Sen. Huxtable represents the 6th District, covering Milton, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach.
Take a look at my latest newsletter so that you can stay up to date on the latest infrastructure projects in our district. https://conta.cc/3P7t2O8
Congratulations to this year’s Teacher of the Year finalists! Delaware’s 2024 Teacher of the Year will be named on October 18. Good luck to our candidates from the 6th District!
Family caregivers play a crucial role in providing long-term care for seniors and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, yet there are many challenges that impact caregivers.
This past legislative session, the Delaware General Assembly passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 78 establishing the Enhancing Lifelong Community Supports for the Aging, Individuals with Disabilities, and their Family Caregivers Task Force
The task force wants to learn more from caregivers directly about their biggest concerns, barriers, and focuses when caring for seniors and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
If you are a caregiver and wish to share your perspective and lived experiences, please take a few minutes to complete this survey: https://rb.gy/edypr
Your input will help the task force identify policies to better support caregivers in Delaware.
For more information about the Caregiving Task Force visit: https://rb.gy/h8qgr
Affordable housing should be a guarantee for every Delawarean. To achieve that reality, it’s up to lawmakers and community leaders to work with folks across our communities on developing sustainable solutions that increase the stock of affordable housing and break down barriers to homeownership.
That’s why I’m excited to participate in this upcoming town hall with Housing Alliance Delaware. Join us at the Rehoboth Beach Film Society Cinema Arts Theater on Tuesday, October 3 at 6 p.m. for this important community conversation. All members of the public are welcome to attend.
Doors open at 5:30, at which time guests are invited to visit with representatives from our partner organizations like Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) and CLASI who will be on-site with resources.
I hope to see you on the 3rd!
In Delaware, 4 out of 5 child safety seats are not installed correctly. That is why for Child Passenger Safety Week (September 17 – September 23), the Delaware Office of Highway Safety wants parents and caregivers to learn the updated car seat law.
It is important that children are in the correct car seat that is properly installed – and with the updated car seat law, the guidelines are clearer and easier to follow.
As of June 30, 2023, Delaware’s Child Restraint Law requires:
– Children under age 2 AND 30 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat
– Children under age 4 AND 40 pounds must ride in a harnessed car seat
– Children in booster seats must remain in their booster seat until reaching the height or weight maximum listed by the booster seat manufacturer (There’s no booster seat with a height maximum lower than 4’4″)
As Child Passenger Safety Week comes to a close, please remember that securing your child’s car seat today, is securing their future tomorrows.
Delaware DNREC’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) is an educational program offering hands-on workshops to encourage and enhance participation in outdoor activities like hunting and shooting sports, fishing and boating, and non-harvest activities.
The 2023 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program will be held the weekend of Oct. 13 to Oct. 15 at Delaware Seashore State Park.
Registration for this year’s event opens today, September 20, 2023.
The agenda and other program details will be available soon at de.gov/bow.
If you have any questions about the program or want to be added to our contact list, please email patrick.ruhl@delaware.gov or call 302-422-1329.
The Delaware General Assembly has made historic progress over the past few years to help working families. This progress includes the creation of both a Paid Family Medical Leave program and the Expanding Access for Retirement and Necessary Savings (EARNS) Program.
The Delaware Department of Labor’s Division of Paid Leave will be hosting a fall series of public forums to keep Delawareans informed about these programs and the benefits they will have for employers and employees across our state.
These public forums will be held on:
– Thursday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Delaware Technical College, Dover
– Thursday, Sept. 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Delaware Technical College, Georgetown
– Wednesday, Oct. 4, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Lewes Public Library
– Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana, Newark
Visit DEPaidLeaveForum.com to register for any of the fall Delaware Paid Leave and EARNS Public Forums.
An hour of your time could help to save lives.
The Blood Bank of Delmarva recently declared a blood emergency following a summer of low donor turnout, particularly among youth and first-time donors.
While the region’s inventory for all blood types is well below the optimal 5-7-day supply, types O+, O-, B- and platelets are desperately needed.
Donating blood is safe and only takes about an hour.
Please schedule an appointment today and ask a friend or family member to join you.
