In the News
Rep. Norma Torres to IRS, attorney general: Review operations of L.A. County Fair Association
POMONA >> U.S. Rep. Norma Torres on Wednesday called on the Internal Revenue Service and California Attorney General Kamala Harris to review the operations and leadership structure of the Los Angeles County Fair Association.Torres' request comes a day after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors directed the county's Auditor-Controller to conduct an audit of the Fair Association's financial operations and provide a report within four months. Supervisors Hilda Solis and Mike … Continue Reading
October 20, 2015
Congresswomen Schultz and Torres speak out against El Salvador abortion ban
In a post on VICE, Democratic congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Norma Torres are speaking out against El Salvador’s harsh abortion ban, which has landed countless women in jail. Women, wrongfully accused of having illegal abortions, have ended up in deplorable prisons and experienced severe discrimination as well as physical and verbal abuse. Schulz and Torres have now taken up the cause of Las 17, “the more than a dozen women in El Salvador who suffered obstetric emergencies and … Continue Reading
October 19, 2015
Opinion: How El Salvador's Abortion Ban Destroys Women's Lives
In 2004, Cristina Quintanilla was pregnant for the second time. Eight months into her pregnancy, she started feeling discomfort, which she assumed at first was normal. One night the pain was so excruciating she passed out at home, only learning later she miscarried. Her mother and stepfather took her to a local hospital for emergency treatment. But that's not what she received. Because Cristina lives in El Salvador, she was immediately interrogated by police and arrested under suspicion of … Continue Reading
September 25, 2015
Opinion: Rep. Torres praises Pope's message
Pope Francis's address before Congress on Sept. 24 as well as the events of recent days have rejuvenated my faith and brought me closer to a Church from which I, like many others, had become estranged.I am proud, as are so many Catholics in the United States and throughout the Hemisphere, to see myself in this Pope.The Pope's message today was not progressive or conservative, Democratic or Republican. It was simply an appeal to our common humanity.Regardless of faith or political … Continue Reading
August 19, 2015
Local representatives take part in F-35 plane simulation
As a world superpower, the United States will always be at the forefront of military weapon technology.With the F-35 Lightning II program, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter program, the nation has once again achieved a lethal and versatile combat system -- one that has also proven to be quite expensive.After 15 years in development and some $200 billion over the original budget, the U.S. Department of Defense's newest achievement began operations last month, and on Aug. 18, Lockheed … Continue Reading
August 12, 2015
L.A. transfers ownership of airport to Ontario
After five years of litigation and strenuous negotiations, the City of Los Angeles transferred on Aug. 6 ownership of the Ontario International Airport to the city of Ontario during an official ceremony held at the airport's Terminal 4.Under the watch of dozens of local legislative leaders, entrepreneurs and activists, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti transferred the property to a local agency as part of a $250 million agreement.Invoking a William Mulholland speech during the inauguration of … Continue Reading
August 07, 2015
Torres staff to be on hand to solve problems Thursday
An opportunity to meet staff members of Rep. Norma J. Torres to assist with problems with federal agencies will be held Thursday.The "Congress on Your Corner" will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Pomona Chamber of Commerce, 101 W. Mission Blvd., Pomona.RSVPs are required at 909-481-6474 or email … Continue Reading
July 28, 2015
2015 50 Most Beautiful
Politics can be messy, but Norma Torres isn’t afraid to get a little dirty. “I love to ride a dirt bike whenever I can,” the House freshman and former 911 dispatcher said. “Just that wind. You know, that dirt and the speed, it’s amazing,” she says. When she’s not suited up in her safety gear as she’s zipping along on two wheels, Torres enjoys 3-mile hikes with her husband and their pair of rescue dogs, and “spoiling” the newest member of the family — her grandson. But there’s a … Continue Reading
July 14, 2015
New Member Spotlight: Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona)
Rep. Norma Torres immigrated to the United States from Guatemala when she was three years old and is a longtime resident of the Inland Empire. She received her bachelor's degree in Labor Studies from the National Labor College. Before being elected to Congress, Rep. Torres served as a State Assembly Member and as a Mayor and Council Member in the City of Pomona.Rep. Torres represents the 35th Congressional District, covering Bloomington, Fontana, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona, and Rialto. She is … Continue Reading
July 04, 2015
Congresswoman Norma Torres reflects on becoming a U.S. citizen
Rep. Norma Torres was a little girl when she arrived in Whittier from her native Guatemala in the early 1970s."I know no other country," said Torres, D-Ontario. "It wasn't my choice to come here."Torres came to live with an uncle and aunt in Whittier after her mother became ill and her father needed to care for his ailing wife, she said.The neighborhood she lived in "was an all American community," Torres said. Residents "were very proud to be Americans."In school, Torres learned English … Continue Reading
June 25, 2015
Inland Empire members of House back continuation of export bank
