Safeguarding the Right to Vote 

The right to vote is the bedrock of our American democracy, and it is continuing to come under threat by extremists in Washington. On Tuesday, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Representative Terri Sewell, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and other members of the House Democratic Caucus to reintroduce the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and continue my commitment to protecting the sacred right to vote.

As a son of Rochester, and in honor of the legacy of Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, and my late colleague John Lewis, I’m proud to continue the fight to safeguard every eligible American’s right to vote and help bring our country closer to its foundational, democratic promise.

Read more: Congressman Joe Morelle Acts to Protect Voters' Access to the Ballot Box

 Protecting Our Rail Workers 

Last year, our country saw more than 1,000 train derailments, resulting in thousands of injuries and significant damage to small businesses, communities, and our environment. These frightening statistics have only continued this year, including the disastrous derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and this pattern makes one thing clear: we need common-sense legislation to make our railroads run safer, more efficiently, and help mitigate the risk of future disasters.

This week, I was proud to announce my co-sponsorship of the Rail Worker and Community Safety Act, legislation that takes several important and proactive steps to modernize our railroad systems and prevent future derailments. I look forward to working with my colleagues to see this legislation passed into law.

Read more: Congressman Joe Morelle Acts to Support Rail Worker Safety, Prevent Future Derailments

 Supporting Our Educational Institutions 

I was honored to speak to members of our SUNY community on Thursday morning about my time as a student at SUNY Geneseo, my path to elected office and Congress, and my priorities for the remainder of this year.

I’m proud to represent a number of world-class colleges and universities, and I’m always working to secure additional funding and support so they can continue to provide their students with the skills and tools they need to thrive. Thank you for letting me stop by, and I hope to see some of you on campus soon!

 The Morelle Family Remains Union Strong 

As the son of a lifetime member of UA Local 13 Plumbers and Pipefitters and the husband of a member of the teachers’ union, I’ve been around unions my entire life, and I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power they can have on families. Organized labor helped build the middle class in America—and it’s continuing to support millions of individuals and families across the country to this day.

As members of United Auto Workers across the country continue exercising their fundamental right to strike and pursue a fair contract, I’m going to continue urging the Big 3 automakers to negotiate in good faith on an agreement to support and fairly compensate our workers.

The Morelle Family is—and forever will be—union strong.

Click here to watch my full video statement.

 An Update on the Ongoing Situation in Washington 

I returned to Washington this week to continue my efforts to avoid a government shutdown, but I have not been encouraged by what I’ve seen. In fact, I find it all very troubling.

There is currently a civil war happening within the House Republican Conference between their extremist faction and those who refuse to stand up to them. Unfortunately, the casualty of this civil war will be the American people. These extremists are threatening to cut billions in funding for law enforcement, healthcare, childcare, education, and housing—meaning costs for families would only continue to rise at a time when they are already too high to begin with.

Make no mistake: I’m going to do everything in my power to avert this disastrous shutdown, and I urge my Republican colleagues to stand with me in the work to move our country forward.

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