Dear Friend,

In light of the tragic news coming out of Minneapolis, you are receiving this edition of our newsletter with a slight delay, along with my official statement.

Later this week, the Senate is scheduled to consider a minibus appropriations bill (a package of funding bills) that includes funding for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). I announced that I’ll oppose the current legislation considering the horrific killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who worked for the local VA Hospital. CLICK HERE to read my full statement.

I spent this week in Delaware, hearing from folks in all three counties about the issues that matter to them. Keep reading for more on what I was up to.

Recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day

➡️ Beginning downstate, I attended the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Organization, Sussex County, Inc.’s 38th annual dinner. This full-house event in Georgetown included community leaders and residents from across the county and culminated in a powerful message from Dr. Debbie Harrington. The theme, “Moving Forward Amidst the Storm,” was a timely reminder of the strength and resilience we can all draw from Dr. King’s example.

➡️ In Wilmington, folks braved the snow to worship and receive an MLK message at the Interdenominational Ministers Action Council's (IMAC) annual service at New Destiny Fellowship. We were fed mentally, encouraged physically, and uplifted spiritually to heed our calling as Dr. King did.

➡️ And Monday, on a crisp Kent County morning, I joined hundreds for the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Rho Lambda Chapter’s 43rd annual Dr. King prayer breakfast in Dover. Ty Jones, a writer and actor, delivered a thoughtful and stirring keynote on the importance of art and creativity in bringing about change and social justice. Ironically, he ended with a nod to Sinners – the movie that just made Oscars history with the most nominations this year – by saying, “Be careful who you let in your house!”

➡️ I ended this special Monday with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware at their first annual Teen Summit. I shared reflections on Dr. King as a young person, how he influenced me, and some lessons I’ve learned throughout my life. While I hope I inspired these teens, I can say unequivocally that they inspired me.

ABOVE: Celebrating Dr. King with Sussex County leaders

ABOVE: Speaking at IMAC’s annual service in Wilmington

ABOVE: The Alphas’ 43rd annual Dr. King prayer breakfast

ABOVE: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware’s first annual Teen Summit

My Water Resources Listening Tour

This year, Congress is scheduled to vote on the reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). It's legislation that supports water infrastructure, flood and storm control, and ecosystem restoration projects up and down our state. With Delaware being the lowest-lying state in the country, the passage of a good WRDA bill is paramount. My team organized a listening tour across eastern Sussex County to learn more about local priorities.

➡️ We started our morning in Bethany Beach – also known as “the Venice of Delaware” – with Mayors Ron Calef and Edie Dondero, and other representatives from Bethany and South Bethany. Our tour began in 23 degree (felt like 7 degrees) weather on a trolley and then went onto the beach.

➡️ Next, I met with Mayors Stan Mills and Bill Stevens, and other officials from Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach, at the new Rehoboth Beach Patrol building. We then took a tour on the beaches from Rehoboth to Dewey to personally view their priorities.

➡️ Our third stop was a roundtable with the Bay Beaches. We were joined by representatives from Kent and Sussex Counties (County Administrators Kevin Sipple and Todd Lawson), the Bay Beach Association, Slaughter Beach (including Mayor Harry Ward), Lewes (including Mayor Amy Marasco), Bowers Beach (including Mayor Ada Puzzo), and unincorporated Broadkill, South Bowers, Kitts Hummock, and Pickering Beach. Also participating were DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson and a representative from Senator Chris Coons' office, who shared great insights and resources.

These meetings and tours were informative and enlightening as we prepare to work on WRDA. While there were some distinct local needs, I was struck by the broad consensus that uncertainty at the federal level is making it more difficult for our local communities to plan and implement coastal resilience initiatives. From funding being withheld to challenges with responsiveness, it is imperative that we continue our local, state, and federal partnership. 

What happens in our coastal communities affects our entire state and region. Our coastal communities contribute an estimated 74,000 jobs to our economy and impact everything from tourism to clean water. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I’ll bring what I learned to the table and keep working to deliver for our coastal towns and beaches.

ABOVE: The Bethany Beach Trolley

ABOVE: Meeting with officials from Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach

ABOVE: Meeting with the Bay Beaches in Slaughter Beach

Celebrating Purpose-Built Communities

This week, I was proud to welcome advocates from across the country to Delaware for a Convening of National Community Development Leaders, hosted by the WRK Group and their CEO, Logan Herring.

Last September, I launched my comprehensive housing agenda – The New Way Home – alongside the WRK Group at their Imani Village neighborhood. Breaking the cycle of poverty means attacking the issue from every angle – housing, education, jobs, and health. It means leveraging public and private investments to build community. That’s why WRK Group’s effort to create purpose-built communities should be a national model. It was already included in my Choice Neighborhood Initiative Act, legislation I introduced with Senator Chris Van Hollen.

ABOVE: I unveiled my housing agenda alongside the WRK Group last year. Their enterprise is a national model and needs to be replicated.

