Press Releases
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
April 23, 2020
Torres Works to Deliver More COVID-19 Relief to the Inland Empire
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today voted for the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, an interim coronavirus relief package to provide additional funding to support small businesses through the economic downturn. The legislation also provides new funding for hospitals and medical practitioners, including for personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as funding to expand COVID-19 testing capacity across the country."The first round of funding … Continue Reading
April 22, 2020
New Amer. Caucus Co-Chair: Smithfield’s Anti-Immigrant Claims Are Attempt to Blame Victims
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), the only Central American immigrant serving in Congress and Co-Chair of the New American Caucus, today responded to Smithfield Foods' claim that its Sioux Falls pork processing plant became a COVID-19 cluster because of "living circumstances in certain cultures" of its employees.With more than 700 of 3,700 employees now infected, a spokeswoman for Smithfield blamed the spread on the facility's "large immigrant population."The … Continue Reading
April 16, 2020
Torres on PPP: Small Businesses are Still Waiting
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today responded to news that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a $350 billion program included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help small businesses make payroll during the economic downturn, is out of funds."It is beyond alarming that the PPP loan program is already dry - my community, and working-class communities just like it all across this country, are still waiting for the support they were promised," … Continue Reading
April 15, 2020
Rep. Torres: Trump Admin Exporting Death as Deportations Spread COVID-19
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Co-Chair of the Central American Caucus, Chair of the New Americans Caucus, and the only Central American currently serving in Congress, today responded to reports that Trump Administration deportations to the country of her birth, Guatemala, are leading to a spike of COVID-19 cases in the woefully unprepared nation."If the Trump Administration continues its callous deportation policies through the midst of this pandemic, the results will … Continue Reading
April 15, 2020
Reps. Torres, Aguilar & Calvert Announce $22.4M in Funding for Local Airports
POMONA - U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Pete Aguilar (CA-31) and Ken Calvert (CA-42) today announced more than $22.4 million in funding for local airports as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.The funds bring vital support to airports at a time when reduced air travel raises the prospect of layoffs and reductions in future services.Breakdown of funds across the region: Ontario International … Continue Reading
April 15, 2020
Torres Announces More than $184.5M in Relief Funding Benefitting IE Students
POMONA, CA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced more than $184.5 million in Department of Education funding that will benefit residents of California's 35th Congressional District as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This includes more than $43.5 million going to institutions of higher learning within the district, and more than $140 million for the surrounding region that will benefit constituents who attend commuting schools.Each … Continue Reading
April 09, 2020
Reps. Torres, Cox: Lack of COVID Test Data Makes Risk Classification Impossible
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35) and T.J. Cox (CA-21) today led 16 fellow lawmakers in warning the Trump administration that it lacks the COVID-19 test data needed to implement its planned county-by-county risk classification.The administration plans to ease social distancing guidance based on this faulty risk assessment, which would harm our ability to combat coronavirus and endanger lives, especially in low-income and rural communities.Key Excerpt:We are … Continue Reading
April 07, 2020
Rep. Torres Announces Nearly $2M in Additional Emergency Relief for Inland Empire
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced nearly $2 million in emergency relief funding coming to medical facilities in the Inland Empire as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stimulus (CARES) Act. Facility Grant Award Pomona Community Health Center $755,465 Unicare Community Health Center $1,135,445 Total 1,890,910 Congresswoman Torres released the following … Continue Reading
April 02, 2020
Rep. Torres Announces More than $6.4 Million in Emergency Relief Funds for Inland Empire
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) announced today more than 6.4 million dollars in relief funding for communities across the Inland Empire.The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants are for two housing and homelessness prevention programs: The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) and the Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG).Congresswoman Torres was joined by Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren, Ontario Mayor Paul Leon, and Pomona City Council Member Robert Torres in … Continue Reading
March 27, 2020
Rep. Torres: Emergency Relief Package Delivers Support Inland Empire Workers & Families Need
POMONA, CA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) released the following statement today as Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), an emergency relief package with more than $2.2 trillion in economic relief for American workers and businesses suffering from the coronavirus outbreak."The CARES Act will bring relief to residents across Inland Empire," Rep. Torres said. "But this package is historic for all the wrong reasons - President Trump refused … Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
Torres Leads 44 Lawmakers in Demanding Answers to Administration’s Unsubstantiated Coronavirus Claims
POMONA, CA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today led 44 of her Congressional colleagues in sending a letter to President Donald J. Trump demanding evidence to corroborate his administration's claims that it is resolving shortages of critical medical supplies needed to combat coronavirus and keep medical personnel safe.The letter comes as medical practitioners across the country urgently call for more protection and equipment, creating websites for the public to donate supplies and … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Rep. Torres Announces First Round of COVID Relief Funding for California’s 35th District
POMONA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today announced that the first round of funding provided through the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act for medical facilities in California's 35th Congressional District.Medical facilities in Pomona and Ontario are among the 1,381 facilities nationwide benefitting from the $100 million Health and Human Services grant to expand screening and testing, purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and provide safety … Continue Reading
March 23, 2020
Rep. Torres Withholds Support for Sheraton Fairplex Plan
POMONA, CA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) today reacted to a Los Angeles County plan to use 244 rooms at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel to quarantine coronavirus patients."I recognize the importance for our community to have a plan for housing coronavirus patients, but I have yet to actually see the plan announced last week," Rep. Torres said. "A state of emergency does not mean we should disregard the laws that hold elected officials accountable - the Brown Act still applies, and the … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Rep. Torres Continues All Public Services as Physical Office Closes in Light of Coronavirus
ONTARIO, CA - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) announced today that all public services for Inland Empire residents continue uninterrupted as her physical office in Ontario closes to protect the public health."I am working morning and night to meet every need of my constituents; my staff is working around the clock and every day of the week to serve the Inland Empire; but my physical office location will remain closed as long as coronavirus continues to spread," Rep. Torres said. "This … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Torres: Next Supplemental Must Help Independent Contractors & Gig Workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Stenny Hoyer urging them to include provisions in the next coronavirus supplemental to address the immediate needs of independent contractors and gig workers.The letter reads, in part:As with any worker, these independent contractors and gig workers are in need of immediate assistance if they have to stay home because they contracted the coronavirus, are caring for … Continue Reading