Press Releases
Torres: Glad COVID Package Passed, but I.E. Residents Deserve More
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today voted for H.R. 133, an Omnibus Appropriations bill which includes much-needed COVID relief for families and businesses across the country. Torres sits on the House Appropriations Committee, which worked for months to forge compromise legislation that had enough bipartisan support to pass in both chambers. This legislation breaks a seven-month refusal by Senate Republicans to consider any aid package passed out of the House of … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Torres Hears from Local Residents, Experts Ahead of New Congressional Session
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) held two listening sessions this week to elevate the needs of local residents as the Inland Empire navigates past coronavirus and looks to rebuild in 2021. The listening sessions - one of which focused on housing, and the other on transportation and the local economy - are just the first two in a series that will continue in 2021 as the 117th Congressional session begins. Residents from across California's 35th Congressional District joined Rep. … Continue Reading
December 17, 2020
Torres Expresses Disappointment as Inaugural Committee Announces No Public Tickets
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) released the following statement after the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies announced that tickets for the 2021 Presidential Inauguration will not be publicly available in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus. "My office received hundreds of requests for inauguration tickets from residents across the Inland Empire eager to witness President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' historic … Continue Reading
December 12, 2020
Torres Cancels Weekend Appearances in Light of Coronavirus Spike
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced that she will refrain from participating in Christmas events in Chino and Pomona this weekend in light of spiking coronavirus cases across the Inland Empire. Rep. Torres released the following statement: "I deeply regret that I will not be attending holiday season events this weekend as I had originally planned," Rep. Torres said. "I look forward to these events all year - sharing the spirit of the holiday season with my … Continue Reading
December 08, 2020
Torres Ensures Accountability for U.S. Aid to Guatemala in NDAA
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today passed multiple provisions in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) ensuring U.S. military aid sent to Guatemala can only be used for its intended purpose at the time of transfer. Torres' provisions require the U.S. Secretary of Defense to certify that any vehicles transferred or sold from the United States to Guatemala be used solely for their original intended purpose. Her amendments also require the Secretary of … Continue Reading
December 08, 2020
Torres Bill Renaming Montclair Post Office After Former Mayor Paul Eaton Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Torres announced that President Trump signed into law bipartisan legislation she authored to rename Montclair's post office after the late Mayor, Paul Eaton. The post office will be designated the "Paul Eaton Post Office Building" in honor of the late Mayor's 48 years of dedicated public service to the Inland Empire. Mayor Eaton served Montclair for 23 consecutive years, making him the longest serving mayor in the city's history. "Paul Eaton was more than a pillar … Continue Reading
December 03, 2020
Torres, Haaland Pass Legislation Expanding Economic Opportunities for Indian Country
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35) and Deb Haaland (NM-01), Co-Chair of the Native American Caucus, today passed legislation that expands economic opportunities for Native Americans out of the House of Representatives. The Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act, which previously passed in the U.S. Senate, will now return to the upper chamber for a final vote to normalize slight language differences between the two versions. The Indian Community Economic … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
Torres Introduces Bill to Help Americans Find & Keep Homes During Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today introduced the Keep Your Home and Prevent Homelessness Act, which would help homeowners, renters, and homeless individuals keep or find a home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Torres' bill would allow the U.S. Treasury to invest at least $500 million, and potentially billions of dollars left over from the 2008 TARP program into the Hardest Hit Fund and the Emergency Solutions Grants Program. Rep. Torres released the following … Continue Reading
November 10, 2020
Torres, Foreign Affairs Cmte Leaders Urge Stronger US Response to Hurricane Eta
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), the only Central American-born lawmaker in Congress, partnered with House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Chairman Eliot Engel (NY-16) and HFAC Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade Chairman Albio Sires (NY-08) to send a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging the administration to bring all resources to bear and lead an all-hands effort with international partners to deliver urgently-needed … Continue Reading
October 29, 2020
Reps. Torres & Quigley to Chairman Pai: Keep FCC Independent
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), a member of the House Appropriations Committee's Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) subcommittee with oversight over the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and FSGG Chairman, Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05), this week sent a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai expressing strong objection to the FCC's recent announcement that it will move forward with rulemaking to "clarify" the meaning of Section 230 of the Communications … Continue Reading
