BETHEL

Welcome back to Let Me Be Blunt. Like so many of you this week, I was horrified by the words coming from our President.

As you may have seen, President Trump threatened to kill “a whole civilization” as part of his reckless war in Iran. While he later agreed to another two-week pause in the war (which has yet to deliver on any of his ever-changing goals), the President’s dangerous and morally unacceptable threat cannot be ignored.

As I return to Washington, I expect more votes on reining in the Administration in both the House and the Senate. Many of you have expressed your outrage at the economic and human costs of this war. It’s clear — the safety of our troops, our country, and innocent lives around the world shouldn’t be a partisan matter. My Republican colleagues must join us to bring this war to an end.

Keep reading to learn more about our work here at home over the past week. Because of you, I’m heading back to Washington not only with clear eyes, but with a full heart!

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Protecting Our Water

 In Greenwood and Harrington, the team from Sussex Conservation District (SCD), along with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, took us on a tour of three federally funded projects focused on water quality restoration and wildlife habitat protection. We discussed how SCD helps landowners access federal resources that allow them to safeguard Delaware’s natural resources and create wetlands and stream buffers. Since Delaware is the lowest-lying state in the nation, addressing drainage challenges is essential.

We then joined leaders from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the City of Wilmington’s Parks and Recreation Department to see how $500,000 in federal funding helped implement stormwater infrastructure at Rodney Reservoir Park. From improving water quality and reducing flood risk to creating a community space with outdoor classrooms and urban gardening, this partnership produced “a haven for wellness and learning.” I recently introduced bipartisan legislation that reauthorizes the Delaware River Basin Conservation Program, which provided funding for this project and so many others across Delaware and our neighboring states. Make sure to visit Rodney Reservoir Park soon!

Investing in Our Health and Wellness

 I was honored to join Nemours Children’s Hospital for the ribbon-cutting of the new Institute for Maternal Fetal Health. This is the first surgical fetal care center in Delaware and will combine pre-natal, fetal, and neonatal services while providing state-of-the-art care to mothers with complex pregnancies. As rich as we are as a nation, we should not have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world — and this model gives us hope. As Black Maternal Health Week approaches, it’s important to recognize that Black women are three times more likely to die during childbirth than our white counterparts. I’m looking forward to introducing the Moms Matter Act — a bill to invest in access to maternal mental health and substance use treatment, while investing in a culturally competent healthcare workforce to address these disparities.

We had a robust conversation with Christen Linke Young, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). As a former Deputy Secretary of DHSS, I enjoyed talking with the Secretary about how Delaware is innovating state services, bringing down health care costs, and responding to federal funding changes.

Along with Kent County government officials, we toured the new EMS station in Frederica — made possible by $5 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which I was proud to champion in the House, and the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). The 3,700 square foot facility is home to two full-time paramedic units (with room for ride-along students and other EMS candidates) who will improve life-saving efforts in Kent County. We also discussed the county’s new mobile headquarters for fire and ambulance service — replacing the decades-old former unit. From a recruitment and retention standpoint, these upgrades have ensured Kent County is an attractive place to work and serve.

Rounding out our health visits was a tour of Courageous Hearts in Lincoln, which provides equine-assisted therapy and learning. Executive Director Rosemary Baughman and her team serve about a hundred adults and children every week, including veterans. We learned about their partnerships with the Dover Airforce Base and the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families — and we met their horses!

Investing in Our Security and Service Members

 One of the projects we are tracking is in partnership with the Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle. There, we helped secure $17.5 million in federal funding to replace the current Fuel Cell/Corrosion Control Hangar. Built over 60 years ago, it posed health and safety risks and needed to meet today’s standards. We toured the project, along with reviewing plans for a new, more secure entrance to the base — a project supported by Senator Carper.

THIS WEEK’S CONSTITUENT CORNER – HONORING AMAZING DELAWAREANS

This week’s Constituent Corner honors Linda Bonville, executive director of the Cape Henlopen Senior Center. This year, the Senior Center is celebrating 60 years of enriching the lives of adults aged 50 and older in Sussex County. And Linda has been working there for 48 of those years, starting as a secretary!

Linda’s late husband Diaz was an invaluable part of my team in the House, where he worked as my Kent and Sussex County outreach director. I know I speak for so many Delawareans when I say we are grateful for both Linda and Diaz’s service.

Do you know of a Delawarean doing exceptional things? Please tell us who we should honor in next week’s edition of Let Me Be Blunt.

Do you know of a Delawarean doing exceptional things? Please tell us who we should honor in next week’s edition of Let Me Be Blunt.

Onward in Service,