In the News
Rep. Norma Torres goes on Inland Empire ‘jobs listening tour’
ONTARIO >> On her first major break from Congress, Rep. Norma Torres, D-Ontario, spent the day meeting with Inland Empire workers and employers, in an attempt to help plan her first year in Washington.She started the day at UPS' hub adjacent to LA/Ontario International Airport."So, who delivers to my home?" Torres asked a group of drivers at their morning meeting. "Because I get a lot of packages."Torres, formerly the mayor of Pomona, was greeted with calls of "P-town!" from the … Continue Reading
March 09, 2015
Economy continues to show improvement
The nation's economy is continuing on an upward path, and the Inland Empire is also showing positive signs at the start of 2015, analysts said.The Department of Labor announced on March 6 that the United States economy added a robust 295,000 jobs in February, and the unemployment rate dropped from 5.7 percent in January to 5.5 percent, the lowest level in seven years.California's jobless rate went down to 6.9 percent, according to the state's Employment Development Department, while the San … Continue Reading
March 08, 2015
New Inland Empire reps reflect on difficult first 60 days in Congress
After the 113th Congress' historic gridlock over the past two years, legislators vowed this year that things would be different. But as the recent near-shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security illustrated, things haven't changed much, if at all. Rep. Norma Torres, D-Ontario, one of the 70 new members of Congress this term, serves on the House of Representatives' Homeland Security Committee, and noticed the partisanship weeks ago, shortly after the 114th Congress first convened, … Continue Reading
March 03, 2015
Congreso aprueba fondos para el DHS: Voto pone fin a drama por los alivios migratorios, pero fortalece detención de madres y niños centroamericanos
Washington.- El Congreso aprobó este martes los fondos del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) para el resto del año fiscal 2015, poniendo fin a un prolongado drama sobre la sobrevivencia de los alivios migratorios. En una votación de 257-167, la Cámara de Representantes aprobó la medida de gastos del DHS que el Senado había aprobado la semana pasada. Ahora esta será enviada al presidente Barack Obama para su promulgación. La medida autoriza los fondos del DHS para el resto del año … Continue Reading
March 02, 2015
POLITICA: La única congresista guatemalteca-estadounidense representa el distrito del Inland
Una amplia franja del Inland Empire está representado por la única miembro del Congreso de ascendencia guatemalteca.Norma Torres, ex legisladora estatal y alcaldesa de Pomona, ganó las elecciones en noviembre para representar al distrito que incluye la totalidad o parte de Fontana, Ontario, Rialto, Chino, Montclair, Bloomington y Pomona. Torres, de 49 años, nació en Guatemala y llegó a California durante su infancia.Torres (demócrata) ya tomó un papel de liderazgo en la Cámara de … Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
Homeland Security shutdown? L.A, Long Beach ports are ready
With operations slowly returning to normal at the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex after a labor dispute that left a backlog of ships in the harbor, port officials say they have contingency plans ready to avert more problems if the Department of Homeland Security is forced to shut down."Unfortunately, we've been down this road before with sequestration and other congressional up-to-the-last-minute deadline situations," Port of Long Beach Director of Security Randy Parsons told City News … Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
Local Democrats warn of San Bernardino County impacts if Homeland Security not funded
A short-term funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security looked likely to pass before funding was to expire at midnight, in the midst of a national debate over security and immigration that was based in part in the Inland Empire.Democrats were at first unsuccessful in their requests to get passage of a "clean" bill — one that would fund the department without the Republican-added amendment that would revoke President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration.More than 20 House … Continue Reading
February 25, 2015
POLITICS: Immigration fight could freeze workers' paychecks
As a political battle over immigration was moving the U.S. Department of Homeland Security closer to a possible partial shutdown, Border Patrol Agent Arturo Alcaraz was preparing to report to work on Monday, March 2, as usual.Alcaraz, who works out of the Murrieta Border Patrol station, is one of tens of thousands of DHS employees who are deemed essential and must work even if there's no money to pay them. Funding for the agency would run out at midnight Friday unless the immigration dispute … Continue Reading
February 25, 2015
Homeland shutdown, if it happens, isn't likely to disrupt security
Local authorities don't anticipate security risks or disruptions in travel at area airports or the Los Angeles area port complex if there is a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Transportation Security Administration workers who handle airport screening at John Wayne Airport and Los Angeles International Airport are considered "essential employees" and would not be subject to furlough. So expect security operations at John Wayne to continue as usual, Jenny Wedge, the … Continue Reading
February 24, 2015
Congress sends Homeland Security bill to Obama without immigration conditions
