Dear Friends,

Thursday night, I had the honor of discussing Pope Leo XIV while saluting the work ethic, dedication and courage of San Francisco union workers who day in and day out are the heartbeat of our City. I was pleased to receive my jacket, becoming an honorary delegate of the San Francisco Labor Council. Along with so many in America and across the globe, I am overjoyed at the election of the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church. I am more excited that His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has already started leading the Church by signaling his commitment to peace, justice and service, in the tradition of his namesake, Pope Leo XIII who was a champion for workers and unions, and of our beloved Pope Francis.

As we continue our fight to Save Our Health Care, mindful of the millions of Americans who depend on Medicaid to live, may we find inspiration from and shared purpose with the election of our new Pope.

On the eve of Mother’s Day weekend, I am reminded of what I would always say to my children when they ask me what I wanted for Mother’s Day. I would say, “Good Behavior.” We can plainly see that Trump/Musk Republicans are not on good behavior with their continued attempts to rip health care away from millions of Americans and take food from children to fund tax breaks for the ultra-rich.

Our outside mobilization, applying consistent pressure to Republican Members of Congress through phone banks and other means has changed narrative — making Congressional Republicans vulnerable. We must keep sharing our stories. I proudly shared stories from San Francisco at a Medicaid Saves Lives 24 Hour Vigil in Washington DC this week – supporting caregivers, the disabled, families and children.

This week, we also honored Jewish American Heritage Month, AAPI Heritage Month and the 40th Anniversary of Emily’s List – powerful reminders that diversity and inclusion make us stronger, kinder and more connected. Without EMILY’s List, we would never have had a woman Speaker — or a woman Vice President. For 40 years of electing pro-choice Democratic women across the country and helping to take us from only 12 Democratic women in Congress to 96 and counting — I am grateful to founder Ellen Malcolm and EMILY’s List for their hard work and dedication to helping all women rise! As we head into next year’s midterm elections, Democratic women are focused and our mission is clear: Elect Women. Take Back Power.

The best way to honor our mother figures is to keep up our advocacy to defend freedom, health care and access to opportunity for all. We have to be completely unified in our fight for our American safety net: Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, veterans’ care and food for our children.

Happy Mother’s Day,

NANCY