Press Releases
Torres Leads 40 Lawmakers in Demanding Answers After National Guard Stonewalled from Capitol
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres today led 40 lawmakers in demanding answers from the Department of Defense (DoD) about its role in preparing for and responding to the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. In a letter to Acting Secretary of Defense, Christopher Miller, the lawmakers outline grave concerns about the Department of Defense's role in preparing for and responding to the riot that overran the Capitol last Wednesday. The lawmakers write in part:"We … Continue Reading
January 07, 2021
Torres Responds to Trump-Incited Assault on Democracy
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today responded to a brazen mob frenzied by the president storming the Capitol complex. The violence led to one casualty, the destruction of revered public property on Capitol grounds, and the debasement of American democracy on the international stage. The day's events were the result of an unconstitutional effort by President Donald Trump and his allies on Capitol Hill to overturn the will of the American people as Congress certified … Continue Reading
January 04, 2021
Torres Delivers for Local Manufacturers in Annual Congressional Funding Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced multiple provisions in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that will help Inland Empire manufacturers streamline supply chains and better collaborate with Manufacturing USA Institutes and Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers. Preventing Supply Chain Disruptions for Small and Medium Manufacturers: Rep. Torres passed a provision requiring the federal government to take first steps towards a … Continue Reading
January 04, 2021
Torres, Haaland Celebrate as Native American Economic Opportunity Bill Becomes Law
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35) and Deb Haaland (NM-01), Co-Chair of the Native American Caucus, celebrated this week as their bill, the Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act, was signed into law. The new law expands economic opportunities for Native Americans by addressing the lack of access to credit and community development that hampers entrepreneurialism in Native American tribes. Specifically, the legislation: Updates and provides new resources to the … Continue Reading
December 23, 2020
Torres Secures Funding to Address Student Hunger, Homelessness & Basic Needs
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced that she secured $5 million to fund a pilot program of her legislation, the BASIC Act, as part of the Omnibus Appropriations package that passed out of Congress last night. Then-Senator and now Vice President-elect Kamala Harris introduced the counterpart of the Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act in the U.S. Senate. The legislation is designed to ensure college students - particularly Pell Grant … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Torres Shapes Policy Towards Northern Triangle in Omnibus Funding Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, used her seat on the powerful committee to shape U.S. policy toward the Northern Triangle. Torres, who is the only Central American currently serving in the U.S. Congress, included a myriad of provisions in the Omnibus Appropriations package passed out of Congress last night: Anti-Corruption Funding: For the second consecutive year, Rep. Torres sought and secured $45 million for … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
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