Let Me Be Blunt: Work(s) in Progress

Dear Friend, Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt . We are halfway through the year, and as we head toward the final stretch of this Congress, my team and I are busy developing policies that make your lives better. We recently celebrated the passage of the first comprehensive housing legislation in three decades — the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act , which will become law this weekend! I’m proud to say this package included five of my bills. As a member of four major committees, I’m also working on issues like healthcare, AI, environmental protection, agriculture, and so much more. Keep reading to learn more about the exciting bills we’ve introduced in recent weeks and preview some proposals we’re going to roll out soon! Bringing Down Healthcare Costs Healthcare is one of the biggest challenges facing people in Delaware and across the country, especially for seniors and people with disabilities living on fixed incomes. As the cost of care continues to rise, too many are forced to make impossible choices between seeing the doctor or buying groceries. No one should have to make those decisions, which is why I’m proud to lead the Medicare Cost Cap Act with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). This transformative legislation will create a $5,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs for people with Traditional Medicare. Currently, Traditional Medicare does not have a limit on out-of-pocket costs, meaning beneficiaries are confronted with unlimited and catastrophic costs if they face serious illness or hospitalization. An out-of-pocket cap will guarantee that all people with Medicare are protected, no matter what coverage option they choose — so they can enjoy good health, financial security, and peace of mind in their golden years. Learn more HERE . It’s time to modernize American healthcare. Food for Thought Last year, the Republican tax law made unprecedented cuts to SNAP and federal food assistance programs. Following these cuts, the Trump administration dismantled efforts that track nutrition needs, including the Food Security Supplemental Survey. Experts fear that losing this data will make it difficult to see where service gaps exist. Alongside Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), I introduced the Food Assurance and Security Act , which would reinstate the Food Security Supplemental Survey. This survey is critical to understanding food insecurity around the country. Every Delawarean should have access to the resources they need, and this legislation is one step to make sure every household can put food on the table. Learn more HERE . Meeting the folks who help feed our communities at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market. Preserving American History The African American Civil Rights Network is a National Park Service program that connects important sites from the Civil Rights Movement across the country. Delaware has its own affiliated sites related to the historic Brown v. Board of Education case. I partnered with Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Congressmen James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.-06) and Mike Carey (R-Ohio-15) to introduce the bipartisan Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act . This legislation will continue the program for another 10 years so future generations can learn American history. Learn more HERE . A Safe Place to Call Home Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was created to provide a safe haven to people fleeing crises in their home countries. In Delaware, we have thousands of community members who are TPS holders who chose our state as a place to start again. Despite the importance of this program to humanitarian needs and our economy, President Trump and his allies have attacked its legitimacy, and unfortunately the courts ruled in their favor to suspend these protections for some communities. Last month, I joined Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Senate Minority Leader Schumer in introducing a bill to designate Haiti for TPS. We were joined by 16 of our Senate Democratic colleagues. I’m proud to co-lead the legislation to ensure the Haitian community is treated with the dignity and protections they deserve. Learn more about the bill HERE . Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you were affected by the Court’s decision and need assistance ( CLICK HERE ). Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. A Report Card on AI AI and other emerging technologies continue to change our lives, and I, like all of you, have questions about their impact on the next generation. As Ranking Member of the Education and the American Family Subcommittee, I requested a study from the Government Accountability Office on the current state of AI in K-12 education with Chairman Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.). We need access to high-quality data to ensure we’re making informed decisions that will keep our students safe, support our educators, and help everyone succeed. We must ensure the next generation is ready for the future. Weathering the Storm We just endured a dangerous heat wave, and as extreme weather events become more frequent, we must ensure we have the resources to protect our families. That is especially important in Delaware, where hurricanes can bring devastating flooding to the lowest-lying state in the nation. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a specialized program known as “Hurricane Hunters,” which provides storm tracking and forecasting to support coastal communities. Despite its importance, the program is underfunded and lacks the proper resources to meet its full potential. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries, I joined Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee leadership to introduce the bipartisan Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Recapitalization Act , which will codify NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter mission in federal law for the first time. Critically, this bill will also support the acquisition of up to nine aircrafts to support the program. Learn more HERE . We must ensure our communities are protected during extreme weather. Stay Tuned This was just a brief recap of the great policies my team and I have been developing, but as we continue through the rest of this Congress, there is plenty more to come! Stay tuned for updates on these topics and more through my website , social media , and future newsletters! 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. My office successfully advocated to the Delaware Department of Labor on behalf of a constituent whose unemployment benefits claim had been pending since April 2026. The agency expedited the review and a payment for the missing benefits was deposited to the constituent’s account within two days. Never hesitate to reach out to my office for help. CLICK HERE to learn more. In this week’s Constituent Corner , I want to reiterate the importance of every encounter and conversation I have with Delawareans. I’m immensely grateful for the trust you have placed in me and the opportunity to share your stories at our nation’s capital. Every conversation I have with Delawareans, whether at home or in D.C., serves as a guiding light for my work. My Washington office will host our next Capitol Conversations on July 22 at 2 p.m. If you find yourself in the D.C. area, drop by to connect me and my team. CLICK HERE to RSVP. 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.