Let Me Be Blunt: United We Stand

Dear Friend, As we begin this edition of Let Me Be Blunt , I want to join my fellow Delawareans in prayer and solidarity for everyone affected by by the senseless act of gun violence at ChristianaCare’s Wilmington Hospital that shook our community this week. I extend my sincere gratitude to law enforcement, first responders, and especially the healthcare professionals who attended to the victims. While we may be filled with confusion and pain, one thing is certain – everyone should feel safe in their communities, especially in a place of healing. Read my joint statement with Senator Coons and Representative McBride HERE . As we recognize Juneteenth, please stay safe and take care of one another. I’ve made stops across our state to commemorate the occasion and begin celebrating America’s 250 th year. Read on to learn more. Finally, I want to wish a Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and father figures out there who’ve been guiding forces in our lives. For those of you, like me and my sisters, who are missing their dads, I hope you find comfort and joy in your memories. Carrying on the Legacy I started my public service career in earnest as an intern in the office of then-Congressman Tom Carper and I’ve been privileged to witness his commitment to our families. Throughout his career, he’s championed the needs of our state’s youth – from mentoring programs, expansion of school-based wellness centers, a focus on improving educational outcomes, to building strong communities by securing millions in funding to increase mental health resources for K-12 students. His devotion to the next generation is unmatched. Because of these accomplishments and so many more, it was only fitting that Delaware State University’s Early Childhood Innovation Center should formally be named after him. This center is providing new credentials and career advancement opportunities for educators today and in the future. I’m so proud to see his legacy carried on through the issues that matter most! All Hands on Deck I started my public service career in earnest as an intern in the office of then-Congressman Tom Carper and I’ve been privileged to witness his commitment to our families. Throughout his career, he’s championed the needs of our state’s youth – from mentoring programs, expansion of school-based wellness centers, a focus on improving educational outcomes, to building strong communities by securing millions in funding to increase mental health resources for K-12 students. His devotion to the next generation is unmatched. Our maritime industrial base is critical to our economic and national security. The Doctors Are In Delaware is facing a shortage of healthcare providers, and as costs continue to rise, we are approaching a pivotal moment for our community. We must do everything we can to support our medical professionals and keep them in our state. This week I met with Delawareans from the American Academy of Family Physicians to discuss my work on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and hear what they need to develop a strong provider base at home and build healthy communities. I’m so glad I had the chance to thank them for their work in person. Stay tuned for legislation I’m introducing in the next few weeks to lower healthcare costs for our families. Thank you for supporting the health and wellbeing of Delawareans across the state. The Future of Education On almost a daily basis, my team and I are actively monitoring and engaging in the rollout and adoption of new and emerging technologies. We’ve developed policies to address how AI will impact our workforce, protect seniors from fraud and scams, and provide tech resources to local communities. While these are important, we recognize no group will feel the lasting consequences more than our students. As Ranking Member of the Education and the American Family Subcommittee, I had the privilege of hosting a bipartisan hearing with Chair Tuberville (R-Ala.) on AI’s impact in K-12 education. Testifying before us were experts in the field, including Delaware’s own Secretary of Education, Cindy Marten. From its influence on critical thinking skills and student/teacher interactions, to its opportunities and challenges, the main goal of the hearing was to keep students at the center of the conversation. We still have a long way to go but conversations like these are a step in the right direction. View my remarks HERE and the full hearing HERE . Delaware is taking steps to address AI’s impact in the classroom. Capitol Conversations with LBR My team and I hosted over 40 Delawareans in D.C. for our monthly Capitol Conversations coffee. We met with advocates and business leaders from all three counties, including one Delawarean who is making educational children’s books! Delawareans are doing amazing things, and it was so great to welcome them to our nation’s capital. My Washington office will host our next Capitol Conversations on Wednesday, July 22, at 2 pm. If you find yourself in the D.C. area, drop by to connect with me and my team. CLICK HERE to RSVP. I hope you’ll join me at Capitol Conversations in D.C.! As the First State, Delaware holds a critical place in our nation’s history – the American story truly starts here. To celebrate America 250, I’ll be touring historic sites across the state to learn more about our legacy and talk to Delawareans about what this anniversary means to them. To kick off the celebrations, I spent last weekend in New Castle at Separation Day. It was a joy to come together and hear how Delawareans are marking the occasion. Watch part of my day in New Castle HERE . This weekend, I continued the fun, visiting communities in Wilmington, Smyrna, Georgetown, and Laurel to celebrate Juneteenth. One of the events I attended was themed “Proximity Promotes Change,” and as we mark this historic anniversary, it’s more important than ever that we remember where the true power lies—with ALL of us. I can’t wait to share more of my adventures with you as we celebrate America and Delaware 250! 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 team assisted a constituent in receiving unclaimed funds from his deceased parents’ estate. After trying for over a year, the constituent received a deposit of over $2,000! Never hesitate to reach out to my office for help. CLICK HERE to learn more. This week’s Constituent Corner honors Dr. Jeanne D. Nutter, an oral historian, teacher, and public speaker. Dr. Nutter has spent her career capturing history and telling Delaware’s stories. She’s produced numerous documentary films and authored books highlighting Delaware at large and preserving the history of our African American community. Most recently, she explored the history of the Walnut Street YMCA and YWCA. As we celebrate our nation’s 250 th anniversary, I’m grateful for storytellers like Dr. Nutter who ensure we capture all of Delaware’s history. THIS 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.