From the Office of Rep. Joe Morelle

October 27, 2023

Dear JOHN,

Following 22 days of House Republican-fueled chaos and dysfunction, the House of Representatives has elected Representative Mike Johnson as our next Speaker.

While I hold significant concerns about Speaker Johnson’s involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, as well as his efforts to enact a national abortion ban, reduce gun safety regulations, and cut funding for Medicare and Social Security, I am hopeful that we can still discover common ground on the numerous critical issues that are impacting families.

More than ever, Congress needs leadership that will lay aside destructive political agendas and govern responsibly. And the American people deserve a Congress that will put their needs first. Too much is at stake, and to do anything less would be a dereliction of our oath and duty.

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This week—even despite this chaos—I was proud to have the opportunity to take action on a number of issues important to our community. Read more about my work below.

Mourning with Lewiston

On Wednesday night, the lives of individuals and families in Lewiston, Maine were forever changed by senseless—and completely avoidable—gun violence. My heart and prayers are with the families who have suffered unimaginable loss, the law enforcement officers on the ground, and the entire Lewiston community.

There are no words to adequately convey the shock, anger, pain, and sadness we all feel in the wake of this horrific tragedy—but it’s important we do not let these feelings go without action. Our country is in need of long-overdue common-sense reforms, such as implementing universal, comprehensive background checks and enacting a ban on assault weapons. You can count on me to continue to fight for these much-needed reforms and continue taking any necessary actions to keep our families safe.

Advancing Our Position as a Global Leader in Innovation

Rep. Morelle speaks at a press conference regarding regional technology hubs

Rep. Morelle stands with Senator Schumer, local leaders at a press conference on Regional technology hubs

In August, I updated you on my leadership of a bipartisan group from New York’s Congressional Delegation and our support for our region’s application to receive a Tech Hub designation under the Economic Development Administration (EDA)’s Regional Technology Innovation Hub program. This week, I was excited to announce the hard work and bipartisan collaboration of my colleagues and I paid off.

On Monday, our application—the NY SMART I-Corridor—was selected by U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Raimondo, President Biden, and the EDA as one of 31 Regional Tech Hubs to be designated across the United States. For those of us from Rochester, this should come as no surprise, because we know our community has long been synonymous with innovation.

And now, we have the opportunity to show the country—and the world—what we’re capable of.

I’m proud to build on my work in Washington to bring federal opportunities for growth and prosperity home to our front door, and I look forward to continuing my efforts on a bipartisan basis to leverage the strengths of our unique communities, collaborate across specialized industries, and reinvigorate economic growth for years to come.

Supporting Rochester's Educational Institutions

Rep. Morelle stands with President Mangelsdorf, other University of Rochester leaders

Rep. Morelle meets with members of the University of Rochester team

It is always great to spend time with President Sarah Mangelsdorf and all my friends from the University of Rochester!

This week, I had the opportunity to stop by the EDGE Consortium and see the incredible work universities across the country are doing to help increase diversity and inclusion in our STEM workforce. I was also fortunate to meet with another group of University of Rochester leaders to get an update on some of the exciting projects coming to U of R. I’m proud to always continue my advocacy in Washington to secure the resources and support our community’s educational institutions need to deliver world-class opportunities to their students.

Please feel free to reach out to my Rochester Office at 585-232-4850 or my Washington, D.C. Office at 202-225-3615 if we can be of assistance to you or your family. Visit morelle.house.gov to learn more.

Warmest personal regards,

Joe Morelle

New York’s 25th Congressional District