From the Office of Rep. Joe Morelle

June 7, 2024

Dear JOHN,

This week I continued my work to turn your concerns and questions into action and results for our community. Read more below.

Announcing the Winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition

An image of the winning artwork or the NY-25 2024 congressional art competition

Every year, the Congressional Institute hosts the Congressional Art Competition—a fun opportunity to uplift the artistic talents of our local students.

This year’s winner is Talia Favitta, a freshman at Greece Athena High School. Her work, entitled “Full Moon,” be displayed in the Capitol for one year and featured on the official Congressional Art Competition website. Talia’s art is captivating and moving, and I am proud to see her represent Monroe County in the halls of Congress.

We are incredibly lucky to have such a vibrant community of artistic talent in Rochester and I am always impressed by the exceptional abilities of our local students. Click here to read more about this year’s Congressional Art Competition.

Honoring Our Veterans

Rep. Morelle stands with Monroe County American Legion members

As we marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day this week, I have been reflecting on the sacrifice and patriotism of our servicemembers. Our courageous veterans served our nation with pride, and it’s incumbent upon all of us to take every opportunity to support them and their families when they return home.

This past weekend, I was honored to join the Monroe County American Legion at their annual convention to discuss our work together to fulfil this promise for veterans here in Monroe County. From healthcare, to housing, to crisis support, I’m working in Congress to secure the benefits these men and women deserve.

Working for You in Washington

Much of my time in Washington is spent meeting with stakeholders and organizations to understand how I can take action in Congress to support them. Here are a few of the groups I sat down with this week:

One of my top priorities in Congress is securing quality, affordable healthcare for everyone in our community. I met with local advocates from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, the American Health Care Association, and the National Center for Assisted Living who are important partners in helping to make this goal a reality.

Community-based health centers like Trillium are critical to providing high-quality care, especially for our LGBTQ+ community. It was a pleasure to welcome President and CEO Jason Barnecut-Kearns and his team to Washington for an update on their efforts.

Rep. Morelle meets with New York Hunger Solutions

I was glad to meet with New York Hunger Solutions and discuss our work together to get reliable, nutritious meals onto more families' tables and support life-saving programs like SNAP.

Rep. Morelle meets with Common Cause CEO Virginia Kase Solomón

As the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, I'm leading the charge to protect every American's fundamental right to vote. In these efforts to protect our democracy, I'm proud to have partners like Common Cause CEO Virginia Kase Solomón.

Supporting Innovation

Rep. Morelle meets with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director Dr. Laurie Locascio

Rochester has a long and proud history of leading the way in innovation—it’s why our region has been designated as a federal Tech Hub and continues to earn historic investments. I’m working to bring our talent and expertise to the forefront, which is why I met with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director Dr. Laurie Locascio.

NIST, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, does extraordinary work to advance leading-edge quantum technology, grow our economy, and enhance our competitiveness on the global stage. They are a key partner as we work to cement Rochester’s place as a national leader in science and technology, and I look forward to our continued work together.

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.

Until next week,

Joe Morelle

New York’s 25th Congressional District