Dear friends,

President Biden announced his budget for Fiscal Year 2024 — a blueprint to invest in America, lower costs for families, and protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security all while reducing the deficit by making the wealthiest pay their fair share. The President has always said that we grow the economy from the middle out — not the top down, and this budget will help us do just that while building on the progress we've already made.

International Women's Day

This week marked International Women's Day — a day within Women's History Month — dedicated to celebrating the social, cultural, political, and economic achievements of women across the globe. Here in the United States, women are using their voices to fight for issues such as reproductive freedom, gender equality, voting rights, safer communities, the enhancement and empowerment of the caregiving sector, and equal pay for equal work. Nearly six decades after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and as we approach Equal Pay Day on March 14th, we must reconcile the fact that women on average still make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. And it's even less for women of color. As women make their return to the workforce after nearly 2 million left during the pandemic, they are key to strengthening and powering our economy while helping us address workforce shortages in Delaware and across the country.

Tax Filing Information Session - Watch Below!

I was pleased to once again host a tax filing information session with special guests from the IRS, Delaware Taxpayer Advocate, Nehemiah Gateway CDC, and the House Committee on Ways and Means. These experts helped answer questions from Delawareans about their concerns with electric vehicle tax credits, filing while collecting Social Security, and changes in tax laws for this filing season. If you'd like to watch the information session, please click below.

And as a reminder, if you're having a specific issue with the IRS, you can contact my Wilmington office at 302-830-2330 to speak with a member of my casework team.

Delaware River Basin Conservation Act (DRBCA)

I joined Senator Tom Carper, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, DNREC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Wildlife Federation to announce the reintroduction of the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act (DRBCA). As the co-chair of the bipartisan Delaware River Watershed Caucus in Congress, investing in conservation efforts across the Delaware River Basin is of great importance to me. The Basin generates $25 billion in annual economic activity, provides clean drinking water to 13 million people in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, and supports 600,000 jobs. The investments made through the DRBCA are essential to keeping our environment and residents healthy and our economy competitive.

Greeting Delawareans in Washington

I'm always thrilled to have the opportunity to meet with Delawareans in Washington. This week, I met with Jennifer Thompkins, a fellow CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, to talk about how we can continue to work together to strengthen our workforce.

I also met with Dr. Annie Norman, Delaware's State Librarian and Director of the Delaware Division of Libraries. Last year, I joined Governor Carney and Senators Carper and Coons in announcing $40 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to invest in Delaware's libraries. As we celebrate the 2 year anniversary of President Biden signing the American Rescue Plan into law, we are continuing to see its investments improve our state. From modernizing the facilities and educational opportunities to providing health care and employment services delivered in kiosks, our libraries are meeting the needs of today and tomorrow.

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING APPLICATION NOW OPEN

As Congress begins our appropriations process for the next fiscal year, I’m pleased to announce that my office will, once again, be accepting applications from Delaware nonprofit and government entities for funding of community projects. Bringing critical federal resources to Delaware has always been a priority of mine, and the bipartisan process announced by the House Committee on Appropriations presents a unique opportunity to fund projects that are critical to our state and based on community needs. Click below for more information on the Community Project Funding process and application requirements.

Community Project Funding Information

It is important to note that, given the new majority in Congress, there is an expedited timeline and new application criteria this year. All applications for funding are due by close-of-business on Friday, March 17, 2023.

Each year, my office participates in the Congressional Art Competition, a nationwide high school competition to encourage students to express themselves through visual arts. There are participants from almost every district in the country and thousands of students across the nation develop works of art in hopes theirs will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. This year's winner was a piece called "Denali," a beautiful portrait of Reese Frank's, a 12th grader from Appoquinimink High School, Great Dane. The panel of judges and myself were touched to see Reese’s interpretation of her Great Dane that she so clearly admires very much. Her use of light, shading, and depth perception were especially impressive. I had the opportunity to congratulate Reese this week for her great work seen below.