From the Desk of Rep. Joe Morelle

December 20, 2024

Dear JOHN,

As you may know, tonight the House passed legislation that will keep the government funded temporarily. While I am relieved the essential programs and services relied upon by millions of people across the country will not be disrupted by a government shutdown, I am deeply disappointed that Republicans broke their word and are choosing the interests of billionaires like Elon Musk over the interests of seniors, veterans, and working families. The American people deserve—and should demand—better.

In spite of the recklessness my colleagues have displayed, I remain committed to finding a bipartisan solution to fully fund our government and forging a path forward to address the real challenges facing our nation.

Read more about this week’s work below:

Improving Access to Clean Water

Graphic on Federal Funding for the Town of Rush

Reliable access to clean water is fundamental for healthy communities. This week, I was proud to announce significant federal funding to support the creation of a new water district in the Town of Rush. The completion of this project will provide public water to the town and help improve the overall health, welfare, and safety of residents.

I’m grateful to Supervisor Woolaver and the Town of Rush for their partnership as we work to upgrade our aging water infrastructure and improve the quality of life for everyone who calls Rush home.

Urging Government Agencies to Help in the Fight Against Senior Scams

I’ve been working hard to protect seniors from online threats—which is why I’m urging the Social Security Administration to reassess their use of embedded links sent from a ‘no-reply’ email address. This format can too easily be mimicked by scammers and puts older Americans at risk.

Seniors deserve the peace of mind to know they are safe from bad online actors—especially this holiday season when scam attempts are even more prevalent. Government agencies should be setting a good example, not opening vulnerabilities.

Check out this video for more tips on how to keep yourself safe from targeted scams:

Delivering for our Aging Veterans

Graphic highlighting veteran caregiver legislation

Veterans and their families have given up so much for our country. When they come home, we must guarantee the support, care, and services they’ve earned.

This week I helped pass legislation, named for Senator Elizabeth Dole, to address the challenge of long-term care facing our veteran population. The Elizabeth Dole Home-and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act will be the single largest expansion of long-term care services at the VA in decades bringing much-needed support to disabled or aging veterans and their caregivers.

Wishing You a Happy Holiday Season

As we come to the end of 2024, I hope we are all able to take time to gather with loved ones, celebrate the holidays, and enjoy the most precious gifts of all: our health, happiness, and families.

I wish you and your family a joyous holiday season and a blessed new year.

Joe Morelle

New York’s 25th Congressional District