For more information or to sign up for an appointment, visit: http://www.delmarvablood.org/ or call 1-888-825-6638.
Do you know a gifted, young Delawarean with a passion for social justice and a drive to improve their community?
The Delaware Department of State is seeking nominations for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award, an honor named after the famed civil rights leader and late U.S. Congressman from Georgia.
Nominees must be a resident of Delaware ages 25 or younger who have demonstrated a meaningful commitment to bring about positive change in their community.
Nominations will be accepted through October 20, and a recipient will be announced in November.
Click here to learn more about how you can nominate an inspiring young person for the 2023 the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award: https://bit.ly/44IkvFH
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, let us remember the words of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, “It is important for all of us to appreciate where we come from and how that history has really shaped us in ways that we might not understand.”
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces there will be intermittent lane closures on US 9 and Minos Conaway Road/Lakeview Blvd starting on Monday, August 28th through mid-October for the construction of a traffic signal.
Motorist are reminded to use caution and expect minor delays while in the area.
For 24/7 traffic information, tune to WTMC 1380 AM, visit deldot.gov or download the DelDOT app.
As Delaware and our nation face a worsening housing crisis, we need to get creative in how we promote affordable housing solutions here in the First State.
One of the bills I passed this past year that I am most proud of would fully exempt affordable housing projects funded by nonprofits and government entities from the state’s portion of the realty transfer tax – a small change that can have a huge difference on whether or not a family can afford a home.
While we still have a lot of work left to do around affordable housing, it was a real honor to join my House cosponsor Rep. Paul Baumbach and housing advocates from across our state at Legislative Hall today as Governor John Carney signed Senate Bill 87 (S) into law today.
This bill will encourage our local jurisdictions to more robustly participate in the growth of affordable housing, while also streamline existing tax exemptions for first-time homebuyers to make sure our tax code aligns with our values and the needs of our neighbors.
The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announces there will be Lane Closures on SR 1 between SR 24 and Old Landing Road starting on Tuesday, September 5 through late November (weather permitting) for intersection improvements. Improvements include the extension of the SR 1 southbound U-turn Lane approaching Old Landing Road and removal of one of two SR 1 northbound left-turn lanes approaching Rehoboth Mall Boulevard and the reconstruction of the concrete median and storm drains.
Motorist can expect SR 1 to be reduced from 3 lanes to 2 lanes as well as Old Landing Rd single left turn lane closure Monday through Friday 7pm to 8am. Motorist are reminded to use caution and expect minor delays while in the area.
For 24/7 traffic information, tune to WTMC 1380 AM, visit deldot.gov or download the DelDOT app.
Thank you Rehoboth Beach Film Society for sharing your vision and mission with me recently. Folks, check them out. https://www.rehobothfilm.com/
Wonderful day to be at the Rehoboth Art League festival. Walk around and see amazing artists, dappled sunshine and live music. https://www.rehobothartleague.org/
ICMYI — The Delaware Forest Service mobilized a 3-person wildland fire engine crew from Blackbird State Forest on July 28th for a fire assignment to Wawona, California. Working with the Yosemite National Park’s Emergency Communication Center and various agencies from all over the country, the crew will be working on patrolling and isolating new fire starts due to human activity and lightning strikes. The predicted fire danger for the area is extreme/high for the next 7 days with an active 841-acre fire currently burning in Yosemite National Park, which is creating closures in the area. This assignment will be physically demanding for the crew and will require their 45 years of experience in logistical and operational roles in order to isolate these new starts so that they do not turn into larger fires.
The Delaware Forest Service will be looking to perform a crew swap around mid-August so that support can continue to be provided to the area. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, 64 large fires and complexes have burned 311,669 acres in 9 states. More than 11,500 wildland firefighters and support personnel are currently assigned to incidents across the country.
I’d like to thank the Delaware Bay and River Cooperative Inc for taking us out on their training exercises today. Their mission is to protect the Delaware River and Bay natural resources by focusing on three key areas; Environmental Preparedness, Environmental Response, and Education.
Their environmental response protects our communities and tourism industries from potential impacts such as releases from ships.
Thank you for what you do. Here’s a pic of Delriver, one of their vessels during the exercises.