Education, Jobs, and Housing, Oh My!

➡️ I started off my day on Thursday by meeting with the University of Delaware’s new president, Dr. Laura Carlson. I was grateful for the chance to hear Dr. Carlson’s vision for UD and discuss ways we can work together for the benefit of the Blue Hen community.

➡️ I then joined the Delaware Department of Labor’s Delaware Youth Workforce Connect Conference in New Castle. I’ve always said that if I had another middle name, it'd be Lisa Blunt “Jobs” Rochester – jobs have always been my focus. It’s especially important for our young people, who are facing new barriers to finding employment. It's been reported that youth unemployment has risen, and Delaware is higher than the national average. DOL and partners are aggressively working to shift the tide.

As Delaware’s former Secretary of Labor, I’m grateful to current Secretary LaKresha Moultrie and her team for bringing everyone together to share resources AND encourage employers to hire while making sure they know the law and best practices. 

➡️ Next, I joined Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity (CDHFH) to tour a new house that was purchased with federal funding I secured. This was a chance to see the impact of the work we do in Washington, and it was a blessing to meet this homeowner and hear how excited she is for this new home she worked to build.

I also stopped by CDHFH’s ReStore. In case you didn't know: 1) everybody who buys from the ReStore is contributing to the building of houses, and 2) in addition to donated items, they have brand-new items in stock, such as office chairs, artwork, and sofas. This is community and empowerment in action!

➡️ I concluded the day at Procter & Gamble’s Dover manufacturing facility. It was a great opportunity to see their work up close and discuss advanced manufacturing, supply chains, workforce planning, and the skills folks need to succeed. If you’ve ever bought Pampers wipes in the United States, they were probably made in Delaware!

ABOVE: I’ll always be cheering on our youth workforce in Delaware.

ABOVE: Standing alongside CDHFH leadership and this brand-new homeowner

ABOVE: Touring Procter & Gamble’s Dover facility

Investing in our Future Generations

➡️ On Friday, the United Way of Delaware hosted a 2025 Data Reveal & Celebration for their Get Delaware Reading Summer program at West End Neighborhood House. It’s important for kids to keep reading while school is out to avoid the “summer slide.” In addition to the educational benefits, reading proficiency builds a strong economy. Governor Meyer declared a literacy state of emergency last year, and this event highlighted the need to keep up the pressure by investing in our future generations!

➡️ A day of great joy! I joined community members for a beam signing ceremony for the Peoples Settlement Association's (PSA) new community center. The building will be named in honor of Arthur W. Boswell, Jr., a true icon who was loved and respected by so many. Boz was a confidante and mentor for me, and immortalizing him with this honor is a fitting tribute.

Peoples Settlement has provided education, enrichment, and support for the families of Wilmington’s East Side for generations. That includes my own, given that my dad’s first job in Delaware was being a program director for PSA in 1969. I’m excited for this new era for Peoples Settlement and look forward to their continued growth and community engagement. A special note of thanks goes to State Senator Darius Brown, then-Governor Carney, Sandra Ballard, the board, other legislators, and community members for making this day possible.

➡️ Thank you to the Owls of Odyssey Charter School. After previously reaching out to my office through our Share Your Story portal, I was excited to see their Food Studies CTE Pathway program in person. This mostly student-led program grows leafy greens in hydroponic and aeroponic labs, maintains an urban farm, and runs a food pantry. All in all, they distribute food to 300 families every week.

As the country’s only Greek dual language immersion program, and with a diverse student population, you could feel the Socratic love of learning in the air. In addition to conversations about food insecurity and justice, “food as medicine,” and their love for the animals on campus, I was inspired by the students try something new – a spicy kelp pickle.

ABOVE: Joining community leaders for the Get Delaware Reading Summer celebration and Data Reveal

ABOVE: Laying (and signing!) the groundwork for Peoples Settlement’s new community center

ABOVE: Hearing about Odyssey Charter’s Food Studies CTE Pathway from students

THIS TUESDAY: Mobile Office Hours in New Castle

My office will host our next mobile office hours event at the Route 9 Library & Innovation Center this Tuesday, January 27^th. Members of our casework team will be available to help Delawareans in need of assistance. To RSVP, CLICK HERE.

Delaware High School Students: The Senate Page Program is Here

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 the Friday, February 27^th deadline.

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.

With the snow and anticipated icy conditions, please stay tuned to the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, and the Delaware Department of Transportation for important health, emergency, and transportation updates.

This week’s Constituent Corner honors The Mary Campbell Center (MCC) in Wilmington. Now for almost 50 years, MCC has been serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing residential, day, and community-based services. A cornerstone for MCC is helping its residents achieve their dreams.

The main focus of our visit was seeing their new expansion and renovations that were funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) – our federal dollars in action. While there, I met Bill, whose dream project involves autonomous wheelchairs (stay tuned). Thank you to MCC for living your mission!

ABOVE: I was grateful to meet Bill, whose dream is to invent autonomous wheelchairs!

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