Federal lawmakers from the Inland Empire, where many businesses export products overseas, have expressed disappointed that House leaders are allowing the expiration of the congressional charter for the Export-Import Bank, which helps finance and guarantee loans for overseas transactions. The lawmakers say the failure to reauthorize the charter for the bank, which is set to end Tuesday, will have a negative impact on local business and provide an unfair advantage to marketplace competitors … Continue Reading
June 02, 2015
Speaking the Truth to Stop Racism Against Native Americans | Commentary
The United States' historically racist Indian affairs policy cost Native Americans millions of lives and millions of acres of land. At a recent hearing, Rep. Norma J. Torres, D-Calif., acknowledged the devastation wrought by the allotment policy on American-Indian nations and tribes. She is our new hero in Native American country.Don Young of Alaska, chairman of House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular Affairs and Alaska Natives, is a longtime friend of Indian country. Yet his … Continue Reading
May 28, 2015
Congresswoman Torres travels to Afghanistan to remember female service members on Mother’s Day
Congresswoman Norma Torres joined a bipartisan group of Congresswomen on a trip to Afghanistan and Kuwait this month to celebrate Mother's Day with female service members - and moms - who are away from their families.The four Congresswomen delivered homemade Mother's Day cards created by 16 third-graders at St. Joseph Elementary School in Pomona."As the mother of an Air Force veteran, I have an enormous amount of admiration for these dedicated women and the sacrifices they've made to keep our … Continue Reading
May 21, 2015
Rep. Norma Torres, Judy Chu call for improved debt forgiveness process for Corinthian Colleges students
Rep. Norma Torres, D-Ontario, Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, and 14 others members of Congress have sent a letter to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, asking him to streamline the federal loan debt forgiveness process for the former students of Corinthian Colleges and its subsidiaries."The company's deceptive practices and ultimate closure has jeopardized the financial and academic future of more than 16,000 students," the May 21 letter begins, "and we strongly urge the Department of Education … Continue Reading
May 19, 2015
Officials say federal transportation funding extension falls short
Local congressional members, despite voting in the affirmative on Tuesday, expressed disappointment in the passage of another short-term extension of transportation funding, instead of a comprehensive bill they say would significantly improve the movement of goods and traffic in Southern California.Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Rancho Cucamonga, and Norma Torres, D-Ontario, are among the members of Congress who support a long-term multi-year federal transportation bill they say would greatly improve … Continue Reading
May 10, 2015
Torres returns from tour of Afghanistan
Rep. Norma J. Torres, D-Chino, joined a bipartisan group of congresswomen on a trip to Afghanistan where they celebrated an early Mother's Day with female service members.She was joined by Reps. Susan Davis of California, Martha McSally of Arizona, and Betty McCollum of Minnesota.Torres delivered flashlights provided by Maglite based in Ontario and also gave out Mother's Day cards made by students from St. Joseph Elementary School in Pomona at a Mother's Day luncheon where the congresswomen … Continue Reading
May 10, 2015
Members of Congress make a Mother's Day trip to Afghanistan
Four members of Congress - including two from Southern California - made an early Mother's Day trip last week to Afghanistan to talk with women serving there in the U.S. military, as well as Afghan women. Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) made her 10th trip to Afghanistan, including every Mother's Day trip since 2009 Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona) made her first trip to Afghanistan since being elected last year. Davis and Torres delivered Mother's Day cards made by children in their … Continue Reading
May 01, 2015
Op-Ed: Local growth needs a local understanding
Over the last several years, we have seen our local economy go from one of the fastest growing in the nation to one of the hardest hit by the Great Recession. As I began my first term in Congress, I knew that I had to go straight to the community to determine the most effective way to support the Inland Empire's recovery.This is why I decided to embark on a district-wide listening tour where I sat down with local economic leaders, education professionals, employees and owners of businesses … Continue Reading
April 24, 2015
Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services gets additional funding and will open new headquarters in Rancho
Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services (NPHS) and Rep. Norma Torres (CA-35) recently announced the awarding of $293,000 to advance sustainable homeownership and financial education throughout the Inland Empire. The funding was provided by NeighborWorks America. NPHS offers specialized real estate services to help families gain access to homeownership. On May 5, NPHS will open its new headquarters at 9551 Pittsburgh Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga. As part of the transition, NPHS will … Continue Reading
April 22, 2015
While Drought Compels California to Take Action, Rest of the Country Shouldn't Wait
While the rest of the country may only think about climate change during an extreme weather event or as something our children are going to have to deal with, my home state of California is already facing the effects of climate change and is working tirelessly to deal with its effects. From reduced snowpack to a rising sea level, warming temperatures will continue to strain our state's water supply and threaten millions of acres of farmland.Well into our fourth year of drought, mountains with … Continue Reading