CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE RAISES ALARM ON RISING COSTS

(Rochester, N.Y.)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle held a press conference to bring attention to rising costs for working families, warning that recent decisions in Washington are making the affordability crisis worse.

“Families are sitting at their kitchen tables realizing the numbers just don’t add up anymore, not because they aren’t working hard, but because the cost of everything keeps rising,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “At a moment when people expect Washington to focus on lowering costs and creating stability, we’re seeing decisions that drive costs in the wrong direction. From conflict overseas to misplaced priorities here at home, President Trump and Congressional Republicans are choosing a path that puts more pressure on working families. We need to change course and put the cost of living at the center of every decision, because supporting families here at home isn’t optional, it’s our job.”

In Rochester and across Western New York, rising costs are already tightening household budgets and creating real uncertainty for families. Higher fuel and supply costs are making it more expensive to get to work, heat homes, and put food on the table, while local businesses face increased operating expenses that are often passed on to consumers.

Across the country, families are facing many of the same pressures, with elevated costs for essentials like food, gas, and housing continuing to strain household finances. President Trump’s decision to launch and escalate a war with Iran has already cost the lives of 13 American servicemembers and more than $1 billion in taxpayer funds per day since its inception. The human and financial cost will only continue to climb as the conflict escalates. The conflict has also disrupted global energy markets, contributing to volatility in oil prices and raising concerns about sustained increases in gasoline and transportation costs that ripple through to grocery bills and everyday expenses.

By prioritizing billions overseas while costs rise at home, the Trump Administration and House Republicans are making their priorities clear. They are leaving working families to shoulder the burden of higher prices and economic instability, as decisions in Washington continue to drive costs up instead of bringing them down.

Instead of spending $1 billion per day on the war in Iran, by this point, we could have funded:

• Almost two years of school lunches through the National School Lunch Program;
• Tens of thousands of affordable housing units;
• A full year of childcare services for over 1.5 million children;
• 6+ years of reduced home heating and cooling costs through the HEAP program;
• Restored Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, helping bring affordable healthcare to more than 20 million Americans.

Congressman Morelle is continuing to impress on his colleagues, both Democratic and Republican, the need for additional support for working families. During the upcoming federal budget process, Morelle will be speaking out and offering proposals to do just that.

To stay up-to-date on the Congressman’s work to fight for your family, visit his website here or stay tuned to his social media profiles.

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