Thank you Sussex Housing Group for giving me the opportunity to speak to your group about why housing matters yesterday. Keep up the great work and advocacy.
If you haven’t checked it out yet, visit the Westside Creative Market. Had the pleasure of popping in this evening. Keep up the good work.
As Delawareans across the First State struggle to find affordable housing, the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) is stepping up by tapping a long-standing federal program to develop new affordable housing options.
DSHA has just awarded $3 million to three development projects, including two that will collectively add nearly 100 new affordable housing units right here in Sussex County.
Both the Chapel Branch Apartments in Lewes and the Cheer Gateway East senior housing apartments in Georgetown will benefit from federal tax credits over 10 years in exchange for keeping the units affordable, thanks to the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program first launched in 1986.
Since then, DSHA has used this federal program to add more than 10,000 affordable units to the state’s housing inventory, and I am committed to making sure we are doing everything we can to make more housing available for working families.
Every community in Delaware has felt the devastating impacts of the opioid epidemic, including communities of color.
African American/Black Delawareans accounted for 29% of the total overdose deaths in 2022, despite making up less than 24% of the total population.
In response, the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health is launching the Health Equity Advancement Project to create grassroots and community based partnerships capable of saving lives.
A total of eight mini grants, each worth $50,000, are now available to organizations willing to undertake projects that will assess the community’s needs, implement culturally and linguistically appropriate standards, develop culturally specific engagement strategies, and launch education/awareness campaigns.
If you represent or know of community-based organizations interested in addressing the harmful effects of the opioid crisis in Black and Brown communities, please visit ATRC.DHSS.Delaware.gov to learn more.
Delaware’s Free Infant Formula Initiative is expanding to help more families.
The Free Infant Formula Initiative was launched in February by Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long and other community partners in response to the infant formula shortage impacting families across the country.
Delaware families with children under the age of 1 can now pick up more than one 28.2 oz canister of Care A2+ infant formula. This FDA-approved formula canister provides over 20 baby bottles, helping to ensure our most vulnerable Delawareans receive the proper nutrients.
Formula distribution sites will be open throughout the state. To receive this free formula, all you have to do is show proof that you are a Delaware resident using one of the following documents:
– A photo ID issued by the State of Delaware
– A government-issued ID
– A piece of printed mail or billing statement with a Delaware address.
If you or someone you know are in need of infant formula, visit https://ltgov.delaware.gov/formula/ for more information.
Delaware Teacher Academy students and advisors from across the state attended the 2023 Educators Rising National Conference in Orlando. During the conference, educators competed in performance-based events where these aspiring educators demonstrated their knowledge, skills, and leadership in education.
Congratulations to the 18 individuals or teams from Delaware who were recognized with Top 10 honors, you all represented the First State with excellence.
I want to especially congratulate the winners from Cape Henlopen School District’s Cape Henlopen High School, Zachary Naar, who placed 4th in the Exploring Non-Core Teaching Careers competition and Emma Kate Reist, who placed 3rd in the Exploring Student Support Service Careers competition. You both have certainly made the 6th Senate District proud!
Rep. Stell Parker Selby and I visited the pilot oyster hatchery facility operated by the DE Center for the Inland Bays, the University of Delaware, and Delaware State University last week.
They are doing important work that will advance the blue economy in Delaware, create jobs, and improve water quality in our inland bays.
That’s why I worked to support their efforts in this year’s Capital Improvement Act, more commonly referred to as the Bond Bill, as they work on the next steps in creating a Fisheries and Aquaculture Innovation Center.
Senate Bill 6 will benefit residents of Senate District 6 and beyond – and today, it heads to Governor John Carney’s desk.
Cape Henlopen State Park is one of our most precious open spaces in Delaware, and I am proud to have led this effort to preserve its natural beauty for generations to come.
Thank you to Rep. Paul Baumbach and my colleagues in the House of Representatives for passing Senate Bill 87. This bill takes an important step toward ensuring that our tax code aligns with our values and the needs of our residents.
I’ve spent my life fighting for affordable housing, and this bill serves as a critical first step in my tenure as your state senator to make homeownership a more attainable goal for a greater number of Delaware families.
