Press Releases
Torres: Choice is Safe Today, But We Can’t Put Our Guard Down
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Vice Chair of the Congressional Pro Choice Caucus, reacted today to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June Medical Services v. Russo, which challenged a 2014 Louisiana state law requiring doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.In a five-to-four decision, the Supreme Court agreed that such requirements, which would have shut Louisiana clinics down, unduly burdens women's access to abortion.Rep. Torres … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Torres Helps Shape, Pass Police Reform Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today voted in favor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, legislation to address systemic racism in law enforcement and protect black and brown communities from discriminatory police practices. Torres, who spent 17.5 years as a 911 dispatcher for the Los Angeles Police Department, provided recommendations to her colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee as they developed the legislation. Rep. Torres' input led to: A … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Torres Introduces Legislation to Defund Trump’s Social Media E.O.
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) introduced the Defund Executive Orders that Suppress Free Speech Act this week - legislation to halt the implementation of Executive Order 13925. The order, signed by President Trump on May 29, 2020, would direct various federal agencies to reinterpret a key federal statute that fosters free speech on the Internet. Under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, online platforms are shielded from lawsuits for the content users post … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Torres to DOJ: Release FBI Report on White Supremacist Infiltration of Law Enforcement
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today led 27 lawmakers in requesting the Department of Justice (DOJ) release the full contents of a 2006 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intelligence assessment entitled, "White Supremacist Infiltration of Law Enforcement," provide an updated status of such infiltration, and share how the DOJ and FBI have addressed the issue since the initial release of the assessment.The lawmakers write, in part:"[A]larm bells have spanned several … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
Torres: DREAMers Are Americans in Every Way
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), who came to the U.S. from Guatemala at the age of five, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's ruling to block the Trump's administration's attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects nearly 800,000 immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation, including 17,500 eligible recipients in California's 35th Congressional District: "To all the Dreamers … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Torres Offers Amendments to Justice in Policing Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) sent a letter to the House Judiciary Committee this week proposing numerous amendments to the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. The legislation comes amidst weeks of protests across the country following the deaths of two unarmed black Americans, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, at the hands of police officers.Among other changes, Torres calls for: The national police misconduct registry to account for officers that resign before a … Continue Reading
June 09, 2020
Torres Announces $80M to Support Homeless & At-Risk Inland Empire Residents
ONTARIO, CA—Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, today announced nearly $80 million in new Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funding to support homeless Americans and individuals at risk of becoming homeless because of hardships such as job loss, wage reduction, or illness due to COVID-19.The funds are authorized as part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) final … Continue Reading
June 09, 2020
Torres Announces $650K Grant for Scholarships to Disadvantaged Graduate Students
POMONA, CA—Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding a $649,950 grant to Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program will fund scholarships to graduate students with traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. "While the Inland Empire has some of the brightest minds around, not everyone starts off on equal footing in life," Representative Torres said. … Continue Reading
June 08, 2020
Torres: No Place in US for Corrupt Guatemalan Officials
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), the only Central American serving in Congress, released the following statement today as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Gustavo Adolfo Alejos Cámbara, former chief of staff to former Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom, is prohibited from entering the United States due to his involvement in corrupt acts that undermined the rule of law in Guatemala.Rep. Torres, who was born in Guatemala and immigrated to the United States to … Continue Reading
June 08, 2020
Torres Signs onto Justice in Policing Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today became an original co-sponsor of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, legislation to address systemic racism in law enforcement and protect black and brown communities from discriminatory police practices.Congresswoman Torres, who spent 17.5 years as a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the Los Angeles Police Department, released the following statement:"It is time for transformational change in America," Rep. Torres said. "George Floyd is far … Continue Reading
June 04, 2020
Lawmakers Announce $5M for Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Educational Partnership Agreement with the Air Force Research Laboratory for Rocket and Space Engineering
POMONA, CA—U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Grace Napolitano (CA-32) and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) today announced $5 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 (H.R. 1158) to fund an Education Partnership Agreement (EPA) between California Polytechnic State Universities (Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for the purpose of encouraging and enhancing the Air Force's strategic capabilities in space operations through next … Continue Reading
May 31, 2020
Rep. Torres Responds to George Floyd Protests
POMONA, CA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) released the following statement as protests over George Floyd's murder in police custody continue in the Inland Empire and across the country:"As a former 911 dispatcher, I experienced many traumatic episodes, but the video of George Floyd's death was as bad as anything I've heard," Rep. Torres said. "We didn't see law enforcement on that recording - we saw murder. And while charges are now filed against one of the former officers involved, … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Torres Votes for COVID Support Package
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today voted in favor of the Heroes Act, a COVID-19 supplemental funding package to support small businesses, workers and families across the country.Building upon support Congress provided in the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Heroes Act delivers a new round of Economic Impact Payments (up to $1,200 per worker and child; up to $6,000 per family). It also includes funding for state and local governments, … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Torres Announces $1.5 Million for Clean Water in Chino
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced two Department of Interior grants totaling $1.5 million to help provide clean water to the City of Chino.The grants, each totaling $750,000, will help in the construction of a wellhead treatment facility to bring a retired well back into service, and support an effort to remove groundwater contaminants near the Chino Airport. Recipient Project Amount City of Chino Well 14 On-Site … Continue Reading
May 11, 2020
Torres Announces More Than $1 Million for Community Health Centers
POMONA, CA — Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced $1,070,551 in grant funding awarded to ParkTree Community Health Center to expand COVID-19 testing and their Telehealth Program, and to Unicare Community Health Center to expand testing capacity. This funding is part of the larger Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that Congress passed last month.The funds bring vital testing and increased access to video and telephonic medical care. The new system will … Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
U.S. Representatives Raise Concerns about State Prisons
POMONA - U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35) and Mark Takano (CA-41) led 11 other federal lawmakers from across California in requesting information from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations (CDCR) about how it is protecting staff and inmates from COVID-19 at state-run prison facilities.As of May 6th, 2020: 370 inmates at CDCR facilities reportedly tested positive coronavirus; One inmate died in April from what appears to be coronavirus; and 156 CDCR … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Lawmakers Call for Virtual Naturalization to Welcome New American Citizens
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Co-Chair of the New American Caucus and the only Central American serving in Congress, along with fellow New American Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46), led 28 lawmakers in requesting of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Keven McCarthy that the next COVID-19 funding package require U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) to provide remote oath ceremonies during this pandemic … Continue Reading
May 04, 2020
Torres Announces Housing Relief Funds for Inland Empire
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, today announced more than $1.7 million in new funding for local housing agencies.The funds, which are authorized as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, will help prevent, prepare and respond to housing needs throughout the Inland Empire during the COVID-19 pandemic. Housing Authority of the City of … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Torres to SBA: Don’t Play Games with Small Business Loans
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today questioned why the Small Business Administration (SBA) notified the public only hours before a special loan approval period it claimed was to help small businesses secure Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.That time period, which lasted from 4:00pm until 11:59pm EST yesterday, was announced by SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin just hours before it took place."If SBA's goal was to help small … Continue Reading
April 27, 2020
Rep. Torres Leads 76 Lawmakers in Seeking Survivor Benefits, Proper Compensation for Medical Workers
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today led 76 lawmakers in calling for next COVID-19 stimulus package to include survivor benefits, commiserate compensation, and workplace protections for medical personnel as they combat coronavirus.Torres, who successfully advocated for direct assistance for contract employees and gig economy workers in the last emergency relief bill, led lawmakers in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, urging … Continue Reading