From the Office of Rep. Joe Morelle

May 19, 2023

Dear JOHN,

I’ve just wrapped up another week fighting to advance our community’s priorities. It was a privilege to meet with local and international stakeholders, continue my work on important legislation, and pay tribute to one of our local veterans. Read more below.

Honoring the Family of a Local Veteran

Rep. Morelle stands with the family of George Tiuch at a press conference

President Calvin Coolidge once said: “The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.” Indeed, our courageous veterans have made profound and lasting contributions to our nation that deserve to be recognized and honored at every opportunity, which is why this week I was proud to pay tribute to one of our local heroes.

I had the honor of presenting the family of the late U.S. Navy veteran George Tiuch with the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, both earned during his service in Vietnam. Although George passed away in 2015, our gratitude for his service and sacrifice is everlasting. I hope these medals will serve as well-deserved symbols of pride for who George was, of what he accomplished, and our country’s lasting appreciation.

Read: Congressman Joe Morelle Honors Local Vietnam Veteran

Deepfakes: What They Are and Why You Should Care

I recently introduced legislation to protect individuals’ privacy online by cracking down on artificial intelligence and making digitally manipulated deepfakes illegal. These images alter reality and often put people—especially women—in compromising situations, causing extreme emotional, financial, and reputational harm that can be impossible to recover from.

It can be challenging to wrap your head around what deepfakes really are and the profound damage they can cause to someone’s life. Click the image below to watch my video and learn more about these fake images and their very real, very dangerous consequences.

a still from Rep. Morelle's video on Deepfakes

A Bold, New Era of Space Exploration

Rep. Morelle meets with the crew of the Artemis II Mission

The announcement of the Artemis II mission crew represented an historic moment for the United States and the future of space exploration. Not only will this be first crew to utilize NASA’s new Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft, it also marks the first woman and first person of color to crew a lunar exploration.

I’ve always been a space enthusiast—if you had told my childhood self he would someday meet NASA astronauts firsthand, he’d be simply over the moon. It was a true honor to meet these brave astronauts in Washington this week and wish them the best of luck on their missions.

Meeting with Local Stakeholders

Every week I welcome local businesses, organizations, and advocates to Washington. Here are a few of the groups I met with this week!

Rep. Morelle meets with Anthony Plonczynski-Figueroa from TRIO

Every student deserves the opportunity to thrive, no matter what their background or the zip code they live in. On Wednesday, I met with my friend Anthony Plonczynski-Figueroa from TRIO to discuss our continued work to make this a reality for our community. I’m thankful for his partnership and tireless advocacy on behalf of our families.

Rep. Morelle meets with L3Harris President Sam Mehta

L3Harris is a global leader in innovative defense technology—and we are so lucky to have their Communications System Headquarters located right here in our backyard. I was grateful for the chance to welcome President Sam Mehta to Washington and discuss our continued work together!

Rep. Morelle meets with partners from University of Rochester Medical Center and Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Strengthening quality, affordable healthcare is one of my top priorities, especially for those fighting cancer. I met with the University of Rochester Medical Center and Roswell Park Cancer Institute to discuss how I can help expand their life-saving cancer research and ensure patients and their families have the support and resources they need throughout their care.

Bolstering Relationships with America's Allies

As a member of Congress, I have the distinct honor of working to advance our community’s interests on not only the national stage, but the international stage as well. This week, I had the opportunity to meet with government officials from two of our longtime partners and allies: Canada and Japan.

Rep. Morelle stands with members of the Canadian Parliament

Rep. Morelle meets with Japanese Congressional Minister Tomoaki Ishigaki

I met with members of the Canadian Parliament as well as Japanese Congressional Minister Tomoaki Ishigaki to discuss our work together to advance the interests of our great nations. The United States has always shared a special relationship with these nations, and I'm grateful for our continued partnership and collaboration.

Please know my office is always here to help. Visit morelle.house.gov to learn more about how we can assist you and your family.

Warmest personal regards,

Joe Morelle

New York’s 25th Congressional District