As the lowest lying state in the nation, it is imperative that we in the Delaware General Assembly take seriously our responsibility to slow the damaging effects of climate change.
In my first year as a legislator, I am proud to sponsor House Bill 11 along with my colleague Rep. Debra Heffernan. This bill will require new commercial buildings with a foundation footprint of more than 50,000 square feet to meet certain requirements to ensure that their roof is able to support solar energy infrastructure.
We must be responsible about all future development, and this bill will ensure that we are setting our communities up for future success by enabling more of our commercial spaces to accommodate solar panels.
Supporting Delaware farmers is beneficial for both our economy and our health.
As Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I know that a locally sourced food economy will preserve our agricultural traditions for generations to come and provide our communities with fresher meat and produce, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the risk of food contamination.
That’s why I am working with my Republican colleague Rep. Ron Gray to encourage our state agencies and local businesses to support local farmers whenever possible.
Last week, we also sponsored legislation directing the Delaware Department of Agriculture to look at steps my fellow lawmakers and I can take to make sure at least 20% of the food purchased by our state agencies and businesses operating in Delaware is sourced from local farms.
I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for voting unanimously to pass this measure.
Communities thrive when we promote homeownership. Our neighborhoods grow stronger when homeowners have a stake in their local schools and civic organizations — providing economic security and helping to build wealth over time.
During the month of June, we recognize National Homeownership Month and reaffirm the importance of homeownership in Delaware’s economy and its central role in our national economic recovery.
It is important to take the time to recognize our state’s organizations and structures, such as the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) and nonprofits that connect families with housing resources, that work hard to make homeownership a possibility for many Delawareans. This is why I’m so glad to sponsor House Concurrent Resolution 63 with Rep. Kendra Johnson, which recognizes the month of June as National Homeownership Month here in Delaware.
Voluntary school assessments (or VSAs) are a powerful tool that county governments can use to ensure the developers building new neighborhoods in our community are paying their fair share toward the cost of school construction needed to accommodate the new homes they build.
New Castle County already uses VSAs and Kent County uses a similar funding tool called an impact fee. Sussex County, meanwhile, currently has no such mechanism to prevent school overcrowding.
That’s why I introduced Senate Bill 186. While this bill does not require Sussex County to enact a VSA, it does give Sussex County Council the ability to implement a funding mechanism to help prevent school overcrowding if it chooses.
I want to thank my colleagues in the Senate for passing this legislation and I am hopefully the House will soon send SB 186 on to Gov. John Carney for his signature.
A special congratulations to our very own Cape student, Augustine “Gus” Musika, who was appointed Student to State Board of Education by Governor Carney.
Gus is the proud son of an educator and is involved with numerous extracurricular activities in and out of school, such as being a varsity athlete and a member of the National Honor Society. While serving on the board, Gus plans to use his position to advocate for innovative and accelerated learning opportunities for students of all backgrounds.
We need students like Gus who bring a unique experience to the role in order to offer their perspective as we make decisions about education in our state. I can’t wait to see all the things Gus accomplishes.
Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf and I welcomed the Cape Henlopen boys’ volleyball team to Legislative Hall today, celebrating their upset win during this year’s state championship game! Congratulations to the Vikings for a nearly undefeated season and for bringing home the gold to the 6th District
This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of joining Beebe Healthcare for its annual Miracle Mile. This event was held on National Cancer Survivors Day, and celebrates the special connection between cancer survivors and their caregivers.
This is a beautiful way for our community to support Beebe Oncology and their patients by helping patients fundraise to cover daily expenses, comprehensive care needs, and diagnosis-specific essentials.
Cancer survivors deserve a life with less complication and more celebration.
It is with great pride that I share with you that the Senate unanimously voted this afternoon to pass Senate Bill 6. This issue is close to the heart of many residents of Coastal Delaware and people across our state who value our state parks and the open spaces along our coastlines.
Thank you to all of the community advocates who joined us today as we fight to preserve the natural beauty of Cape Henlopen State Park and beyond.
