Press Releases
Torres Secures and Delivers $27M in Funding for Ontario International Airport
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) announced today an award of $27,151,749 in federal relief funding for Ontario International Airport, a regional transportation hub in the Inland Empire. The funds, championed by Torres for inclusion in the American Rescue Plan of 2021, are allocated to help airports overcome the financial toll of the coronavirus pandemic. This allotment is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Rescue Grants program—a program responsible for … Continue Reading
June 18, 2021
Torres Reintroduces Legislation Protecting Central American Women & Children
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Co-Chair of the Congressional Central America Caucus, re-introduced the Central American Women and Children Protection Act this week. The legislation would protect women and children in the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras from domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and neglect, and hold perpetrators of these acts accountable for their actions. If enacted, the bill would authorize the U.S. … Continue Reading
June 14, 2021
Torres Welcomes Special Envoy Zuniga to Central America Caucus Inaugural Event
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Co-Chair of the Congressional Central America Caucus, welcomed Special Envoy for the Northern Triangle Ricardo Zuniga to the Caucus' inaugural event of the 117th Congress. The virtual briefing was an opportunity for the bipartisan group of lawmakers to hear directly from a key official within the Biden Administration's efforts to address root causes of migration in Central America and other regional issues. Torres, who is the sole … Continue Reading
June 10, 2021
Reps. Torres, Grijalva Urge DOJ to Drop Lawsuit Benefitting For-Profit Prison Industry
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35) and Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) today led 24 lawmakers in sending a letter to Attorney General Merick Garland, urging him to consider dropping a Department of Justice legal challenge against the State of California regarding AB 32 (People not Profit), which aims to ban privately operated prisons and detention centers. The lawmakers note that continuing the ongoing appeal puts the Department of Justice in the way of President Biden's … Continue Reading
June 10, 2021
Rep. Torres & Sens. Padilla, Warren Introduce Legislation to Improve Equity in Higher Education By Helping Students Access Basic Needs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Norma Torres (D-Calif.), along with U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), introduced the Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act, bicameral legislation to ensure college students are able to meet their basic needs while pursuing their education. U.S Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) are cosponsors of the bill. The bicameral legislation provides $1 billion for grants to ensure … Continue Reading
June 09, 2021
Torres Legislation Expanding Access to Education Opportunities for Veterans Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today celebrated as her bill, the G.I Veterans Education Empowerment Act (GIVE Act) was signed into law by President Biden as part of a larger legislative package called the Training in High-Demand Roles to Improve Veteran Employment Act (THRIVE Act). Torres' bill adds new categories and information to the G.I. Comparison Tool, an online resource designed to help service members make decisions about their G.I. benefits and explore … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Torres’ Funding Priorities for I.E. Advance in Congress
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced that two community funding projects she championed were included in the 2021 House surface transportation package, known as the INVEST in America Act. Combined, the projects are a $20 million infrastructure investment in the Inland Empire.$5 Million for Pine Avenue Extension: Rep. Torres secured $5 million to help extend Pine Avenue in the City of Chino out to the 71 Freeway. The $50 million project has been in planning … Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
Torres Includes Transportation Equity Provisions in Surface Transportation Package
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) applauded the authors of the House surface transportation funding package unveiled today for including provisions drawn from her bill, the Fair Transportation Act of 2021. Torres' legislation, which is designed to ensure Department of Transportation (DOT) funding is dispersed equitably by federal, state, and local entities, will provide a strong basis for research, planning, and best practices to take into account economically … Continue Reading
June 02, 2021
Torres Announces $895K for Western University of Health Sciences
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced two grants totaling $895,522 in grant funding—federal dollars she championed during the application process—to the Western University of Health Sciences for behavioral health training and heart disease research. These two grants are being allocated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). $472,522 is allocated via the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Professionals, and will … Continue Reading
May 31, 2021
Torres Commemorates Memorial Day as I.E. Marks One Year Anniversary of Roman-Martinez Murder
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today joined families across the Inland Empire in commemorating Memorial Day. The national holiday to honor fallen servicemembers also marks one year since the disappearance of Army Specialist Enrique Roman-Martinez, a twenty-one-year-old Chino native stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, who disappeared while camping with seven other servicemembers in the Outer Banks, and whose remains were found washed ashore a week later. Congresswoman Torres released … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Torres Introduces Bill Addressing Dangers of Illicit Nitrous Oxide Use
