From the Office of Rep. Joe Morelle

December 9, 2022

Dear JOHN xxxxxx,

This week, I’m proud to have voted on legislation to address some of the issues most important to our community: uplifting our families, protecting our fundamental rights, and supporting our Armed Forces. Read more below.

Protecting Marriage Equality

While marriage equality currently remains a constitutional right across the country, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority has made clear their intention to roll back our most fundamental rights—including the right to marry whomever you love. This week, my colleagues and I took action to stop them.

As a country, we have made incredible strides in the fight to support and empower our LGBTQ+ community, and we won’t be forced backwards by those who seek to dismantle our progress. I’m proud to have passed the Respect for Marriage Act which will ensure marriage equality is federally protected, no matter what the Supreme Court does. Because all couples—regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation—deserve to have their love celebrated.

I’m grateful that this legislation has passed and is now headed to President Biden for his signature. You can always count on me to be an ally in the fight to protect the fundamental rights of our families.

Read: Congressman Joe Morelle Acts to Protect Marriage Equality

Supporting the Men and Women of

Our Armed Forces

As a member of Congress, one of my most important responsibilities is supporting our service members and their families—and a critical part of upholding that responsibility is providing our military with the tools and resources it needs to address threats to our national security.

On Thursday, I voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. This year’s NDAA, which I helped create as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, contains key provisions to bolster our ability to compete with countries like China, ensure we are prepared to protect global security and peace, and make vital investments in our military families. I’m proud to have led the debate on the House floor in support of this bipartisan legislation that makes good on our promise to support the courageous men and women of our Armed Forces.

Read: add the NDAA Release

Fighting for Our Families

During the height of the COVID pandemic, my colleagues and I passed the American Rescue Plan, an historic investment which strengthened monthly Child Tax Credit payments for qualifying families. The expanded Child Tax Credit was transformative for our community, helping to lift 8,200 children out of poverty and give our families an average benefit of just under $3,000. For many families, this tax credit meant the difference between putting food on the table or not, paying their utility bills or not, and having the flexibility to return to work or not. Nothing in our history has done more to reduce child poverty, and we now have the chance to make this permanent.

Tomorrow, I will join fellow advocates from the Children's Agenda to call on my colleagues in Congress to act and make the expanded Child Tax Credit permanent. We have already seen how this benefit has a profound impact on our community, and we need to keep that progress going. As we close in on the end of the year, I’ll be working with my partners in government and fighting to extend the Child Tax Credit in our appropriations package.

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.

Warmest personal regards,

Joe Morelle

New York’s 25th Congressional District