MEMORIAL DAY 2023
This cloudy Memorial Day began for me this morning at the Lewes Presbyterian Church, alongside community members and veterans for a wreath laying ceremony. We gathered around the gravesite of Colonel David Hall, a Lewes native and a former Governor of Delaware. Colonel Hall boldly led in the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of Germantown — crucial battles in the American Revolution.
Then, the rain couldn’t stop the American Legion Henlopen Post 5 from hosting its annual Memorial Day ceremony — quickly pivoting from the Rehoboth Bandstand and moving the entire event inside to the Convention Center. Commander Tom Dahl and his team put on an excellent ceremony, featuring a keynote address from Korean War Veteran Greg Gause.
Finally, I stopped at American Legion Post 17. Post Commander Steven Missimer put on a great program with USAF Major General Craig La Fave providing the keynote speech.
Memorial Day allows us to reflect upon the liberties we have in this country that we often take for granted. Let us all remember that these freedoms came with a price — and honor all who gave their lives to protect ours.
According to the latest data available from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Delaware is currently facing a shortage of more than 20,000 affordable rental homes available to extremely low-income renters.
That’s why I am proud to report that last week, the Senate passed my legislation, Senate Bill 87 (S). This legislation would fully exempt affordable housing projects funded by nonprofits and government entities from the state’s portion of the realty transfer tax.
By effectively lowering the cost for both buyers and sellers, SS 1 for SB 87 will help to spur growth among the housing stock most within reach for low- and medium-income families. This law will encourage our local jurisdictions to participate in the growth of affordable housing more robustly, while streamlining existing transfer tax exemptions for first-time homebuyers.
While we still have a lot of work left to do around affordable housing, I want to thank my Senate colleagues for taking this important step to make sure our tax code aligns with our values and the needs of our residents.
Delaware is working diligently to close the digital divide and bring high-speed internet to every home in the First State. Thanks to a boost from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue Plan Act, our goal is now more in reach than ever.
Your input is critical.
The Delaware Broadband Office has recently launched several new tools to collect your feedback, track our progress and see exactly when high-speed internet will be available in your area.
Click here to fill out a survey and sign up for the Office’s newsletter: https://bit.ly/456JBzE
Click here to see how the Office is using federal funds to expand high-speed internet in Kent and Sussex Counties: https://bit.ly/3o6ORCL
To learn more, visit https://broadband.delaware.gov/
Delaware’s Libraries are some of the biggest assets in our communities. Last week, my colleagues and I were paid a visit by several librarians from up and down the state, reminding us about the good work they do and the innovative programming they offer.
One of those programs is Delaware’s Imagination Library, which is a collaboration between the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney. This program lets children ages birth up to their 5th birthday receive a free book in the mail each month to promote an early love of reading!
Over the past several months, I have learned all about the many traditions that have been passed down through Legislative Hall.
Last week, I brought my first piece of legislation to the Senate floor — and it passed! But first, many of my colleagues “stumped” me with a long list of questions, which is something that every freshman Senator must endure during their first time managing a bill.
Senate Bill 30 clarifies language in our code about what constitutes a sawmill under Delaware law and adds definitions related to agriculture and silviculture. This legislation gives us a great opportunity to educate and improve awareness of forestry, trees, and the DE Forest Service staff and resources.
The Historic Lewes Farmers Market strengthens our local food systems and economy by bringing fresh food across Sussex County. I’m glad I got the chance to “ring in” opening day for the 18th annual market.
Historic Lewes Farmers Market is a nonprofit organization that operates two weekly markets from May-November and manages many programs including our SNAP match, Food Pantry Purchase Program, and farmer scholarships.
As a project partner in a two-year program with the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Council on Farm & Food Policy, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market is able to procure, aggregate, and distribute produce, meat, eggs, and dairy from Delaware small farmers and other local sources to food pantries across Sussex County. This program adds fresh local food to the diet of over 3,000 individuals in need in Sussex County weekly.
Electric vehicles reduce smog-forming air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in our state, our country and the world.
In order to encourage Delawareans to purchase new electric vehicles, Delaware DNREC will continue to give state rebates on qualifying makes and models with the extension of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Program.
