I am proud to serve on the House Committee on Appropriations, where I advocate for our community’s priorities. During this week’s committee markup, I was disappointed but sadly not surprised to see the House Republican majority put forth proposals with devastating cuts to programs and services our region relies on.  

Extremist Republicans introduced cuts to federal agencies that affect our safety, security, and energy future. They pushed for cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency which would knee-cap their ability to combat the effects of the climate crisis, and cuts to agencies that provide affordable housing and support for the elderly or individuals with disabilities. Our appropriations bills should uplift our communities, not pull the rug out from under them—so I voted no. 

Republicans also doubled down on last week’s Supreme Court decision with an amendment to further shield the former president from prosecution. I spoke out against this and highlighted my plan to introduce a constitutional amendment that would reverse the decision and protect the integrity of our democracy.  

This week, I led the debate on the House floor against H.R. 8281, the SAVE Act. This legislation would create burdensome hurdles for citizens registering to vote and trying to cast their ballots under the guise of stopping noncitizen voting in federal elections—which is already illegal.  

Republicans admit there is no evidence of noncitizen voting in our elections, yet they continue to spread disinformation and sow the seeds of doubt in our democracy. This is simply a pretext for trying to overturn the 2024 election, and it’s disgraceful. 

This week, I was proud to announce $50,000 in federal funding for the Gates Fire Department to combat carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is often referred to as the “invisible killer” because it is so difficult to detect, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of innocent Americans each year. 

This grant program was enacted through legislation named after Nicholas and Zachary Burt, two boys who lost their lives to carbon monoxide poisoning in their home. The funding will equip more homes, senior living facilities, and community spaces with life-saving carbon monoxide alarms to keep people safe.  

Visit CPSC’s Carbon Monoxide Information Center to learn more about the dangers of carbon monoxide and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. 

Read more: Congressman Joe Morelle Announces Federal Funding for Local Fire Department to Reduce Carbon Monoxide Poisoning  

Social Security payments are a lifeline for millions of Americans, and beneficiaries rely on their accuracy and consistency. Until recently, when an overpayment of benefits occurred, the Social Security Administration (SSA) collected 100 percent of a recipient’s monthly benefit—leaving individuals stranded without critical income. This was an unnecessarily burdensome practice, particularly for individuals on fixed incomes. 

Thankfully, I am pleased to share the SSA has decreased the default overpayment withholding rate for new overpayments to ten percent, or $10, whichever is greater.  

In every stage of their lives, hard-working Americans rely on Social Security benefits, and I’ll keep working to protect their accessibility.  

If you need assistance with overpayment or your Social Security benefits, please do not hesitate to contact my office or the SSA at 1-800-772-1213.  

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