Rep. McBride Hosts Roundtable with Delaware Nurses on Health Care Crisis Amid Federal Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE) hosted a roundtable discussion in her Wilmington office with nurses and health care leaders from across Delaware to discuss the ongoing health care crisis and the impact of the federal government shutdown on patients and providers. Photos are available for download and use here.

The event brought together frontline nurses, nursing educators, and advocates from the Delaware Nurses Association to highlight how rising costs, workforce shortages, and stalled federal action are straining care delivery across the state.

“Nurses are the beating heart of our health system — yet too often, they’re being asked to do more with less,” said Rep. McBride. “Delaware’s nurses are working around the clock to care for their patients, but they can’t do it alone. Congress should be making it easier — not harder — for nurses to provide the care families depend on. Every day that Washington stays closed, Delaware families are paying the price: higher premiums, fewer nurses, and less access to care.”

Participants discussed the impact of rising health care premiums, federal funding cuts to health workforce training, and delays to essential programs caused by the government shutdown. Nurses described the growing toll of burnout, unsafe staffing ratios, and workplace violence — and called for urgent federal action to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits and strengthen the health care workforce. 

“Delaware nurses are facing unprecedented challenges — from rising patient loads to workforce shortages that threaten the stability of our hospitals and clinics,” said Chris Otto, Executive Director of the Delaware Nurses Association. “We appreciate Congresswoman McBride’s leadership in bringing our voices to the table and championing bipartisan solutions that protect patients and providers alike.”

The conversation also underscored the urgent need for Congress to reauthorize critical health care programs and pass bipartisan legislation that supports the nursing workforce. Rep. McBride highlighted several of her efforts in Congress, including:

• H.R. 4407, the National Nursing Workforce Center Act, which she co-leads with Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) to expand state-based nursing workforce centers;
• H.R. 1317, the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act, to remove federal barriers for advanced practice nurses; and
• H.R. 2531, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to protect providers from workplace harm.

“Health care is about dignity,” McBride added. “When government shuts down, it’s not Washington that suffers — it’s the nurse pulling an extra shift, the patient wondering if their prescription will be covered next month, the parent skipping a doctor’s visit. Delaware’s nurses are doing everything right. Congress needs to show up for them.”

Attendees included: Chris Otto, Delaware Nurses Association; Mark Thompson, Medical Society of Delaware; Dr. Kathleen Neal; Dr. Stephanie McClellan; Cartisha Jones; Kimberly Petrella; Dr. Susan Conaty-Buck; Dr. Karen Toulson; Jene Duffy; Charles Evans Jr.; Kristen Deal; K. Starr Lynch; and Tina Grossman.

ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits are set to expire December 31, risking premium hikes for millions of Americans. In Delaware, over 45,000 Delawareans will face higher premiums. Over 39,000 Delawareans are at risk of losing health care completely. 13,769 people will lose access because of Republican refusal to extend ACA tax credits and new red tape.

In Delaware, this cost crisis will mean:

• A typical family of four making $64,000 a year would see their health care costs increase by $2,571 on average, a 205% increase.
• A 60-year-old couple making $82,000 would see their health care costs increase by a whopping $27,013, a 298% increase. 
• A family of four making $129,800 would see their health care costs increase by $11,400 on average, a 105% increase.

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