(The Hill) — House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said her party’s “first test” would be to defend its work of the last two years, particularly healthcare reform.

Pelosi, the former Speaker who was elected Wednesday as Democrats’ minority leader in the next Congress, sought $100,000 for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) before the House vote next Wednesday on legislation repealing the healthcare reform law.

“This is our first test of how grassroots Democrats will respond to the Republicans’ disgraceful attempt to roll back our progress for America’s middle class families,” Pelosi wrote in an e-mail to DCCC supporters.

“We must hold House Republicans’ feet to the fire for taking government funded health care for themselves while voting to deny it to American families.”