By Norma Torres*
Every May, our neighborhoods in the Inland Empire are filled with flowers and family gatherings. Whether on a patio in Pomona or at lunch in Ontario, we pause to honor the women who raised our community.
For us, a mother is the pillar of everything; He is the one who holds our history together and guides our future. As a mother and grandmother, I know that love is an everyday effort. But as your Representative, I also know that the best gift we can give you is not just a bouquet of flowers, but to protect your dignity and your rights.
Unfortunately, today those rights are under attack. It all starts with the so-called SAVE Act, approved again by the House of Representatives in February 2026. Under the excuse of “security”, this project 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 actual first name because we get married and change our last name. This law could prohibit us from voting unless we present original papers from decades ago. That is not security, it is putting obstacles in our voice. I am fighting so that no woman in our district has to pay or jump through hoops to vote for her family’s future.
I also know that the biggest worry today is at the kitchen table. Supermarket prices do not go down and the accounts do not add up. That’s why I’m fighting 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 the babies. No mom in Fontana or Chino should lose sleep wondering if she will be able to feed her children. Our children’s food should not be used for political games in Washington.
Finally, there is a silent robbery that we must stop: the “Pink Tax”. I continue to fight for the Pink Tax Repeal Law, because it is an injustice that products for us, from shampoo to clothing, cost more than those for men. That price difference takes us more than $2,300 a year, which adds up to about $188,000 over its lifetime. In these times, that money is greatly needed in the pockets of our families. I have introduced a law so that corporations stop charging us more for the simple fact of being women.
Our mothers taught us to be brave and never stay silent. That is the spirit that I carry 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 Mother’s Day!
The Democrat Norma Torres
represents California’s 35th District, which has a 65% Latino population.
The texts published in this section are the sole responsibility of the authors, so La Opinión does not assume responsibility for them.