October 09, 2020
Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Indigenous Peoples’ Day Resolution
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Deb Haaland (D-NM), Tom Cole (R-OK), Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Betty McCollum (D-MN) today introduced a bipartisan Congressional Resolution supporting the official designation of the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples' Day to replace Columbus Day as a federal holiday. First proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Peoples in … Continue Reading
October 01, 2020
Torres Introduces Legislation Protecting Families of Fallen Front Line Workers
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (D-CA) this week introduced the Frontline Heroes Act, legislation that would create the COVID-19 Frontline Healthcare Heroes Survivor and Disability Benefit Program. The program would provide survival benefits to the families of healthcare workers who die from COVID-19, and disability benefits to healthcare workers who are permanently disabled from COVID-19 related health complications. The push comes after Rep. Torres led 76 fellow lawmakers in … Continue Reading
September 24, 2020
Torres Releases Congressional Report on Importance of Census to Inland Empire
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today released a Congressional report prepared by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties outlining key ways a full Census count is vital for Inland Empire residents. Data collected by the Census is used to determine how much funding the district receives for critical services like education, medical care, foster care, roads, public transit, and job programs. Census … Continue Reading
September 23, 2020
Torres Retracts Statement About Law Enforcement
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) issued the following statement today, retracting a prior press release. "As the mother of a police officer and a former 9-1-1 emergency dispatcher, I have the greatest respect for the men and women of our law enforcement agencies. When two officers were brutally and senselessly ambushed and shot in Compton earlier this month, I wanted to issue a statement expressing my sorrow and fervent wish that the perpetrator of this outrage be brought to … Continue Reading
September 21, 2020
Torres Passes Landmark Legislation Protecting Native American Women
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (D-CA) was joined today by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), as well as fellow U.S. Representatives Deb Haaland (D-NM) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) to celebrate the passage of Savanna's Act, legislation the bipartisan group of lawmakers championed in the House and Senate in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind. Ms. LaFontaine-Greywind was a 22-year old pregnant member of the Spirit Lake Tribe who was tragically … Continue Reading
September 19, 2020
Justice Must be Served: Torres Urges Public for Information as Gunman who Attacked LA Co. Deputies Remains at Large after a Week
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) released the following statement today urging the public for information as a week transpired since two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies were ambushed by a gunman while sitting in their squad car in Compton. While one of the Deputies has since been released from the hospital, a 31-year-old mother remains in the intensive care unit. The assailant remains at large, and investigators are seeking a key witness seen on the video tape. Rep. … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Torres: Trump’s Lies Cost Lives
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today responded to news reports that President Donald J. Trump ignored a top-secret warning in the Oval Office from National Security Adviser Robert C. O'Brien that novel coronavirus "will be the biggest national security threat you face in your presidency." As the Washington Post lays out, Trump spent the ten days following that briefing holding political rallies, golfing, throwing a Super Bowl party at his private club in Palm Beach, … Continue Reading
September 15, 2020
Rep. Torres on Ambush of L.A. Co. Deputies: Eyes of History are Now Upon Us
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today responded to news that two Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies were ambushed by a gunman on Saturday while sitting in their squad car in Compton, California. Both deputies, one male and one female, remain in critical condition after undergoing multiple surgeries. The assailant remains at large, and anyone with information about his identity or whereabouts should contact the police immediately to help bring him to justice. Congresswoman … Continue Reading
September 14, 2020
Rep. Torres Announces $28 Million in Additional COVID-19 Relief for Inland Empire
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced an additional $28 million in Coronavirus relief funding for cities and counties in the Inland Empire through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. This funding, delivered via the Community Development Block Grant program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will help local municipalities fund rental and utility assistance, small business grants, and other social safety net … Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Rep. Torres: If DHS Leadership Committed Treason, We Must Hold Them Accountable
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today responded to a whistleblower complaint that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leadership directed staff to downplay threats posed by white supremacists and Russian interference in our elections. As detailed by the New York Times, Brian Murphy, a former head of the Homeland Security Department's intelligence division, alleges that he was directed by acting secretary of the department Chad Wolf to stop reporting Russian … Continue Reading