Photo Release: Whip Clark, Reps. McBride and Houlahan for Care Economy Roundtable in Wilmington

Wilmington, DE — Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE), Chair of the New Democrat Coalition’s Care Economy Task Force, hosted a roundtable in Wilmington focused on building a stronger, more affordable care economy. Held at local small business, Brew HaHa, the event was part of the New Dems on the Road series and brought together national leaders and Delawareans on the front lines of caregiving, workforce development, and economic policy. 

Rep. McBride was joined by Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) and Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), as well as Delaware Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay, First Lady of Delaware Dr. Lauren Meyer, small business owners, child care providers, labor leaders, advocates, and nonprofit leaders. Photos from the event are available for use here.

The roundtable focused on expanding access to paid family and medical leave, high-quality child care, and elder care, and building bipartisan support for policies that uplift caregivers, working families, and small businesses.

“Every family, in every zip code, deserves access to affordable child care, elder care, and paid leave—and today’s conversation made clear that the need is urgent, the solutions are real, and the time to act is now,” said Rep. McBride. “These investments don’t just support families—they strengthen our economy and stabilize our communities. I’m proud to build on Delaware’s leadership and work with my colleagues in Congress to advance comprehensive, nationwide policies that uplift caregivers and working families. I’m grateful to Whip Clark and Rep. Houlahan for joining me for this important conversation.”

“America runs on child care—it enables kids to thrive, parents to work, and our economy to grow,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “But too many families struggle to find and afford care. We can solve this crisis by investing in our child care system, providing paid family leave, and putting the needs of working families ahead of the billionaire class. I’m grateful to join Reps. McBride and Houlahan for this important conversation. House Democrats stand united to lower costs and support working families.”

Rep. Houlahan, Chair of the New Dems’ Economic Growth & Cost of Living Working Group, brought care advocates from Pennsylvania to learn from Delaware’s success passing the Healthy Delaware Families Act — the state’s paid family and medical leave law passed under the leadership of Rep. McBride during her time as a state senator.

“I’m thrilled to join my friend Rep. McBride in discussing a topic near and dear to me and so many Americans: access to child care and paid leave,” said Rep. Chrissy Houlahan. “Neighboring Delaware has led the charge with innovative solutions, and I hope Pennsylvania follows soon. Thanks to New Dems for elevating the importance of the care economy and bringing us together to find real solutions.”

The conversation highlighted not just the economic urgency of care policies, but the moral imperative to act. Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay noted that many Delaware families are paying more for child care than their mortgage, and emphasized that representation in government matters. She noted that a majority of Delaware state legislative leaders are now parents, including several working mothers with young children — with this change, the state is acting with urgency to build a care economy that meets the needs of modern families. Nicole Pilchard shared how living paycheck to paycheck means there’s no safety net when illness strikes — making paid leave a necessity, not a luxury. Dr. Margaret Chou drew a direct line between paid leave and maternal and infant health, stating plainly: “It’s a matter of life and death.” Liz Richards shared heartbreaking stories of Delawareans using baby shower gift cards to pay their utility bills or turning to GoFundMe during a child’s cancer treatment.

“They plant the seeds for the food to grow,” said one union leader, underscoring the essential role care workers play in our society and economy.

Participants also stressed the broader social cost of inaction. Kirsten Olson highlighted how poverty and child neglect are deeply connected, and argued that investing in families up front reduces long-term societal harm. Dan O’Brien urged policymakers to stop assuming who supports paid leave — reminding the room that 80% of voters, including two-thirds of Republicans, favor it — and called on businesses to see paid leave as a strategic asset, not a burden. 

Rep. Houlahan emphasized the need for public-private partnerships, and Whip Clark underscored the need to treat care work as core infrastructure — arguing that this investment is one of the smartest uses of public dollars. She closed with a pointed challenge: “Families know the system is rigged against them — because it is. It’s our job to fix that.”

Full list of attendees:

• Julie Bieber, Kingswood Community Center
• Jillian Bruce-Willis, President and CEO of Brew Ha Ha
• Shawn Colleran, Delaware Association of Letter Carriers
• Dr. Margaret Chou, Obstetrician
• Joe Diagle, Mallard Financial Partners, Inc.
• Dr. Abby Nerlinger, Pediatrician 
• Dan O’Brien, Children’s First PA
• Kirsten Olson, Children & Families First
• Dr. Dannae Orisomolade, Delaware State University
• Chris Otto, Delaware Nurses Association
• Nicole Pilchard, LiUNA Local 1029, Delaware State & Federal Employees 
• Jamie Schneider, Educational Enrichment Center DE
• Liz Richards, Delaware Cares
• Dr. Melanie Thomas Price, A Leap of Faith Child Development Center
• Jan White, New Castle County Chamber of Commerce

Photos from the event available here.