Rather than working to bring down the cost of living for folks just trying to make ends meet, President Trump is attacking our economy and the livelihoods of American families to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. On Wednesday night, I joined NewsNation’s On Balance with Leland Vittert to talk about the economic chaos caused by the Trump administration, how it’s hurting families in our community, and what I’m doing to fight back.

Watch my interview here.

President Trump deepened his assault on our government institutions and programs by calling for a $1 trillion cut to Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), programs thousands of Rochester families rely on to survive.

If enacted, this would have devastating consequences on seniors, children, and families who rely on these programs to receive basic health care and put food on the table. We must fight back against the Trump Administration’s repeated efforts to undermine the well-being of our community, which is why I’m proud to co-sponsor The Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act, legislation to protect these programs from being cut during the Congressional budget process.

Read more: Congressman Joe Morelle Stands Up for Medicaid, Food Assistance Program

As a member of the Litigation/Response Task Force, I also signed on to an amicus brief challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. I will keep fighting to support our public education system and the tens of millions of students and teachers that rely on it.

Read the full brief here.

This week we marked Teacher Appreciation Week, celebrating the extraordinary work teachers do every day to support and educate our youth. But we must honor their efforts with action, not just words—which is why this week I introduced the Developing and Advancing Innovative Learning Models Act. This legislation would create a federal investment in the research and development of Innovative Learning Models to enable schools to adapt to modern educational needs and send a clear signal that America is focused on educating our future leaders.

Our action is urgently needed as the Trump administration makes drastic cuts to critical student and teacher resources. I look forward to working with my colleagues to better support our teachers and ensure our students are college and career ready.

Read more: Congressman Joe Morelle Authors Legislation to Support Teachers, Put More Students on Path to Success

When asked by a reporter whether or not the president is responsible for upholding the Constitution of the United States, President Trump answered, “I don’t know.” This answer is deeply concerning because on Inauguration Day, Donald Trump swore a clear oath to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

So this week, when I had the opportunity to question FBI Director Kash Patel during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, I asked him about the president’s response and what he thinks his duty is as a member of the federal government. Watch Director Patel’s response below.

My office hosted a Constituent Coffee Hour in Washington, where we welcomed organizations and stakeholders from Rochester, New York State, and all across the country! It was great to connect over coffee and donuts and hear directly from people on the issues most important to them. Their dedication to uplifting our Rochester community inspires my work in Congress—and together, we’re building a stronger region for all.

If you or your organization are interested in signing up for our next event, feel free to reach out to my office!

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. Due to ongoing actions by the Trump administration affecting federal agencies, case processing may be slightly delayed. We appreciate your patience and remain committed to resolving your cases promptly.

Until next week,

Joe Morelle

New York’s 25th Congressional District