Pelosi Update

Today, as people across the country treat their loved ones to flowers and sweets, House Democrats and Americans everywhere are engaged in an online conversation – What Women Need for Valentine’s Day – to highlight the policies women need to succeed in America.

Citizens United, the disastrous Supreme Court decision four years ago that allowed money to flow unchecked into politics, shook the very foundation of our democracy: that in the United States of America, it is the voices of the people that determine the outcome of our elections, not the bank accounts of the privileged few. We must work to change this.

Five years ago, our country took a key step forward on the path to equality in the workplace as President Obama made the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act the first bill he signed into law. As we mark this achievement and celebrate our progress, we know there is more work to do in order to address the economic challenges facing women today.

Our faith in America’s collective capacity to innovate, to succeed, and to thrive has been the bedrock of the extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit that defines San Francisco. But in building the better businesses of tomorrow, the success of American entrepreneurs must not only reflect our dedication to innovation and competitiveness, but also our commitment to community.

As I travel through California and across the nation, what never ceases to impress is the work ethic of Americans everywhere. No one works harder than America’s workers. While our country’s productivity has soared, their paychecks haven’t kept pace.

Education is the best investment we can make in our children and our nation’s future. Community colleges and lifelong learning play a pivotal role across the county and in San Francisco in preparing for the challenges of the 21st century.

As 2013 comes to a close, I would like to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and best wishes as we head into a new year together. San Francisco is rarely as beautiful or as festive as it is in the winter – when children ice skate on the Embarcadero and lights adorn palm trees and fir trees alike.