Press Releases
Torres Announces More Than $310,000 NSF Grant Awarded to Advance Minority STEM Faculty at Cal Poly Pomona
National Science Foundation award will help promote and retain newly hired historically underrepresented minority faculty in STEM fieldsWASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $310,588 grant to Cal Poly Pomona to promote, recruit, and retain underrepresented minority Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) faculty to address the achievement gap between minority and non-minority … Continue Reading
July 17, 2019
Torres, Fitzpatrick Bipartisan Provision to Reclassify 9-1-1 Dispatchers as Protective Service Occupations Passes on House Floor
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA), the only former 9-1-1 dispatcher serving in Congress, and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Supervisory Special Agent and federal prosecutor, announced that a provision based on their bipartisan 911 Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services (SAVES) Act, passed on the House floor to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, and now moves to the U.S. Senate for … Continue Reading
July 16, 2019
Torres Bipartisan Proposal to Protect Women and Children from Violence in the Northern Triangle Passes on House Floor
Violence against women in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala is a major driver of migration to the United StatesThe measure strengthens protections for women and children in their homes and communities to reduce female homicides, domestic violence, and sexual assaultWASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Ann Wagner (R-MO), the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Central America Caucus, announced that a proposal based on their bipartisan Central American Women and … Continue Reading
July 16, 2019
Torres, Engel Measure to Block Trump Administration Proposal to Deregulate Firearm Exports Passes on House Floor
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that a measure based on their Prevent Crime and Terrorism Act has passed the House as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA), and now moves to the U.S. Senate for further consideration. The measure blocks the Trump Administration's proposal to transfer firearm export regulation from the U.S. State … Continue Reading
July 15, 2019
New Americans Caucus Co-Chairs Torres and Espaillat Call Out Trump’s Racist Tweets
Torres and Espaillat are respectively the first Guatemalan and Dominican Americans to serve in Congress WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Co-Chairs of the Congressional New Americans Caucus, released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's tweets asking "Progressive Democrat Congresswomen" to go back where they came from: "The President's tweets are as small as his world view. There are many Members of … Continue Reading
July 11, 2019
Torres Statement on Trump Backing Down on Citizenship Question in the 2020 Census
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump backed down from adding a citizenship question in the 2020 Census. Last month, the Supreme Court of the United States blocked the Trump Administration from including the question in the census: "President Trump's citizenship question was a political weapon to hurt the very people the government is supposed to serve. Today, he admitted that he can't overrule the … Continue Reading
June 30, 2019
Torres Statement on Trump Administration Plan to Remove Deportation Protections for Families of Active Duty Troops
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to reports that the Trump Administration is planning to roll back the parole in place program, which allows the undocumented family members of active duty servicemembers to remain in the U.S. temporarily: "President Trump's cruelty has no limits. Now he wants to punish our active duty military. As the mother of an Air Force veteran, I know firsthand the toll that separation takes on … Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Torres Statement on SCOTUS Ruling to Strike Down Citizenship Question in the 2020 Census
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision on the case of U.S. Department of Commerce v. New York, which determined that the Trump Administration's citizenship question will not be included in the 2020 Census: "Today, the Supreme Court stood up for democracy and the generations of immigrants who have made America the country that it is. The people of California's 35th … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Torres Statement on Emergency Border Supplemental to Provide Humanitarian Assistance for Children, Families at the Border
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) released the following statement on the legislation to provide humanitarian assistance for migrants at the southern border. The legislation provides $4.5 billion in emergency spending to address the humanitarian crisis at the border, with significant funding for priorities including legal assistance, food, water, and medical services, support services for unaccompanied children, alternatives to detention, and refugee services. … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Torres Secures More Than $305 Million in Federal Funding to Alleviate Traffic and Improve Infrastructure in the Inland Empire
According to a 2018 California State University-San Bernardino report, commuting costs for San Bernardino and Los Angeles County residents averaged $11,138 per yearFederal funding could benefit several projects in California's 35th Congressional District, including the Foothill Gold Line extension and the #BUILDFontana infrastructure upgrade WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (CA-35) announced House passage of more than $305 million in federal funding she requested … Continue Reading
