Today is the day to say “hurray for Nancy” because this afternoon Nancy Pelosi is being sworn in as Speaker of the House. That makes her 1) the first female Speaker, and 2) the highest ranking female elected official in U.S. history.

But her ascendancy is not just a victory for women. In her first days in office, she has vowed to raise the minimum wage (which hasn’t been boosted in a decade), meaning that tens of millions of working people - the ones whose backs make this country run – will come closer to a livable salary. That will be tremendously significant for families all across the U.S.

Nancy Pelosi trivia:

She is an Italian Catholic grandmother who never misses Mass.

She raised five children, and did not start life as a politician until age 47.

She will not drink coffee, but she adores chocolate.

Her family’s net worth is estimated at over $25 million.