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today introduced the Myles Edward Scott Act, legislation to address the illicit recreational use of nitrous oxide. Torres' legislation is named in honor of Myles ‘Eddie' Scott, a Rialto teen who was tragically killed in a nitrous-involved car accident just one week after graduating high school in 2014. The driver of the vehicle Myles was riding in lost consciousness after inhaling N2O as a recreational drug. Nitrous oxide, or N2O, has a … Continue Reading
May 24, 2021
Torres Announces Nearly $9M in Federal Funding for Ontario International Airport
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) announced today the delivery of $8,782,977 in federal relief funding for Ontario International Airport, an allocation designed to help weather the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. This funding was included in the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act passed by Congress in December 2020. The Department of Transportation, responsible for disbursing these funds as appropriated by Congress, awarded the … Continue Reading
May 20, 2021
Torres Announces Nearly $133 Million in Funding for Inland Empire Institutions of Higher Learning
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced nearly $133 million in COVID relief funds for Inland Empire colleges and universities thanks to the Congressionally-passed American Rescue Plan. The funds, which are furnished by the Department of Education, are part of a $36 billion nationwide investment largely intended to support students most impacted by the pandemic. Half of the funding allocated to public and private non-profit institutions, and all the funds allocated to … Continue Reading
May 18, 2021
Torres: List of Corrupt Officials Shines Light on Dark Secrets of N. Triangle Authoritarians
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), the sole Central American serving in Congress and Co-Chair of the Central Americans Caucus, today praised a list prepared and released at her request by the U.S. State Department identifying corrupt officials in the Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The report provides names of officials for whom credible information exists about committing corrupt acts, including narcotics trafficking and the receipt or … Continue Reading
May 17, 2021
Torres Meets with VP Harris on Root Causes of Migration
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today met with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House to discuss the root causes of migration and current political dynamics in the Northern Triangle ahead of the Vice President's trip to the region. Torres, who was born in Guatemala and immigrated to the United States at the age of 5, is the sole Central American currently serving in Congress. As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations … Continue Reading
May 12, 2021
Torres Announces $423K for Mental Health Research at Local University
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced a $423,000 grant awarded to Western University of Health Sciences for mental health research. The grant, which is furnished by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of its Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA), will help pay for research on cognition impairment in Angelman Syndrome, a genetic disorder that can lead to delayed development and intellectual disability."When federal research funding comes to … Continue Reading
May 11, 2021
Reps. Torres, Aguilar Announce New Federal Loan Saving SB County Millions
POMONA - U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35) and Pete Aguilar (CA-31) today announced a federal loan from the Department of Transportation (DOT) of up to $225 million to the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) for the I-10 Corridor Express Lanes Project. The loan, which is furnished by DOT as part of its Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, is part of the Department's efforts to deliver COVID-19 relief to borrowers. It will … Continue Reading
May 10, 2021
Torres Announces Nearly $2.6 Billion in Funding for Inland Empire
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced nearly $2.6 billion in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds that are available starting today thanks to the Congressionally approved American Rescue Plan. The funds will provide financial relief to state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments, whose services have been in increasing demand during the pandemic, but whose revenues have fallen sharply due to the crisis. Local governments should expect to receive … Continue Reading
May 10, 2021
Torres Leads Congressional Delegation to Fairplex ORR Facility for Unaccompanied Minors
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today led a group of five U.S. Representatives on a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to the temporary Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Emergency Intake Facility for unaccompanied minors at the Fairplex in Pomona. The Pomona Fairplex facility, which was negotiated between Los Angeles County and the Biden Administration, is within California's 35th Congressional District, which Torres represents in Congress. Torres was joined on the tour by … Continue Reading
May 05, 2021
Reps. Torres and Lee Release Statement on Members of El Salvador’s National Assembly Voting to Dismiss Supreme Court Justices and the Attorney General
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (D-CA), the sole Central American serving in Congress and co-Chair of the Congressional Central America Caucus, and House State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee Chair Barbara Lee (D-CA), released the following statement today in response to newly elected members of El Salvador's National Assembly voting to dismiss five supreme court justices and the attorney general. The vote came on the first day in power for a newly elected majority of President … Continue Reading