Fighting for Reproductive Rights

Women's Health Freedoms and the Duty of the Supreme Court
This week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization - where the justices will consider Mississippi's radical 15-week abortion ban, which is brazenly unconstitutional and designed to destroy Roe v. Wade. This is the latest attack in the years-long assault on women's health freedoms by Republicans in Congress and politicians in state capitols across the country: disrespecting women's most private, personal health decisions and working to roll back a generation of progress for women and their families.

With this case, the Court has the opportunity and responsibility to honor the Constitution, the law and this basic truth: every woman has the constitutional right to basic reproductive health care. The constitutional right to an abortion has been repeatedly affirmed, and any failure to fully strike down the Mississippi ban would seriously erode the legitimacy of the Court and question its commitment to the rule of law itself.

Strengthened by the millions of fearless women who continue to stand and march for their health care and rights, House Democrats remain committed to defending women's health freedoms and to enshrining into law our House-passed Women's Health Protection Act, led by Congresswoman Judy Chu, to protect reproductive health care for all women across America.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, joined by Bay Area Representative Jared Huffman and California's Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, held a Town Hall on Thursday to discuss Democrats' work to Build Back Better For The People, including historic investments in our infrastructure as well as in families, health care and combating the climate crisis.

Forty Years of HIV/AIDS
Every December 1st, the world comes together to remember the unimaginable toll that AIDS has taken and to honor the resilience of all those living with HIV or AIDS, who are fighting stigma and discrimination while raising their voices and inspiring our work to achieve an AIDS-free generation.

Since the earliest cases four decades ago began to devastate our community, San Francisco has been on the forefront of the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Thanks to the energy and activism of survivors, the LGBTQ community, scientists and advocates everywhere, our trailblazing advancements in treatment, prevention and community-based models of care are now bringing hope and healing to millions around the world:

• PEPFAR and the Global Fund have supported scientific research for vaccine, treatment and cure globally;
• The HOPWA initiative ensured low-income survivors can afford safe, quality housing;
• The Ryan White CARE initiative secured access to community-based care for those living with HIV; and
• The Affordable Care Act ended discrimination against pre-existing conditions like HIV/AIDS and widened access to care through Medicaid expansion - progress that Democrats are building upon in our Build Back Better Act.

Despite our extraordinary progress, last year AIDS-related illnesses claimed the lives of nearly 700,000 innocent people worldwide, disproportionately impacting underserved communities, communities of color, gay and bisexual men and transgender women of color.

On World AIDS Day, and every day, let us summon the spirit of courage, ingenuity and cooperation necessary to end the stigma, advance health equity and finally banish HIV/AIDS to the dustbin of history.

President Biden delivers remarks to commemorate World AIDS Day, recognizing Congresswoman Pelosi's longtime leadership to end the AIDS pandemic.

The People's Tree
As Speaker of the House, it was an honor to welcome Americans from across the country to view the annual Lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree this Wednesday. Proudly, this year's tree hails from California's own Six Rivers National Forest, and it was decorated with thousands of ornaments handcrafted by Californians. For nearly six decades, the Capitol Christmas Tree has offered a beacon of hope to the nation during the holiday season. It is fitting that it has earned the endless nickname "The People's Tree" - a testament to its special ability to unite us in comfort and joy, no matter who we are or where we are from.

Members of the California Congressional Delegation and Michael Mavris, a fifth grader from Crescent City, California and Honorary Tree Lighter at the Lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree.

Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, Help Is Here! Make sure you get your Rescue Plan benefits today.

Keeping Ahead of COVID in San Francisco

Adults 18 and over are authorized to receive a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine if 6 months have passed since their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine or if 2 months have passed since their Johnson & Johnson vaccine. With the emergence of the Omicron variant, schedule your COVID-19 booster shot in advance of the busy holiday season to keep you and your loved ones healthy. Learn about free COVID-19 testing options in San Francisco and access California's digital vaccination portal.

The FDA has authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. All vaccine sites in San Francisco and vaccination clinics at select SFUSD schools will be able to administer vaccines for these children:

• Tuesdays from 3:30-6:30 at Malcolm X Academy
• Wednesdays from 2:30-5:30 at Balboa High School
• Saturdays from 10:30-1:30 at McCoppin Elementary School
• Sundays from 10:30-1:30 at Sunset Elementary School

Also, flu season is here. The San Francisco Department of Public Health strongly recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get a flu vaccine to safeguard their health, with the start of a flu season that overlaps with COVID-19 this year.

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