Press Releases
Torres, Poe Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Homeowners Prepare for Natural Disasters
With the 2018 hurricane and wildfire season underway, the Homeowners Disaster Preparation Act would provide homeowners with loans to better plan for floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and landslides WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced the bipartisan Homeowners Disaster Preparation Act, to help homeowners prepare for and mitigate the devastating effects of natural disasters. An estimated sixty-seven percent of Disaster Relief Funds go … Continue Reading
July 16, 2018
Torres Bipartisan Proposal to Strengthen Sanctions Against North Korea Passes on House Floor
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, announced that her bipartisan legislative proposal to prevent the advancement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program by more accurately determining the regime's revenue sources passed on the House floor. The proposal, modeled after Torres's H.R. 6237 North Korea Follow the Money Act, passed as part of the Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for 2018 and now moves to the U.S. … Continue Reading
July 10, 2018
Torres Statement on San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Michael Selyem
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Norma J. Torres (CA-35) released the following statement on San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Michael Selyem's discriminatory social media posts:"San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Michael Selyem's social media posts about minorities are deeply offensive to me and my constituents. These comments have led many of us to question whether racial prejudice may have influenced his judgment as a prosecutor. San Bernardino County's diverse community … Continue Reading
June 29, 2018
Torres Statement on Fatal Attack of Cal Poly Pomona Parking Enforcement Officer
POMONA, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) released the following statement in response to the fatal attack of a California State Polytechnic University civilian parking enforcement officer:"As the situation continues to unfold, my heart goes out to the fallen parking enforcement officer and his family. I thank all first responders for responding quickly to the scene and for preventing this altercation from resulting in further loss of life. I especially commend the University for … Continue Reading
June 14, 2018
Siguiendo la Erupción del Volcán de Fuego, Torres, Smith Presentan Resolución Bipartidista en Apoyo a Las Víctimas
La resolución expresa solidaridad con el pueblo Guatemalteco y simpatía hacia las víctimas y sus familias; también pide asistencia continua para los esfuerzos de socorro y reconstrucciónWASHINGTON, DC - Hoy, los representantes Norma J. Torres (D-CA) y Chris Smith (R-NJ), miembros del Comité de Asuntos Exteriores, presentaron una resolución bipartidista expresando solidaridad y apoyo al pueblo Guatemalteco, después de la erupción del Volcán de Fuego a principios de este mes. La resolución … Continue Reading
June 14, 2018
Following Eruption of Fuego Volcano, Torres, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Resolution in Support of Victims
The resolution expresses solidarity with the people of Guatemala and sympathy for the victims and their families, calls for continued assistance for relief and reconstruction efforts WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a bipartisan resolution expressing solidarity and support for the people of Guatemala after the eruption of the Fuego Volcano earlier this month. The resolution also … Continue Reading
June 11, 2018
Torres Proposal to Remove Abandoned Military Facilities at Local Airports Passes on House Floor
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona), member of the powerful Rules Committee, announced passage of a legislative proposal she introduced to assist local airports, like Ontario International Airport, remove unused military facilities. Ontario International Airport shared space with the Ontario Air National Guard Station, which remained in operation for decades to provide training and support for the Korean, Vietnam, and other wars and conflicts. In 1997, the facility closed and the … Continue Reading
June 06, 2018
Torres, O’Rourke Lead Lawmakers in Urging House Appropriators Against Using Taxpayer Funds to Deport DREAMers
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Beto O'Rourke (D-TX) led thirty-nine members of Congress in a letter calling on the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the House Committee on Appropriations not to utilize taxpayer funds in the FY 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill to deport individuals eligible for the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) program."We are committed to continuing to work through the legislative process to find a solution that … Continue Reading
May 31, 2018
Torres to Trump: “Use of Deadly Force Against Innocent and Unarmed Civilians Will Never Make Our Southwest Border Secure”
Following the May 23 killing of twenty-year-old Guatemalan national Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez by an agent of the United States Border Patrol, Torres presses President Trump for a thorough and transparent investigation of the incident, urges further reforms to Border Patrol procedures, and questions the administration's strategy for securing the nation's southwest border WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-CA) called on President Donald Trump to ensure that … Continue Reading
May 29, 2018
Torres Leads California Congressional Delegation Members in Calling on State Leadership to Expand and Improve Child Care
In California, the Child Care and Development Block Grant program serves fewer than 14 percent of income eligible children, with an estimated 1.2 million children going unserved and 400,000 eligible children on child care waitlists WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (CA-35) led members of the California congressional delegation in a letter to Governor Jerry Brown, Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, and the California Legislative … Continue Reading
