Let Me Be Blunt: Even the Qualified Can’t Succeed

Dear Friend, Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt . Our nation’s public health is at a crossroads – measles cases are rising, including in Delaware, and a parasite is leading many of us to question what’s safe to eat. Add in increasing healthcare costs and weakening healthcare coverage, and this amounts to a scary reality. In this moment, we need trusted public health officials to keep our families safe. Unfortunately, we have a Health and Human Services Secretary who has weakened our federal public health workforce and repeatedly pressures qualified public health officials to compromise their expertise to further his own agenda. These issues inform my role on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), and they are top of mind as I consider my vote for Dr. Erica Schwartz, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While she is immensely qualified, she did not demonstrate a willingness to push this administration to follow the science or to stand up for the needs of our communities. Read my statement on Dr. Schwartz HERE . Despite the current uncertainty in Washington, we have trusted professionals in our state. Remember to take care of yourselves and stay healthy, Delaware! A Great Day for Nurses As we address the health issues facing our communities, it’s a reminder that we need to invest in the healthcare professionals who work to keep us safe and well. Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve worked to improve opportunities for our nation’s nurses and ensure they have the resources they need to succeed. Last week we hit a major milestone in this effort. The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions considered key healthcare legislation, including my National Nursing Workforce Center Act . This bill improves federal and state coordination to address nursing shortages and relieves pressure on the nursing workforce. I’m proud to share that this bill passed out of Committee! Watch my remarks HERE and learn more HERE . Thank you to our nurses for keeping us healthy! Technologies of the Future My team and I are constantly exploring new technologies and working to understand the opportunities and challenges that may come with them. While they present new capabilities, we must stay ahead of the curve to ensure they’re used safely and keep pace with global competition. The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness held a hearing on scientific exploration and its impact on competition. I spoke with witnesses on the development of quantum computing, building a workforce to enable it, and how to support new research opportunities, like NIIMBL’s work at UD. Watch my hearing exchange HERE . We’re consistently learning about new technologies and how they’ll impact opportunities. The Fight Continues Despite our progress as a nation, Black women make just 63 cents to every dollar made by white male counterparts, meaning we must work 55 percent longer to reach the same earnings. Last week we recognized Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, which marks the amount of time Black women must work to achieve parity. I led a resolution to honor this day and was joined by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus. Our efforts go beyond marking the day to concrete policy actions to address this disparity. Learn more about Black Women’s Equal Pay Day HERE and HERE . A Place to Call Home Earlier this year, the Trump administration chose to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants and other groups. Many of these immigrants came to the United States seeking safety due to turmoil or natural disaster in their home country. Since their arrival, they have built a life as active members of our communities. I’ve been leading the fight against the Trump administration’s decision and was proud to speak on the Senate Floor about legislation I introduced with Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) on restoring these protections. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, and TPS has afforded this opportunity through Democratic and Republican administrations. Watch my remarks HERE to understand the moral and economic implications. Leaders of Tomorrow Our young people are our future, and we must make sure they feel empowered to use their voices from the start. I had the chance to meet with four Delawareans who were visiting D.C. through the American Legion Girls Nation and Boys Nation Programs, which introduce students to government and civic engagement. Our future is in good hands! It was a pleasure to connect with Delaware’s future leaders! Celebrating Those Who Serve We celebrated the United States Coast Guard’s 236th birthday! As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries, it was an honor to join USCG leadership and the rest of the Coasties for such a special occasion. Thank you for keeping our coasts and communities safe! Happy Birthday to the Coast Guard! Senators Unscripted I joined the Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus for their “Senators Unscripted Series,” where we discussed my journey to public service, experiences in the House and Senate, and the issues that impact our communities today. It was a pleasure to spend time with these public servants and answer their questions. I left feeling inspired about where their careers will take them! Thank you to SBLSC for having me kick off this series! Delawareans in D.C. Our team is always excited to meet with Delawareans in Washington! Last week we welcomed constituents to my D.C. office to share some of our work and hear what’s on their minds. This Capitol Conversations had extra flavor with the overwhelming majority of visitors being young Delawareans. If you find yourself in Washington, please be sure to swing by our next Capitol Conversation! Hope to see you at Capitol Conversations! In this week’s How May We Serve You , I want to highlight another team success in our efforts to serve the needs of Delawareans across the state. Last week, my team helped a Delawarean receive a $24,000 tax refund! They had been waiting since February due to an ID verification issue. Never hesitate to reach out to my office for help. CLICK HERE to learn more. This edition’s Constituent Corner honors Myles “Coach Mizz” Henry, Concord High School’s head basketball coach. Henry, who graduated from Concord High in 2012, dedicates his time not only to bringing the Raiders to victory on the court, but to instilling life skills in his players. Earlier this month, Henry took the team’s captains to downtown Wilmington to hand out sandwiches to the city’s unhoused residents—teaching his student-athletes the importance of giving back and the necessity of community investment. Thank you for supporting the First State! 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.