Bolstering Online Safety 

Imagine the horror of seeing intimate images that look exactly like you—or your daughter, spouse, sister, or neighbor. The images look real, but you know they’re not. They’re instead the product of someone using artificial intelligence to create the illusion you are in the photo or video. This is a textbook example of a “deepfake,” and sadly, they’re becoming more and more pervasive across the internet, especially with the rise and accessibility of A.I. 

On Tuesday, I was joined by my colleague Rep. Tom Kean, Dr. Mary Anne Franks, and Francesca and Dorota Mani—victims from the recent deepfakes incident in New Jersey—to urge the passage of my Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act and make this abhorrent behavior a federal crime. I’m grateful to them for standing with me and for their tireless advocacy, and I look forward to sharing more positive updates on my legislation soon. 

 
To learn more about this pressing issue and my legislation, read: Congressman Joe Morelle Takes Action to End A.I. Generated Deepfake Pornography 

 Working to Bring Americans Home 

On Wednesday, I joined Representative Claudia Tenney, Anna Corbett and members of the Corbett family, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers to continue our push for the swift release of Ryan Corbett of Dansville, New York.

Ryan has been unlawfully detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan since August 2022, and we cannot allow another day to pass before he is returned safely home. In Congress, I’m proud to co-sponsor Rep. Tenney’s resolution calling for his release, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to exhaust every possible avenue to ensure Ryan’s return to his family.

Throughout my time in Washington, I’ve voted to expand healthcare coverage under the Affordable Care Act, helping to bring comprehensive, affordable, and reliable healthcare to more people in our community. One of my top priorities for 2024 is to continue these efforts and ensure quality healthcare is available for everyone.

Open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act is still open here in New York State, and millions of New Yorkers are already taking advantage! You can visit NYStateofhealth.ny.gov to evaluate the options and potential cost-savings available to you and your family.

 An Update on the Ongoing Situation in Washington 

Yesterday, I cast my vote in favor of a short-term funding bill, an essential step to avert a catastrophic government shutdown. This decision marks the third instance in the past five months where I’ve supported such a measure. And while relying on temporary solutions is far from perfect, this action ensures funding for services and programs crucial to our nation's economic stability and security.

However, passing this short-term measure does not mean our work in Washington has concluded.

House Republicans have kept up their efforts to advance funding packages with drastic cuts to essential programs and services our families depend on. This extreme agenda is an unnecessary and irresponsible obstacle to maintaining an open and functioning government.

Despite these challenges, I’m proud to stand alongside my Democratic colleagues in urging House Republicans to collaborate with us on a bipartisan path forward to fully fund our government. And I will continue exerting all my efforts to resolve the dysfunction in Washington and refocus the House on tackling the issues impacting people the most. I’m hopeful my colleagues will join us in this effort.

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