May 24, 2018
Propuesta de Torres para Fortalecer la Lucha contra la Corrupción en América Central Aprobada por la Cámara de Representantes
WASHINGTON, DC — Hoy, la representante Norma J. Torres (D-CA), fundadora y copresidenta del bipartidista Caucus de Asuntos de Centroamérica, anunció que una enmienda que presentó fue aprobada por unanimidad por la Cámara de Representantes. La enmienda, que se incluyó en la Ley de Autorización de Defensa Nacional (NDAA) anual, requerirá que el Secretario de Defensa elabore una lista de funcionarios de los gobierno centroamericanos que están involucrados en la corrupción."Hoy, el Congreso ha … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
Torres, Rogers Lead Bipartisan Group in Opposition to Plan to Weaken the Fight Against Drug Trafficking
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Hal Rogers (R-KY) have led a bipartisan group of members of Congress in calling on President Donald Trump not to shift management of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to the Department of Justice. The program's location within the Office of the President and not a specific agency has fostered an unprecedented level of cooperation, coordination, and … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
Torres Congratulates Local Students Accepted to U.S. Military Service Academies
ONTARIO, CA - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) recently congratulated four area high school students accepted to the U.S. nilitary 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. "Each year, one of my greatest privileges as a member of Congress is to nominate the best candidates our district has to … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
Torres Tours Abandoned National Guard Station at Ontario International Airport to Highlight Her Legislation to Strengthen Aviation Industry
Many of the nation's airports, including Ontario International Airport, previously or currently shared space with facilities from our Armed Services; many of these sites have sat largely unchanged for decades due to the environmental hazards of demolitionTorres's tour comes on the heels of the House's passage of two of her legislative proposals to make better use of vacant military facilities and reduce airport noiseONTARIO, CA - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) recently visited the Ontario … Continue Reading
May 08, 2018
Torres, Cole Bipartisan Bill to Ignite Economic Development Throughout Indian Country Clears Key Committee, Heads to House Floor for a Vote
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Tom Cole (R-OK) announced that the House Committee on Natural Resources passed their bipartisan Jobs for Tribes Act, paving the way for a vote on the House floor. The bill would strengthen Indian Country's ability to become more self-sufficient by providing urgently needed business and economic development assistance."While the nation just hit unemployment levels below four percent, the same cannot be said for Indian Country," said … Continue Reading
May 03, 2018
Torres, Waters Introduce Bill to Help Homeowners to Keep Their Homes
The Keep Your Home Act would strengthen investment in vital homeowner assistance program, the Hardest Hit FundTo date, more than 80,000 homeowners in California alone, and hundreds of thousands in participating states have been assisted by the program WASHINGTON, DC — Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Financial Services, introduced the Keep Your Home Act, a bill geared towards helping homeowners in participating states struggling … Continue Reading
May 02, 2018
Torres Announces Winner of 2018 Congressional Art Competition
ONTARIO, CA - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) unveiled the winner of the 35th District's 2018 Congressional Art Competition at an awards ceremony and exhibition at the Ontario Museum of History and Art. The winning piece, My Bedroom, by Ebony Chavez of Village Academy in the Pomona Unified School District, was selected out of 85 pieces submitted from 85 participants representing 6 high schools throughout the district."I congratulate Ebony on her winning artwork and look forward to seeing … Continue Reading
April 30, 2018
Torres Amendments to Fund Airport Improvements, Reduce Airport Noise Pass on House Floor
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona), member of the powerful Rules Committee which helps determine the passage of amendments, announced that two amendments she offered to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 passed on the House floor. The first amendment would create an Environmental Mitigation Pilot Program to allow the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide additional funding for airport improvements at vacant facilities, including those located in Ontario. The second amendment … Continue Reading
April 25, 2018
Trump Ocean Club Panama: Torres, Engel, Nadler Question Trump Organization on Use of President’s Office to Advance Personal Interests
A recent report revealed that a Panamanian law firm sent a letter on behalf of the Trump Organization to Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela to request his intervention in an ongoing legal dispute over Trump Ocean Club PanamaRequest raises concerns about the Foreign Emoluments Clause, United States' credibility on questions of corruption and rule of law WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (D-CA), co-Chair of the Central America caucus, Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), … Continue Reading
April 13, 2018
Torres Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Corruption in the Northern Triangle
Since 2008, the United States has provided more than $1 billion to address violence, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking in Central America; Systemic corruption is undermining these goals in Guatemala, Honduras, and El SalvadorBill would direct the Secretary of State to develop strategy to enhance United States efforts to dismantle corruption in the Northern Triangle regionWASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA), the founder and co-chair of the Central America Caucus and member of … Continue Reading