Friends and neighbors,

The new year is well underway, and the Delaware General Assembly is back in session.

In Delaware, our regular legislative session runs each year from the second Tuesday in January through June 30. To watch Senate proceedings live or if you want to come back later to watch recordings of past proceedings, click here. To view daily Senate Agendas, click here. To view upcoming committee meetings, legislative session start times, and more, click here.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, community concerns, or just to say hi. I can be reached by email at nicole.poore@delaware.gov , on Facebook , or by calling my Senate office at (302) 744-4164.

Sincerely,

Nicole Poore
Senator, District 12

Legislative Updates

Every January 11, we take time to observe National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

My colleagues and I also unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 77, designating January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

As a legislative body, we have done so much over the last few years to prevent human trafficking — including the creation of the Department of Justice Human Trafficking Unit, the establishment of the Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council, and the permanent addition of two positions under the Criminal Justice Council. These changes have solidified our efforts to provide funding and infrastructure to the Council and to our state’s efforts to combat human trafficking.

House Concurrent Resolution 82

House Concurrent Resolution 82, sponsored by House Majority Leader Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown and me, recognizes January 21 – 27 as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Week in the State of Delaware.

CRNAs have a wide scope of practice, and can be found in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered – from traditional hospital surgical suites to Public Health Services.

Thank you so much to CRNA’s and all of our healthcare workers for putting our health and welfare first!

Community News & Resources

January is also National Blood Donor Month! This is a great opportunity for you to give back to your community and help save a life.

Over the weekend, I joined volunteers from Charity Crossing for a blood drive at the Blood Bank of Delmarva.

You can make an appointment here: delmarvablood.org.

Access to funding is something that most startup and early-stage small businesses say is one of the most critical needs they have.

The Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) is helping many overcome this hurdle through its Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion (EDGE) Program.

To be eligible to apply for the EDGE competition, your small business must have been in operation for less than seven years and have 10 or fewer full-time employees (calculations exist for part-time employees). As you get started, you are encouraged to connect with a Regional Business Manager in your county for guidance and feedback on your application.

DSB will being accepting EDGE applications for the first round of 2024 on February 1. To learn more, visit de.gov/EDGE.

The Delaware Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy is now accepting nominees for this year’s class of Delaware’s Women’s Hall of Fame and the She’s On Her Way Award!

The Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame was established in 1981 to recognize the achievements of outstanding Delaware women and their contributions to communities across the state. Members represent a variety of backgrounds and fields including artists, athletes, community advocates, public servants, military personnel, and scientists. There is no minimum age requirement, but nominees must have made an important and lasting impact on the lives of Delawareans, and must have resided in Delaware for at least 10 years during their lifetime. A complete list of inductees is available at http://tinyurl.com/muybd643.

The She’s On her Way Award celebrates the achievements and contributions of talented young women leaders making a difference in Delaware. All nominees must be between the ages of 18 and 40 by June 30, 2024. Nominees must also be native-born Delawareans or have resided in Delaware for at least five years. Nominees must show that they have made a positive impact upon the lives of Delawareans and have exhibited characteristics of good character, promise and hope; as well as have information and or examples that illustrate the nominee’s positive reputation and or leadership among her peers, and or her community.

You can help celebrate and recognize the achievements of Delaware women by submitting nominations. Nomination forms are available online at de.gov/women. The deadline for nominations is midnight on March 28, 2024.

Health & Safety Announcements

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office would like to remind Delawareans that home fires occur more in the winter months than any other season throughout the year. In fact, half of all home heating fires occur in December, January, & February. Nationwide, heating equipment is involved in 1 out of every 6 home fires and 1 in every 5 fire deaths. Please follow these winter fire safety tips to keep you and your family safe this winter season.

Heating

• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, or space heaters.
• Plug only 1 heat-producing appliance (ex. space heater) into an electrical outlet at a time.
• Store cooled ashes in a tightly covered metal container. Keep it outside at least 10 ft from your home and any nearby buildings.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.

Carbon Monoxide

• Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely.
• In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide.
• CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
• Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door.
• Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for.
• Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel declare that it is safe to re-enter the home.
• Only use gas or charcoal grills outside, as they can produce CO.

Portable Generators

• It’s important to know that portable generators emit carbon monoxide (CO), a poisonous, deadly gas.
• Use portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas at least 20 ft from all doors, windows, and vent openings.
• Never use a generator in an attached garage, even with the door open.
• Place generators so that exhaust fumes are directed away from the building.
• Turn off generators and let them cool down before refueling.
• Never refuel a generator while it is hot.

Other Reminders

• Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents every year.
• During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
• If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.

State and local law enforcement is cracking down on distracted driving and people who refuse to wear their seatbelts.

Distracted driving remains one of the primary causes of crashes in the United States, and puts the safety of pedestrians, passengers, and drivers at risk.

To avoid distracted driving, drivers can put their phones on “Do Not Disturb,” keep their phones in a place where they won’t be tempted to look at it, and pull over if they do need to use their phone.