Supporting Workers and Unions 

It was a pleasure to spend time with my brothers and sisters in labor including members of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3, and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 4.

As the proud son of a lifelong member of Plumbers and Pipefitters, I’ve seen firsthand the impact unions have on working families like mine. That’s why I’m always working to protect the right to organize through legislation like the PRO Act, expand apprenticeship opportunities to help grow our skilled workforce, and keep the American Dream alive for everyone.

 Protecting Critical Programs 

This week, Republicans advanced legislation to address the debt ceiling—a routine, bipartisan, and critical obligation of our government. Unfortunately, the bill would have devastating consequences for New Yorkers: 

• Putting over 1.2 million New Yorkers at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage, including 313,000 in our community who rely on Medicaid, Medicare, or Veterans Affairs health coverage. 

• Eliminating preschool and childcare for at least 17,000 children across the state. 

• Cutting off access to essential food assistance for families and seniors. 

• Laying off hundreds of thousands of teachers and first responders. 

• Increasing housing costs for more than 65,000 people in our state. 

I voted no, because I believe raising the debt ceiling cannot come at the expense of cuts to critical programs and services our families rely on. I hope to continue working with my colleagues to uphold our fiscal responsibility while prioritizing the needs of our community.

 Celebrating National Library Week 

This week was National Library Week, an important time to honor the work of librarians and recognize the important role libraries play across the country. This year, I celebrated National Library Week from the world’s largest library: the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

As a young man, I spent countless hours in the Sully Branch of the Rochester Public Library. I will always be grateful for the formative role my local library played during my youth and continues to play today. I hope everyone has the chance to visit the Library of Congress—and in the meantime, I hope you take time over the next few days to visit your local library, pick up a good book, and celebrate the joy of reading.

Click the image below to see my full video from the Library of Congress

 Assisting Local Families 

I’m proud of the work my office does every day to help members of our community navigate federal agencies, access important resources, and secure money owed to them. Over the past few months, one of the issues we’ve assisted with most frequently is helping constituents overcome paperwork and logistical hurdles to secure passports through the U.S. Department of State.

Thanks to the work of our team, we’ve helped dozens of people in our community obtain appointments with their nearest passport office and secure the necessary documentation in time for their trips. These include families embarking on their first international journeys with their children, young people participating in church mission trips, and individuals reconnecting with far-away family members.

It's a privilege to be able to assist each and every one of these community members. While we may not always be successful, we always try our best to secure a favorable outcome or find a resolution to whatever problem they may be facing. To read more about our work and learn about how we may be able to assist you or someone you know, check out my webpage here.

Warmest personal regards, 

Joe Morelle 

New York’s 25th Congressional District