January 12, 2024

Dear JOHN,

This week marked the beginning of Year Two for the 118th Congress, where my top priority remains supporting the needs of Rochester families. In Washington, I'm continuing the fight to make high-quality job opportunities more accessible and working on the issues hitting people the hardest—like lowering the cost of prescription drugs, making healthcare more affordable, and ensuring no one goes hungry. Read more below.

Unreliable or inaccessible transportation holds too many people back from accessing good-paying jobs—a reality that is simply unacceptable. On Monday, I joined County Executive Adam Bello, Pastor Derrill Blue of Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Beyond the Sanctuary President and Executive Director Carmen Allen, and members of our community to announce $1.4 million in new federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to support Beyond the Sanctuary’s efforts to break down these transportation barriers.

Beyond the Sanctuary’s “Project Ride” will provide financial support to help cover costs associated with vehicle repairs, new vehicle equipment like tires, purchasing of a used vehicle, as well as driver licensing, vehicle registration, and other fees. In doing so, it’s helping better connect our neighbors with high-quality jobs to support their families. When I voted to pass the American Rescue Plan Act almost three years ago, programs like this one were exactly what I had in mind.

I’m grateful for everyone’s dedication to this project and our community, and I’m thankful for the leadership and partnership of County Executive Bello as he continues utilizing these federal investments to help breathe life into our neighborhoods and give families the chance to thrive.

In today’s world, internet access is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. Sadly, many families in our community still do not have access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet, creating a digital divide that disproportionately affects underserved neighborhoods. In 2021, I voted to pass legislation to establish the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and help address this issue. The results have been transformative.

The ACP has helped lower the cost of internet for nearly one out of every four households in our community, meaning more families can be better connected to teachers, doctors, job opportunities, and more. This week, I joined new legislation to help ensure these critical benefits remain available for our families for years to come.

If you or someone you know may qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program, visit: www.fcc.gov/acp to learn more or apply today.

Last Spring, I authored and introduced the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, legislation designed specifically to combat deepfakes and other digitally altered intimate images from being non-consensually spread online. Sadly, deepfakes continue to be a dangerous and disturbing trend, and their pervasiveness underscores the need for immediate action to better keep people safe online.

On Tuesday, January 16th at 4:15pm, I will be hosting an event in Washington with fellow lawmakers and victims from the recent deepfakes incident in New Jersey to underscore the pressing need for my legislation and advocate for its swift passage. For anyone wishing to tune in, the event will be livestreamed on my Facebook page.

Last week, I shared with you a number of important resources for the upcoming tax season, including information on the IRS’s Free File tool and how to receive in-person tax help at the IRS Office on East Avenue. In addition, there are also many local organizations available to assist you in person.

One of these—Empire Justice's CASH program—just released their pre-screening survey for Tax Year 2023 assistance and is now accepting appointments! Click here to complete their survey, schedule an appointment, or learn more about their available services.

As tax season draws nearer, I’ll continue to send updates about additional resources available in our community. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office or 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