WASHINGTON >> Bitterly admitting defeat, House Republicans on Tuesday abandoned their attempts to use the Homeland Security Department's spending bill to force concessions from President Barack Obama on immigration, and sent him legislation to fund the agency through the end of the budget year with no strings attached."I am pleased we have been able to pass a bill and guarantee funding for the Department of Homeland Security for the coming year, but disappointed we ever got to this … Continue Reading
February 16, 2015
POLITICS: Congress' only Guatemalan-American represents Inland district
A large swath of the Inland Empire is represented by the nation's only member of Congress of Guatemalan descent.Norma Torres, a former state legislator and Pomona mayor, won election in November to represent a district that includes all or part of Fontana, Ontario, Rialto, Chino, Montclair, Bloomington and Pomona. Torres, 49, was born in Guatemala and arrived in California as a child.Torres, a Democrat, already has taken a leadership role in the House on issues affecting Central America. Her … Continue Reading
February 15, 2015
Dangers Propelled Norma Torres to Move to U.S., Then to Politics
WASHINGTON — For Representative Norma J. Torres, a freshman Democrat from California's 35th District, the debate over immigration policy is intensely personal.Born in Guatemala, Ms. Torres, 49, moved to the United States with her uncle when she was 5, leaving behind a country riven by civil war and a mother who would die from heart disease a year later. Her interest in politics grew from a searing experience as a 911 dispatcher, when one night a girl was murdered after being placed on hold … Continue Reading
February 13, 2015
Inland Empire congresswoman Rep. Torres reflects on her first six weeks
ONTARIO >> Despite having more preparation than many freshman members of Congress, Rep. Norma Torres, is finding Washington a whole new world."As much time as I've spent in D.C., you think I'd know the city better than I do," Torres, D-Ontario, said Monday in her new Ontario district office that still smelled faintly of fresh paint.Torres splits her time between Washington and Southern California, coming back on weekends when her schedule allows. At the moment, she's still couch-surfing … Continue Reading
January 30, 2015
Torres named to House Natural Resources Committee
Rep. Norma Torres, D-Ontario, has been appointed to the Natural Resources Committee and the Subcommittees on Water, Power and Oceans and on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs of the House of Representatives.Natural Resources Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva of Arizona announced the appointment. The committee oversees issues related to American energy production, fisheries and wildlife, public lands, oceans, Native Americans, mining, and water irrigation and reclamation. The Subcommittee on … Continue Reading
January 21, 2015
Fontana resident attends State of the Union event
Fontana resident Crystal Tettenhorst, a U.S. Navy veteran, never imagined that her service to the nation and her good work in school would one day land her a spot at a highly prestigious event in Washington, D.C.On Jan. 20, Tettenhorst watched in person as President Barack Obama delivered the 2015 State of the Union address and said it was an "amazing" and "unforgettable" experience."It is truly an honor to be here for such an important event. I feel very excited and happy to be here," said … Continue Reading
January 19, 2015
Different faiths come together in Pomona King celebration
POMONA >> Children, adults and senior citizens of different faiths, cultures, ethnic backgrounds, political persuasions, professional pursuits and personal experiences linked hands and hearts before they sang "We Shall Overcome" at the Pomona-Inland Valley Martin Luther King Jr. Project holiday celebration Sunday night in Pomona.The event, hosted for the 20th time by the Rev. Beth Bingham and Pilgrim Congregational Church, is the region's oldest observance of the holiday for and legacy … Continue Reading
January 19, 2015
Rep. Torres invites Chaffey College student to State of the Union address
When Rep. Norma Torres, D-Ontario, attends her first State of the Union tonight, she will be joined by a special guest, Chaffey College student Crystal Tettenhorst.Only a couple of days after learning about her trip, Tettenhorst was up Monday morning before dawn to catch her flight to the nation's capital. The invitation was a complete surprise for the 30-year-old who is majoring in biochemistry."I'm very excited, and I feel so honored to have been selected for this opportunity," Tettenhorst … Continue Reading
January 16, 2015
CONGRESS: Aguilar, Torres get committee assignments
The newest members of the Inland House of Representatives delegation now have committee assignments.Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Redlands, will serve on the House Armed Services and Agriculture committees."I look forward to serving the tens of thousands military personnel and veterans who call the Inland Empire home as a member of the Armed Services Committee," said Aguilar, a former Redlands mayor who replaces Rep. Gary Miller, R-Rancho Cucamonga. "These proud men and women need a voice in Congress … Continue Reading
January 09, 2015
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 … Continue Reading
January 09, 2015
Torres pone manos a la obra para defender los alivios migratorios: La guatemalteca es la primera congresista nacida en Centroamérica
Washington.- Apenas se va acomodando en su escaño por California en el Capitolio, pero la nueva legisladora demócrata, Norma Torres, ya se sumó a la lucha por los alivios migratorios, que los republicanos quieren bloquear este año. En entrevista con este diario, Torres, de origen guatemalteco, explicó que ya está trabajando con el congresista demócrata por Texas, Joaquín Castro, para intentar frenar una medida republicana contra los alivios para hasta cinco millones de inmigrantes … Continue Reading