Justice is not available to all equally; it is something that many of us must struggle to achieve. As an elected official, I know that fighting for what is just is not always popular but it is necessary; that is the real challenge that public servants face and it is where courage counts the most. Without courage, our action or inaction results in suffering of the few and injustice for all.

My parents raised me and my six siblings with little money... but lots of love.

My niece was a sexual-assault victim. My sister is a survivor of domestic violence. We have more shelters for animals than for battered women. That's not the message we should be sending.

No family should have to depend on the labor of its children to put food on the table and no person should be forced to work in captivity.

My role was to bring about fairness in the workplace. All I did was implement the laws that were currently on the books.

No one has the right to threaten the health, education, and well-being of children by involving them in illegal or inappropriate work.

Justice is not available to all equally; it is something that many of us must struggle to achieve. As an elected official, I know that fighting for what is just is not always popular but it is necessary; that is the real challenge that public servants face and it is where courage counts the most. Without courage, our action or inaction results in suffering of the few and injustice for all.