Let Me Be Blunt: It’s Good to Be Home

Dear Friend, Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt. The past few months have required a lot of time in Washington, D.C., so when I say it was good to be home this past week, you have no idea how much! To see so many of you up and down the state always recharges my spirit and energizes me to work on your behalf. So, it’s fitting that we are in a season of renewal and hope. I hope everyone enjoyed a very blessed Easter and Passover. May the holidays bring our world peace, resurrect love, and provide abundant joy to you and your loved ones. Keep reading for more on my work over this week. Investing in Education As the ranking member of the Senate Education & the American Family Subcommittee, I’m dedicated to preparing our young people to become the leaders of tomorrow. This week, I got a firsthand look at the exciting things happening at schools and learning hubs across Delaware. ➡️ I had a blast visiting Mr. Sedacca’s 4 th grade class at McVey Elementary School in Newark. If you’ll recall, this is the class who sent letters (written in beautiful cursive) and drawings to our office. In this age of technology and AI, I was impressed by their penmanship, oratory skills, critical thinking (they are drafting legislation to save our wetlands), and curiosity. I also answered their questions, saw their Black History Month projects, and joined a very spirited game of “Map Mania” — with pull-down maps where they identified states, countries, and language spoken. I have two words for the visit: blown away! ➡️ While serving in the House of Representatives, I was proud to join the delegation in securing federal funding for the Community Education Building (CEB) . Last week, I came back to see the incredible progress made on this innovative approach to education, workforce training, and community enrichment. On the visit, we saw the new Youth Development Center, which features child care, a fitness facility, a black box theater, and more. The efforts include new resources for community members, from health and nutrition to job training. The CEB is truly a national model for empowering students from cradle to career — investing in and repurposing buildings to improve quality of life, energizing and reinvigorating the city, and strengthening our state’s economy. ➡️ One of the CEB’s partners is Great Oaks Charter School. There, I saw the power of a safe, effective, and innovative learning environment. Topics discussed with the leadership included academic standards, truancy, and teacher preparation. Through small class sizes and mentors, students receive personalized attention to help them reach their highest potential. It was also an opportunity to speak with teenagers about the challenges they face and what they are looking forward to next — from selling real estate to going to Delaware State University and Morgan State University. ➡️ Knowing a strong foundation is key to a child’s success, I was pleased to help secure $1 million for St. Michael’s School and Nursery to expand their operations. It was great to see those dollars put to good use, from a workforce development center to new classrooms — including an outdoor classroom to teach young learners about the environment. For 135 years, St. Michael’s has welcomed and served children and families. ➡️ Rounding out our education visits this week was a stop at Delcastle Technical High School . As the former Delaware Secretary of Labor, this was the perfect place to end the day. Offering career and technical education (CTE) programs for in-demand jobs, Delcastle helps students chart their own course while addressing workforce shortages. One of the reasons they are so successful are the educators who have real-world experience in their fields, many of whom are Delcastle graduates themselves. They remind us that there are real needs in health care, cyber security, and electrical work — and that technology should enhance, not replace, us in the world of work. A special thanks to Cougar Nation! Highlighting Delaware Priorities When I’m back in Delaware, I make it a priority to check in with folks up and down the state to learn what they care about most. Here’s what I heard: ➡️ I met with Fenwick Island Mayor Natalie Magdeburger to connect on a range of Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) priorities, from dredging Little Assawoman Bay to the need to protect Delaware’s beaches and shorelines from climate change. ➡️ The Bethany-Fenwick Chamber of Commerce advocates for small businesses across 10 towns in southeastern Sussex County. I had the opportunity to connect with the Chamber on how we can work together to strengthen the local economy and address challenges with special federal programs. ➡️ Port Wilmington is an essential part of what makes our state great. We discussed issues like supply chains, workforce, port infrastructure security, implementation of my Clean Ports legislation, and updates on their expanded footprint. It was also a full circle to hear about their efforts to partner with schools like Delcastle and DelTech. ➡️ As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I’m working to ensure the upcoming Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) reauthorization meets this moment. That’s why I visited the proposed Delaware River Trail in New Castle to see its potential benefits for flood risk management. Flooding poses a number of threats and concerns for communities in New Castle — road closures, emergency management challenges, insurance availability and cost, property damage to one of our most historic towns, just to name a few. Thanks to all who came out to show, not just tell, me about the needs. ➡️ This year, Delaware Libraries is celebrating its 125 th birthday! I was happy to celebrate this milestone at the Duck Creek Regional Library in Smyrna, where we saw the library’s exciting new expansion. This project was funded by $7.8 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which I championed in the House. I was joined by the Friends of the Library, our state and local librarian, and the Delaware Secretary of State to see this new jewel of the community! Keeping Delawareans Healthy I’ve spent my career working to ensure Delawareans have accessible and affordable health care. To continue that work, I visited with health centers across Delaware to hear how I can support them as they support Delawareans. ➡️ For generations, St. Francis Hospital has been a pillar of Wilmington. Along with representatives from West End Neighborhood House and Cornerstone West CDC , I was grateful to tour the hospital and get an update on The Vistas at Saint Francis, a state-of-the-art affordable housing development for seniors that I helped fund during my time in the House. The primary focus of the visit was an update on the most recent transformation of the hospital — the Healthy Village Initiative . This initiative is a “whole-person” model of care that includes many partners to improve health outcomes. Check out the Healthy Village! ➡️ The Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill , a long-term care facility in Smyrna, serves a major need for vulnerable Delawareans. On the grounds of the existing hospital, I toured the new and improved State Service Center and viewed the nearby site for the new facility, which is expected to open in 2027 with the support of $50 million in ARPA funding and $10 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS). Built in the early 1960s, this is a much-needed upgrade for those who need it most and those who serve them. ➡️ I was proud to champion a $720,000 federal grant for La Red Health Center in Seaford. This funding will enable them to make a variety of infrastructure improvements to the facility — from security to hot running water and an updated HVAC system. This will ensure their ability to continue serving the community for many years to come. ➡️ Lastly on our health tour, we visited TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford. It was important to see the completion of their new behavioral health treatment center within the hospital’s emergency department. The $1 million we championed for this project will provide a safe, peaceful environment for those experiencing trauma. The hospital’s president, Penny Short, and her team also spoke of an emphasis on being culturally competent for our veterans. This week’s Constituent Corner honors former Delaware Senator Nancy Cook , who recently passed away. This was a major loss for Kent County and our entire state. On Tuesday, I had the honor of attending her funeral in Dover. Beyond being a legendary and trailblazing legislator, Nancy was a mentor to so many people, myself included. I will be forever grateful for her guidance and Delaware will miss her deeply, but I know that her legacy lives on through us. Do you know of a Delawarean doing exceptional things? Click here to tell us who we should honor in next week’s edition of Let Me Be Blunt. Service Academy Night On Thursday, Senator Chris Coons, Congresswoman Sarah McBride, and I hosted our delegation’s annual Service Academy Night at Del Tech in Dover. Thank you to all the families who came out, and all the representatives from our academies who were on hand to answer questions. If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry! You are free to contact our offices at any time. The 2026 application process opens on April 15th and closes on October 15th. CLICK HERE to learn more. Stars of Valor Fellowship My Dover office is seeking a Stars of Valor Fellow! This is a two-year, paid, full-time opportunity open to veterans, Gold Star families, and Active-Duty military spouses seeking experience working in government. CLICK HERE for more information and to apply by the Saturday, May 9 th deadline. Please visit 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.