For vehicles purchased or leased after May 1, 2023, there are a few enhancements to the program:
– A new application portal will make it easier for car shoppers to redeem the rebate at the dealership or up to 90 days after their purchase.
– New price limits are based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), instead of total price, to ensure additions like trailer hitches won’t affect rebate eligibility.
– A regularly updated list provides car shoppers a quick reference to the 30+ Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) eligible for the rebate.
To learn more, visit https://tinyurl.com/47yrrrfy
Rep. Stell Parker Selby and I stopped in for a visit at the Milton Theatre — another institution that has served our community for more than 100 years!
Saturday was National Train Day. Rep. Stell Parker Selby and I spent part of the day with the Lewes Junction Railroad & Bridge Association and the little red caboose. Their display adjacent to the Lewes Public Library and the Lewes Historical Society Museum will highlight the impact the train industry has had on this area. Watch for their growing work and display and if you want to volunteer with them, just reach out.
Cape Henlopen is an incredibly peaceful place. Its beaches and trails provide a quiet sanctuary for residents and tourists alike to enjoy nature’s wonders just a few short blocks away from our thriving business corridor all along the Coastal Highway.
In the wake of overwhelming public opposition to last year’s proposal to construct and open a restaurant at Cape Henlopen State Park, Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf and I have filed legislation to protect the park’s beauty and natural resources.
Senate Bill 6 will require the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, as a trustee of the land that the parks sits on, to administer it in the public interest.
The Delaware State Police have served as Sussex County’s lead law enforcement agency for decades, and it was my honor today to join them for a celebration of the agency’s 100th anniversary.
On behalf of the 6th Senate District, I want to express my gratitude to all of the men and women – troopers and civilians – who have served DSP with distinction over the last 10 decades.
Your commitment, your service and your sacrifice have made our communities and our families safer.
Click here to read more about DSP’s proud history: https://bit.ly/3ADbYY4
Here in Delaware, there are around 400 people waiting for life-saving organs to be donated. Those in our state represents just a small percentage of the national transplant waitlist, which currently sits around 104,000 Americans.
Someone gets added to the donor waiting list every 9 minutes in this nation.
That’s why I was proud to introduce House Concurrent Resolution 37, sponsored by Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf and me, which recognizes April 2023 as “Donate Life Month” here in the First State.
Joined by several guests from the Gift of Life Donor Program and other community organizations, we raised awareness about the value of becoming an organ donor.
Check your driver’s license for a “heart” the next time you open your wallet to see if you are an organ donor!
One of the best ways you can help fight drug abuse and prevent addiction is by discarding your expired or unused medication.
Continuing Delaware’s rich farming tradition for generations to come means we have to do more to build resilience in our local food supply.
That’s why the Delaware Council on Farm & Food Policy is offering grants to local farmers and other food supply businesses to help them expand capacity, build partnerships and increase their resilience.
Applications for grants ranging from $2,500-$150,000 are currently being accepted.
Click here to learn if your farm or business is eligible and how you can apply today: https://bit.ly/41HiSas
With Earth Day right around the corner, it’s a good time to remind ourselves we have a collective responsibility to improve our local air quality.
Delaware’s open burn ban, also known as ozone season, begins on May 1. That means the opening burning of cut or fallen tree limbs, dead branches or shrubbery will not be allowed again until Oct. 1. Instead, please use curbside or drop-off yard waste sites, composting or mulching to dispose of your residential yard waste until Fall.
Cooking fires, recreational campfires and ceremonial bonfires using firewood will still be permitted during this period. And remember, it is never legal in Delaware to burn leaves, grass, trash, garbage, tires, plastic or other refuse.
Click here for more information about Delaware’s annual open burn ban and alternatives to for dealing with your yard waste during the spring and summer: https://bit.ly/40mlskT
Looking for a way to give back to your state and community? Apply to become a member of a Board or Commission.
Governor John Carney makes appointments for about 300 Boards and Commissions that impact nearly all public policy issues, like education, healthcare, public safety and more.
To streamline the application process and encourage more Delawareans to apply, Governor Carney’s office has launched a new website for Boards and Commissions.
Apply today to be part of a Board and Commission and use your voice to serve your community.
