Every May our neighborhoods in the Inland Empire are filled with flowers and family gatherings. Whether it's a yard in Pomona or at a luncheon in Ontario, we pause to honor the women who raised our community.

For us, a mother is the pillar of everything; she is the one who keeps together our history and guides our future. As a mother and grandmother, I know that love is an effort of every day. But as their Representative, I know that the best gift we can give them is not just a bouquet of flowers, but protecting their dignity and their rights.

Unfortunately, today those rights are under attack. It all begins with the so-called SAVE Act, approved again by the House of Representatives in February 2026. Under the excuse of “security,” this bill seeks to silence women.

The reality is this: about 69 million women in the United States, including me, do not have a birth certificate that matches their current legal name because we get married and change our last name. This law could prohibit us from voting m Let's present original papers from decades ago. That isn't security, it's placing obstacles to our voice. I'm fighting so that no woman in our district has to pay or jump obstacles to vote for the future of her family.

I also know that the biggest worry today is on the kitchen table. Supermarket prices are not going down and the bills are not adding up. That's why I'm fighting against cuts to food aid in next year's budget.

For millions of families, programs like WIC and SNAP are a relief; they help buy healthy food and milk for babies. No moms in Fontana or Ch ino should lose sleep thinking if she can feed her children. Our children's food shouldn't be used for political games in Washington.

Lastly, there is a silent theft that we must stop: the Pink Tax. I continue to fight for the Pink Tax Repeal Law because It's an injustice that the products for us, from shampoo to clothes, cost more than those for men. That price difference It takes away more than $2,300 dollars a year, which adds up to about $188,000 over the course of your life. In these times, that money is greatly needed the pockets of our families. I have presented a law so that corporations stop charging us more for the simple fact of being women.

Our mothers taught us to be brave and to never stay silent. That is the spirit that I bring with me to Congress. I will continue fighting so that every mother can vote freely, feed her children without fear and be treated with the respect she has earned.

To all the warriors of the Inland Empire: your voice is the most sacred thing we have.

Happy Mothers Day!

(*) Democrat Norma Torres represents California's 35th District, which has a 65% Latino population.

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