Dear Friend,
Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt. It’s Valentine’s Day! I hope you’re able to spend some time with friends and loved ones, or treat yourself.
I’ve been reflecting on what love means in difficult moments. It’s not a soft or easy word, but a powerful one that requires action. It’s a noun AND a verb. Leading with love is more important now than ever, and it’s at the center of my service. In my view, when you love someone, you want them to be healthy, with a safe place to live; you want them to have a purposeful job or a successful small business; and you want them to have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.
At a constituent roundtable on Saturday, I was reminded of the fear, anger, and sadness many must overcome. I remember saying to the group, “Love is more powerful than hate.” The very next day, international recording artist Bad Bunny flashed a similarmessage during the Super Bowl halftime show, “The only thing stronger than hate is love.” I don’t believe in coincidences!
Stay strong – I love you, Delaware. ❤️
ABOVE: Speaking of love, I was honored to welcome the Buddhist monks (and their dog, Aloka) who’d traveled 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington, DC on a 15-week “Walk for Peace”. CLICK HERE to watch Senator Andy Kim and me reflect on what the “Walk for Peace” meant to us.
An Update on Government Funding
This week, Republicans in Washington rejected another proposal aimed at reforming Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As a result, DHS shut down last night due to a lapse in funding.
For any deal to earn my support, it needs to include commonsense reforms to our broken immigration enforcement system. CLICK HERE to watch my video on this situation.
Conducting Oversight of the SEC
Established during the Great Depression, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plays a critical role in protecting investors and ensuring our economy is fair and transparent for all. I’m concerned that the Trump administration is not taking these principles seriously.
When SEC Chairman Paul Atkins came before our Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, I asked him about his dedication to combating insider trading. His response was surprising. CLICK HERE to see what he said.
ABOVE: I was surprised by what I heard from SEC Chairman Atkins.
Addressing TPS for our Haitian Neighbors
Whenever necessary, the Secretary of Homeland Security can grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to individuals who were not born in the United States but are unable to return safely to their country of origin. It may be given due to armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other “extraordinary, temporary conditions.” That status was granted to people from Haiti in 2024. Secretary Kristi Noem is trying to abruptly revoke it, plunging the hundreds of thousands of Haitian nationals lawfully living and working in the United States into legal uncertainty. Currently, a U.S. appeals court upheld the status, calling Noem’s decision illegal.
Given the current humanitarian and political crisis in Haiti, I led all my Senate Democratic colleagues in demanding that Secretary Noem reverse her termination. CLICK HERE to read our full letter.
Delawareans in DC
My team and I are always excited to host Delawareans on Capitol Hill. Here are some of the organizations I met with this week:
➡️ Thanks to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners for all they do to keep our communities healthy and for their work advocating for our health care workforce.
➡️ It was great to see representatives from Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, Central Delaware Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, and Habitat for Humanity International. We discussed our shared passion for increasing the supply of affordable housing and ensuring more Delawareans have a roof over their heads.
➡️ Leaders from Westside Family Healthcare, La Red Health Center, and Henrietta Johnson Medical Center visited on behalf of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers. As federally qualified health centers, these folks are meeting Delawareans where they are. I’m proud to be their champion in the Senate.
➡️ Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I was proud to host theDelaware Division of Small Business, Downtown Milford, and Main Street Americato connect on business trends and our mutual support for Main Streets across our state.
ABOVE: Meeting with Habitat for Humanity
ABOVE: With the Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers
Being There for Delaware
➡️ Across our nation, Americans are living in fear because of what they’re seeing from immigration enforcement agents – keeping their kids home from school, not going to doctors’ appointments or attending church, and not seeing loved ones. In addition to pain and suffering, the current deployments of agents are causing confusion and chaos, making people less safe.
Last Saturday, I hosted a roundtable with leaders and members of Delaware’s Latino and Haitian communities to hear their experiences firsthand – from the mental and physical toll and the economic and safety impacts, to the resources available to families. It was a very intense and emotional conversation that I’ll never forget. I’m beyond grateful for everyone who attended and shared such powerful testimony.
My office will continue to be a resource in this time of need. CLICK HERE for “Know Your Rights” guidance from the Delaware Department of Justice.
➡️ As some try to erase Black history, it’s never been more important to preserve it. Opened in the late 1920s, the Richard Allen School was the focal point for the local African American community in Georgetown. It served generations of students. Now, the Richard Allen Coalition is working to breathe new life into it. Last weekend, I celebrated Black History Month with the Coalition in Georgetown.
ABOVE: Celebrating Black history with the Richard Allen Coalition
[NEW] Seeking Applications: 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 9th deadline.
Calling Young Leaders: Summer Internship Applications are Open!
Are you a Delaware college student or recent graduate who wants to make an impact on people’s lives? Are you interested in getting an up-close look at how the federal government works? Consider applying for an internship with my office this summer. We’ll have internships available in Delaware and D.C. that cover the legislative and communications portfolios. Applications for internships in D.C. are due on Tuesday, March 10th. The application deadline for internships in Delaware is Friday, March 13th. CLICK HERE for more information and to see how you can apply today!
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 the Friday, February 27th, deadline.
Do you have a story or resource you’d like to share? Is there a person or organization that’s been going the extra mile for our fellow Delawareans? Please tell us who we should honor in next week’s edition of Let Me Be Blunt.
This has been a difficult time for many Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employees in the wake of December’s tragic shooting. That’s why this week’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors honors the employees at the Delaware City DMV, which I visited on Monday. While the Wilmington location is closed, the Delaware City team has been opening their hearts to their Wilmington colleagues in the spirit of love and service. Now, they’re working together to serve Delawareans.
ABOVE: Visiting the Delaware City DMV
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.