Visit https://governor.delaware.gov/
There were several special guests in Legislative Hall this week, including visitors from the Delaware Farm Bureau, Humane Animal Partners, and even the Greek ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Alexandra Papadopoulou
This morning we made it out and planted some beach grasses at Cape Henlopen State Park. Brandon Williams, my Legislative Aide, and my daughter joined a whole host of volunteers to help Delaware DNREC plant grasses in a number of locations on our dunes.
Then we headed over to the Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park annual flea market. That’s going on until 3pm.
I was invited to Milford to join the Food Bank of Delaware as they “topped off” their new facility with the last beam. Can’t wait to see the facility be completed as they serve the residents of Kent and Sussex Counties. This will help their capacity to serve. Thanks for sharing your mission and helping our community with the challenges of food insecurity.
I next joined the The Green Beret Project at their Milton location to learn more about how they serve the youth in our communities. Thank you all for sharing your mission and vision.
Had the pleasure of hanging out with Rep. Stell Parker Selby yesterday touring the Brandywine Valley SPCA facilities in Sussex County with a couple of our constituents who are concerned with veterinary capacity in the area. Thank you for the work Brandywine Valley SPCA and others are doing in the field of veterinary medicine.
One of my last appointments yesterday was at Fort Miles Historical Association museum where I snapped this picture.
Great day. Started the morning with my friends and colleagues Sen. Sarah McBride and Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf at the Delaware State Dental Society “Give Kids A Smile” event in Lewes, providing underserved children free oral health care. Thank you for the great energy and your outreach and service to our community.
Then spent the evening at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village celebrating 100 years of growing chicken here in Delaware with Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) and several more friends and colleagues like Bethany Hall-Long, Sen. Dave Sokola, Sen. Kyra Hoffner and Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker. Just imagine, this industry started with an accidental shipment of 500 chickens and now it’s a multi-billion dollar industry here in Delaware!
Teachers have endured an extraordinary and trying past few years. Now more than ever, these dedicated public servants deserve to be compensated fairly — and Delaware can’t afford to be out-competed by our neighboring states who pay their educators a higher salary.
I was proud to stand alongside my colleagues and several educators yesterday as Governor John Carney announced a historic increase for teacher salaries that will be included in this year’s budget. His plan includes a 3% raise for everyone working in public education, with a total of a 9% raise for our teachers. There’s still more work to do to improve our schools, but this is an exciting first step.
Delaware families face many barriers accessing affordable and quality housing. Recently, the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) has announced two updates that will help reduce these barriers for Delawarean homeowners and renters.
First, DSHA is expanding their Delaware Mortgage Relief Program in a variety of ways, including: an increase in available financial assistance, future mortgage payments, removal of the delinquency requirement, and partnerships with community organizations. Over 1,100 Delawarean families have benefited from this program and DSHA hopes to help even more. Learn more about the Delaware Mortgage Relief Program at https://demortgagehelp.com/.
Then, DSHA is proud to announce the opening of the Delaware Tenant Rent Reporting Pilot Program. This program will help renters build credit without going into debt. Interested to see if you qualify? Visit https://www.
While I look forward to the opportunity to work with my colleagues in Dover on steps we can take locally to combat climate change, I was excited to join our federal delegation at Bowers Beach today as we celebrated the passage of the Water Resources Development Act through Congress. This federal legislation authorizes much-needed investments in flood mitigation and coastal restoration projects.
The WRDA will benefit communities in Delaware through a number of avenues: it updates the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ emergency authorities to provide greater support to Delaware’s beaches following damaging storms, lowers costs for shoreline protection efforts, and invests in modernized drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure across our state — just to name a few.
Delaware’s coastal communities are already feeling the effects of rising sea levels and are often impacted the hardest by extreme weather events. I’m glad that we have partners in Washington, D.C. who understand the urgency of this matter and look forward to the implementation of the WRDA here in the 6th District.
Senator Tom Carper
Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester
Bethany Hall-Long
Before he gave his State of the State address last week, I had the chance to sit down with Governor John Carney. We discussed some of the biggest issues facing families living in the 6th District, like access to affordable housing, the effects of climate change on our coastline, and the need to preserve open space across our community.
