From the Office of Rep. Joe Morelle

May 12, 2023

Dear JOHN,

I just wrapped up another busy week in Washington meeting with stakeholders, advocating for the exciting future of innovation, and crafting legislation that will make Rochester a safer place for everyone who calls it home. Read more below.

Keeping Our Neighborhoods Safe

The rampant theft of Kia and Hyundai vehicles has created a public safety crisis, and sadly, it’s only getting worse. That’s why I’m working to introduce new legislation to strengthen the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s authority to issue vehicle recalls for matters related to public safety. It’s critical we get these dangerous vehicles off our streets and repaired in a timely manner, so businesses and neighborhoods are no longer terrorized by those perpetrating criminal activities.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to craft and enact this important legislation—which would go a long way in restoring the sense of security our community deserves.

Read: Congressman Joe Morelle Takes New Action to Address Thefts of Kia and Hyundai Vehicles

The Future of Innovation is Here in Rochester

A behind the scenes photo of Rep. Morelle and Simon Johnson's conversation

It is always great to spend time with my friend Dr. Simon Johnson—distinguished economist, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the author of Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the American Dream. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Simon over the past few years while working to advance federal investments in our high-tech economy—did you know his book recognizes Rochester as one of the top cities in the United States with the potential to become a technology hub like Silicon Valley?

I had the opportunity to sit down with Simon and discuss innovation, the future of technology, and how Rochester is uniquely poised to lead the nation in these spaces. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be releasing segments from our conversation, so stay tuned for more!

Meeting with Community Stakeholders

Rep. Morelle meets with the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester

One of my most important responsibilities as a member of Congress is to listen, learn, and then act in response to the needs of our community. Each week, I am grateful for the opportunity to hear directly from the many advocates and stakeholders from Rochester who make the trip to Washington to share their concerns and discuss how we can work together.

This week, I had the opportunity to spend time with Foodlink and the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester—two steadfast partners in our work to make Rochester a better place for all. With their help, we’re working to combat food insecurity and expand access to life-saving cancer resources and treatments. I’m deeply grateful for all they do for our community, and I’m proud to continue advocating on behalf of their important causes in Washington.

Assisting Local Small Businesses

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 years, we have seen the significant impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on local small businesses and have been working diligently to help them access the support and relief they need.

Recently, my team was able to secure nearly $400,000 in pandemic-related employee retention credits that were owed to Donuts Delite—an iconic Rochester small business. Donuts Delite received these credits because of their commitment to continuing to pay their employees during the height of the COVID crisis, ensuring workers and their families had reliable sources of income to help keep food on their tables and roofs over their heads during an extremely challenging time.

It's a privilege to be able to assist our community when they need it most. While we may not always be successful, we always try our best to secure a favorable outcome or find a resolution to whatever problem a person or business 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