June 21, 2019
Torres Aborda Redadas de ICE, Establece Línea Directa de 24 HR
ONTARIO, CA - Hoy, la congresista Norma J. Torres (CA-35) emitió la siguiente declaración sobre los informes de que la Agencia de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) llevará a cabo redadas de inmigración a gran escala este fin de semana: "Estoy profundamente preocupada por el bienestar y la seguridad de mis constituyentes, y estoy comprometida a rendir cuentas por cualquier abuso que ocurra en el contexto de estas redadas. Les animo a compartir información de cualquier abuso que ocurra al … Continue Reading
June 21, 2019
Torres Addresses ICE Raids Targeting Immigrant Communities, Establishes 24 HR Hotline
En Español ONTARIO, CA — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (CA-35) issued the following statement in response to reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will conduct large-scale immigration raids this weekend: "I am deeply concerned for the well-being and safety of my constituents, and I am committed to ensuring accountability for any abuses that occur in the context of these raids. I encourage you to share information of any abuses that occur by contacting my … Continue Reading
June 21, 2019
Torres, Carbajal, Napolitano Secure $5 Million to Help California Universities Develop Aerospace Technologies
The Air Force Educational Partnership Agreement could be extended to universities such as Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to advance the next generation of military technology WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), and Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32) announced that their provision to increase federal funding by $5 million to assist the U.S. Air Force Educational Partnership Agreement has passed the U.S. House of Representatives … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Torres Introduces Bill to Rename Montclair Post Office in Honor of Mayor Paul Eaton
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (CA-35) introduced a bill to rename the United States Post Office located at 5186 Benito Street in Montclair after Paul Eaton. The post office would be designated the "Paul Eaton Post Office Building" in honor of the late Mayor's dedicated 48 years of 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. "Mayor Paul Eaton was a fierce … Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Torres, Menendez Introduce Bicameral Bill to Preserve and Expand Access to Naturalization
A hefty price tag should not prevent legal residents from becoming American citizens WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) led a bicameral group of Members of Congress in introducing the Citizenship Affordability Act, legislation to preserve and expand access to citizenship by ensuring legal residents who are eligible for naturalization, but struggling to afford its cost, can access waivers to reduce or eliminate fees associated with … Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Torres, Menéndez Presentan Proyecto Bicameral para Preservar y Expandir el Acceso Asequible a las Naturalizaciones
Un alto costo en las aplicaciones no debería prevenir que residentes legales se conviertan en ciudadanos estadunidensesWASHINGTON, DC - La Congresista Norma Torres (D-CA) y el Senador Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) lideraron un grupo de colegas al presentar el proyecto de ley de Ciudadanías Asequibles (Citizenship Affordability Act) que preservaría y expandiría el acceso a la naturalización, al asegurar que residentes legales elegibles para convertirse en ciudadanos, que tengan restricciones económicas, … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Torres Congratulates Local Students Accepted to U.S. Military Service Academies
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) recently congratulated seven area high school students accepted to the U.S. military service academies. The students were nominated by a panel of judges with military backgrounds. Following a rigorous application and interview process, the judges made their recommendations to the respective service academies for final approval."Attending the nation's military service academies is an incredible honor, and it's one of my greatest … Continue Reading
June 05, 2019
New American Members of Congress Statement on the Passage of the American Dream and Promise Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL), and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), members of the Congressional New Americans Caucus, released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. The landmark legislation provides permanent protection to our nation's Dreamers, as well as to … Continue Reading
May 23, 2019
Torres Works to Increase Staff Diversity and Inclusion in Congress
People of color comprise 38 percent of the U.S. population but only account for less than 14 percent of all top U.S. House of Representatives staff, according to a 2018 study by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Appropriations bill invests $1 million in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (CA-35) announced that the Fiscal Year 2020 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill contains her priority to increase staff … Continue Reading
May 23, 2019
Torres Statement on NAFTA
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) released the following statement on the North American Free Trade Agreement: "For the past several months, I've been closely following the negotiations to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement with a new ‘United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement'. I had hoped that this agreement would fix the longstanding problems with NAFTA, which has undermined worker rights and contributed to environmental degradation … Continue Reading