Dear Friend,

Happy Women’s History Month! Each week in March, we’ll be highlighting women in government who are fighting for progressive change and women’s rights to remain intact – both in their communities and across the nation.

This week, we’re celebrating Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Representative Omar was sworn into office in January 2019, making history as the first woman of color to represent Minnesota, one of the first two Muslim-American women elected to Congress, AND the first African refugee to become a Member of Congress.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won election to Congress in 2018. Ocasio-Cortez described her campaign as a long shot – she challenged the fourth-ranking House member at the time, and ultimately won her primary in a historic upset. Representative Ocasio-Cortez became the youngest woman ever to serve in Congress, as well as the first woman of color to represent her district in the Bronx.

Reps. Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have worked together to fight for women’s rights and ensure their voices are heard in Congress. When Roe v. Wade was overturned in June of 2022, they took dramatic action to fight this decision. Just weeks after the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, Ocasio-Cortez and Omar were arrested while protesting for abortion rights near the Capitol. After their arrests, the two lawmakers vowed to keep fighting to protect reproductive rights. 

To continue their fight, Ilhan and Alexandria got to work to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which prohibits governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services. The Women’s Health Protection Act passed the House one month after Roe was overturned, but failed to pass the Senate after extremist Republicans voted the bill down along party lines.

Friend – abortion continues to be banned or restricted in 21 states across the nation. Representatives Omar and Ocasio-Cortez have continued to fight for what’s right, and you can take action to support their work for women’s rights. Click here to email your Senators to codify Roe v. Wade!

In solidarity,

Future Coalition

Paid for by Future Coalition