It's International Women's Day, John, a day to honor the achievements of women worldwide, and we've got our work cut out for us.

I'm proud to be part of the largest contingent of Congresswomen in history; there are 128 of us here in the House, including four of the six representatives from Oregon.

Despite making up more than half of the US population, women still make up less than one-third of the 435 voting representatives in the House.

That gap matters. Even with a historic number of women in Congress and on the Supreme Court, the right to choose is under attack. Any day now, an anti-choice extremist federal judge is expected to decimate access to safe medication abortions for millions of women.

So today's also an important reminder that it isn't enough to just elect women. We also need to elect women with proven track records of fighting for women.

That's what I've done my entire career – from leading the effort for paid family leave, to ending workplace discrimination, and protecting a woman's right to choose. Now, in Congress, I'm fighting to extend those policies nationwide.

Fighting for women isn't just a matter of policy. I'm also working to clear the way for more women to join the movement in Congress.

Honored to fight at your side,

Val