Sen. Trey Paradee

The 36th Annual African American festival returns on June 27 to the Legislative Mall in Dover. This event, dedicated to sharing and honoring African American heritage, art, and culture is open for all to attend and enjoy. Come and celebrate our neighbors with fun, music, and visual art and performances!

Every year, the cost of a college education increases. Student loan debt is higher than it has ever been, often resulting in a lifetime burden on people seeking an education.

This is not an issue that can be tackled alone, nor solved overnight. Nationally, only 35% of Americans have a 529 savings account for their dependents. As trends don’t yet indicate any relief of these expenses in the near future, we must think of our children’s futures now.

In the Senate, we passed Rep. Alonna Berry's HCR 136 to declare May 29 as “Delaware 529 Day,” to recognize the importance of obtaining a college education and our joint efforts to relieve the financial burden we can from our dependents through a 529 account.

Many parents have felt the frustration of struggling to enroll their children in summer camps while waiting for authorization for their Purchase of Care. No child should be pushed to the back of the line because of bureaucratic red tape.

SB 278 and SB 293 reinforces Delaware’s commitment to our children both in and out of the classroom, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to have a fun and enriching summer break. These legislations open the door for easier applications, broaden accessibility for all Delaware families, and provide extra assistance to parents and children that need it most.

I visited my friends at the YMCA this morning for their annual Advocacy Day at Legislative Hall. Much to my surprise, they honored me with a Legislative Champion award to thank me for my years of partnership and advocacy for their association. While it is nice to be appreciated, I truly could not have done the work I did without their collective effort and passion for the communities they serve.

I look forward to advancing SB 278 and SB 293 through the General Assembly before the end of session, and will continue to advocate for children and families that rely on the YMCA for support.

Delaware State University is the only historically Black university throughout our state, and deserves our support for the impact they are making across our communities. I have partnered with the DMV to create a special license plate that will deposit all funds directly to the Delaware State University Fund.

These license plates are an amazing way for Delawareans to show their support for DSU and its students, and for us to come together as a community to help our students be successful on their path to higher education. I thank my colleagues for their votes on SB 305 today and look forward to seeing these special plates on roads across our state!

Last night, I was surprised to receive this award at the Delaware State University Gala. Working to secure funding and expand opportunities for young people through the Inspire Scholarship has been the most gratifying work I have done as a legislator. I am grateful for this acknowledgment, but, as I told Dr. Tony Allen last night, this only makes me want to work harder.