Rep. Norma Torres nominated for Homeland Security Committee
Rep. Norma Torres, D-Ontario, newly arrived in Washington, D.C., has been nominated for a seat on the House of Representatives' Homeland Security Committee.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, announced her party's committee assignments on Friday.
The size and party affiliation of committees are negotiated by the leadership of the Democratic and Republican parties; the split typically mirrors the political makeup of the House of Representatives itself.
"The issues that come before the Homeland Security Committee are of critical importance to my state and my district," Torres is quoted as saying in a news release issued Friday. "A destination for tourists and domestic and international commerce, California relies on our ability to ensure our nation's transportation, border, and cyber security.
Torres, who represents the 35th Congressional District, which stretches from Pomona to Rialto, noted that her district is home to L.A./Ontario International Airport "and serves as an inland port through which goods from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are transported to the rest of the country.
"Protecting our nation's infrastructure and ensuring the effective implementation of security regulations are vital to the region's economy. As Congress wrestles with addressing our broken immigration system, we also cannot afford to forget that protecting our borders goes hand-in-hand with reforming our immigration laws to reflect the realities of the 21st century."
Peolosi's assignments will be voted on by the full Democratic Caucus next week.
A former state senator, Torres won the 35th District seat in November, beating out fellow Democrat Christina Gagnier with 62.19 percent of the vote.
Source: Beau Yarbrough, The Sun