Defending LGBTQ+ Rights 

Over the weekend, I was proud to join the Human Rights Campaign of Western and Central New York for their annual dinner and awards ceremony. Together, we celebrated the courage and resilience of our vibrant LGBTQ+ community and reaffirmed our commitment to defending the rights, freedoms, and equality every person deserves.

It is heartbreaking to continually hear from members of our LGBTQ+ community about their compounding fears—fears for their privacy, for their freedom, and for their personal safety and security. But make no mistake: so long as I am in Congress, I will be proud to stand by your side in the fight to build a more inclusive and just society for all.

 Expanding Affordable Housing in Rochester 

Ensuring everyone has a safe place to call home is one of my top priorities in Congress, and I’m grateful for the many incredible organizations in our community who are working to make this goal a reality.

One of our community’s leaders in this effort is the Veterans Outreach Center (VOC), who broke ground on their new Richards House just last year—a development funded with federal dollars I helped secure. On Monday, I was excited to visit the completed facility and see everything the VOC does to ensure our veterans and their families have the resources they need to thrive.

On Thursday, I had the opportunity to tour one of Heritage Christian Services’ residential homes and see firsthand the work they are doing to ensure housing is more accessible to underserved communities. Everyone—regardless of age or ability—deserves to have a stable roof over their heads, and I’m proud to continue my partnership with Heritage Christian Services on this important work. 

 Supporting Our Educational Institutions 

Our community is home to so many world-class educational institutions, and this week, I was fortunate to meet with a few of them and receive an update on their efforts.

I was honored to meet the new President of Roberts Wesleyan University, Dr. Rupert A. Hayles, Jr., and welcome him to our community! Dr. Hayles brings with him more than three decades of experience—all of which I know will serve the faculty and students at Roberts Wesleyan well. I look forward to our partnership as we work to advance our educational institutions and prepare our workforce of tomorrow.

On Wednesday, I visited SUNY Brockport’s Small Business Development Center and learned more about the work they are doing to support our community’s business owners and entrepreneurs. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, and it’s important they have the tools and resources they need to thrive.

I’m grateful for everything the Brockport Small Business Development Center does on the ground here in Rochester, and I’m proud to continue supporting them through my efforts in Washington.

 Learn More About Federal Funding Opportunities 

On Wednesday, August 9, from 1-2:30pm, my office will be hosting a webinar with information regarding the federal grant making process and how to seek out federal grant opportunities utilizing Grants.gov.

This event will feature a presentation from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS, which oversees Grants.gov. The webinar is open to anyone seeking to learn more about Grants.gov, the application process, or federal grant opportunities, but registration is required.

To register, please fill out the webform here.

 Important Reminder! 

Is your passport expiring in the next 12-18 months? Processing times are longer than usual, so don't wait—reach out to the state department NOW to begin the renewal process. Visit their website here for more information.

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