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Representative Ayanna Pressley wants to see more policy action for mothers, especially mothers of color.

“More than anything, any comma or fancy title after my name, I am my mother’s child, may she rest in power, and I was my mother’s caregiver,” she stated. “I saw the struggles of my mother to make ends meet as a single mom. What shapes me the most are those lived experiences in my formative years, which has crystalized for me and really cemented my desire to advocate for those that are ignored, left out, and left behind, and to intentionally lift up the voices of mothers.”

The number of moms with young kids in Congress doubled. Pressley wants to ensure that mothers’ voices are heard, because they frequently don’t receive equal pay, experience biases and inequalities.

Pressley was raised by a single mother and calls herself a “bonus mom” for her stepdaughter Cora.

“I care about ensuring that my daughter is not denied or deprived an opportunity in life simply because she is a girl and a girl of color,” she stated. “And I care about the world that we’re building for her and the future that she’ll inherit.”