without partners from the public and private sectors, including community volunteers and faith congregations. Family Promise of Northern New Castle County has embodied this idea for over 15 years, offering affordable housing and community-based services to Delaware’s families. Throughout my time in Congress, I have supported their work and was proud to secure $1 million in federal funding to expand their reach.

This week, that federal funding came to life at the grand opening of Family Promise’s new Hospitality Center. This facility includes shelter and community space, which will house and feed up to 50 families per year, while providing onsite resources to help families secure permanent housing. Family Promise is doing phenomenal work in our state and I’m proud to support their continued efforts.

Family Promise, thank you for supporting Delaware families!

Care at Every Stage

Our nation is facing an undeniable health care crisis. This week, I sat down with the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association to discuss opportunities for improving senior care and long-term care. As a member of the Senate Long-Term Care Working Group, this feedback is critical to the policies we’re developing. Everyone deserves access to care and treatment at every stage of life, and these Delawareans’ advocacy is making this possible.

We must ensure each of our families have access to the care they need.

Innovation in the First State

Delaware has always been a leader in technological innovation, and Qnity, headquartered in Wilmington, continues to lead the charge. Qnity is a global technology provider that specializes in advanced electronics and semiconductor manufacturing. Their work makes the technology all around us possible!

I sat down with their leadership to discuss the expansion of their new facility in Newark and their growing workforce in the state. Delawareans are making exciting things happen right here at home and across the globe!

A Conversation on Housing

I was honored to give remarks at the Real Estate Roundtable’s Tax Policy Advisory Committee focused on the current state of housing. It’s no secret that housing affordability remains one of the most significant burdens on families across the country. I provided an update on negotiations between the House and Senate on our 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, and discussed the importance of investing in tax policies that can increase housing production and ensuring the public and private sector work together to address this. Finally, I thanked them for their input and endorsements of my bills. Through partnerships like these, we are finding innovative ways to help more Americans afford a home.

 I’m working with partners across the aisle and nation to increase affordable housing.

Protecting Delaware's Wildlife

The Trump administration has made significant cuts to federal environmental and wildlife conservation programs. Many of which support Delaware’s coastal communities and natural wildlife habitats.

During this week’s Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, I questioned U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik on the decision behind these cuts. I asked for updates on critical grants and programs like the Delaware River Basin Restoration Reauthorization Program. In the hearing, I highlighted the harm these cuts would have on the experiences of Delawareans, like Quentin the nine-year-old birder who I highlighted last week. We have a responsibility to protect our environment, health, and ecotourism. Cutting federal investments will only hold us back. Watch my remarks HERE. 

We must continue to invest in our wildlife and their habitats. Thank you Delaware Online for the photo of Quentin.

The Scope of Work(force)

As Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor, I know what it takes to develop policies that contribute to a strong workforce. With the economic challenges our country is facing, it’s even more important that we have an accurate understanding of where the workforce currently stands.

During this week’s Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing, I questioned President Trump’s nominees for various Department of Labor positions. We discussed the importance of trustworthy labor data and the independence and modernization of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The strength of our workforce is one of my top priorities and I remain committed to finding bipartisan policy solutions that support this. Watch my remarks HERE.

I also attended an event with the 75 Million Campaign, which seeks to further policies for working women, so no one gets left behind.

I’m proud to work on policies that help the 75 million women in our workforce.

The Future of Finance

Artificial intelligence is already impacting many aspects of our life. While I am excited for the opportunities it will unlock, I recognize that we must approach this development with care. During this week’s Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing, I questioned experts on how we can best prepare for the economic impacts of AI and its potential influence on our workforce. Watch my remarks HERE.

 These conversations are critical to ensure our communities are protected and prepared.

Supporting Change Makers
Living in a state of neighbors, Delawareans are always ready to lend a helping hand and support each other. The Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA) has committed to ensuring all those who want to do good have the resources to succeed. It was great to meet with members and learn about the work they’re doing across the First State.

I also want to extend my congratulations to Melissa Hopkins who was recently named DANA's new CEO. I look forward to seeing DANA’s continued success under Melissa’s leadership.

 DANA, thank you for furthering our community’s success.

The Choice to Serve
The choice to serve is an admirable one and it’s even more impressive when our young people answer the call. This week we hosted the annual Delaware Service Academy Night in D.C. to honor student who have been admitted to one of the nation’s service academies. Their hard work, drive, and deep commitment to service have gotten them to this point and it has not gone unnoticed.

 Congratulations to this year's Service Academy appointees!

Stepping into the Gap
Social workers play a central role in communities across the country, equipping us with resources and tools to succeed. I come from a family of social workers (including my late father, my sister, and my daughter), so I know that this job isn’t for the faint. I joined social workers, clinicians, and advocates from across the country for a fireside chat at the National Association of Social Workers' annual conference to discuss policies affecting their work and the important role of their advocacy. As legislators, it is important to work in partnership with those closest to the people and policies directly involved.

Social workers enable all of us to succeed.

In this week’s How May We Serve You, I want to highlight how my team has been working to serve the needs of Delawareans across the state.

• Last weekend, our team held our annual passport and Global Entry registration event. Alongside the Philadelphia Passport Agency, we successfully helped 50 Delawareans get their passports!
• We continued this work by helping a Delawarean get an emergency passport appointment and they were able to receive their passport that same day.

Never hesitate to reach out to my office for help. CLICK HERE to learn more.

This week’s Constituent Corner honors Joseph Zogheib, a rising senior at Concord High School. Joseph is Delaware’s Congressional Gold Medal Recipient for 2026, which is the highest honor awarded by Members of Congress to our nation’s youth. This honor is earned by performing 400 hours of community service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness, and a five-day exploration trip. This is no small feat and requires commitment and determination. I am always in awe of our state’s young people and what they can accomplish. Joseph, congratulations on a job well done!

NEXT WEEK: Veterans Resource Fair
Join my office for our upcoming Veterans Resource Fair on Monday, June 22, from 10 am to 3 pm. This event will offer veterans and their families the opportunity to access a range of services, resources, and information from federal and state agencies, as well veterans service organizations. CLICK HERE to RSVP.

Delaware High School Students: Apply to the Senate Page Program
Do you know a high school student who wants to get invaluable experience in the United States Senate? Consider the Senate Page Program! Pages play critical roles in Washington, from preparing the Senate Chamber for session and delivering correspondence around the Capitol to working on the Senate Floor. CLICK HERE to see my website for more information on how to apply by Sunday, July 5.

Service Academy
Are you a young person interested in serving our country? Every year, I have the honor of nominating exceptional students to one of our U.S. Service Academies. The 2026 application process is now open through October 15. CLICK HERE to learn more.

Please head to my website’s Resources for Delawareans page for information about lowering your energy costs, scheduling passport appointments, finding emergency housing, accessing food assistance, paying for prescription drugs, connecting with mental health resources, and more.

CLICK HERE FOR MY RESOURCES PAGE.

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