Press Releases
Torres Statement on TPS for Nicaragua and Honduras
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) released the following statement in reaction to the Department of Homeland Security's refusal to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of Nicaragua and its failure to make a determination with regard to TPS for Honduran nationals:"I am deeply disappointed by the Department of Homeland Security's decision to remove protection from more than two thousand Nicaraguan nationals, as well as the failure to commit to extending TPS for the … Continue Reading
October 30, 2017
Torres Participates in Homeland Security Field Hearing on Port Security
ONTARIO, CA -Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) participated in a bipartisan Homeland Security Committee field hearing at the Port of Los Angeles titled "Examining Physical Security and Cybersecurity at our Nation's Ports." This hearing is being held on the heels of last week's successful passage of H.R. 3101, Torres' Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act of 2017 in the U.S. House of Representatives."Today's hearing highlighted the crucial role … Continue Reading
October 27, 2017
Torres Travels to Puerto Rico to Survey Hurricane Recovery Effort
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Norma Torres (D-Pomona) announced that she is traveling to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to survey the damage and recovery efforts from Hurricane Maria on a delegation with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) and House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05). Torres is the Ranking Member of the Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee of the Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over all matters regarding insular areas of … Continue Reading
October 24, 2017
House Passes Torres Bill To Address Port Cybersecurity Threats
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 3101, the Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act of 2017."I am pleased that the House of Representatives took swift action and passed my legislation, the Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act," said Torres. "The June cyber-attack that impacted the Port of Los Angeles revealed serious vulnerabilities in our maritime security, and we … Continue Reading
October 20, 2017
Torres Concludes Disaster Preparedness Week
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) concluded her Disaster Preparedness week. The week's events included two successful earthquake preparedness seminars, participating in the Great California Shakeout at Don Lugo High School in Chino, a meeting with local city managers to discuss fire training, and a roundtable with local police and fire chiefs to discuss coordinated preparation and response plans in the case of a disaster."I want to thank everyone who participated in this … Continue Reading
October 18, 2017
Rep. Torres Joins Inland Empire DREAMers at DACA Club Conference
FONTANA, CA—Yesterday, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona), participated in the Inland Empire DACA Club Conference at Chaffey College. At the event, she spoke about her work to fight for the passage of the Dream Act, and pledged her continued support. She also urged Dreamers and their allies to continue their grassroots efforts to build on the widespread popular support for the Dream Act."I am deeply inspired by the important work of the Inland Empire DACA Clubs," said Rep. Torres. "The Dreamers … Continue Reading
October 16, 2017
Rep. Torres Announces Disaster Preparedness Week
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) announced the launch of her Disaster Preparedness Week, which will include a series of events to highlight earthquake preparedness, multiple meetings with first responders and elected officials to discuss effective, coordinated emergency response strategies, and taking part in the Great Shakeout at a local high school."Although the planning for my Disaster Preparedness week has been in the works for months, these events are unfortunately … Continue Reading
October 14, 2017
Torres & Labor Secretary Acosta Tour Fontana InTech Center
FONTANA, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) was joined by U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta for a tour of the Chaffey College InTech Center (Industrial and Technical Learning Center) to see how federal grants can jumpstart public-private workforce development programs. Numerous instructors at the InTech Center are full-time CSI employees that train students to industry standards. With programs tailored to the Inland Empire labor market, InTech in Fontana is closing … Continue Reading
October 12, 2017
Rep. Torres Issues Statement on Trump Threats to Abandon Puerto Rico Recovery Effort
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (CA-35) issued the following statement in response to President Trump's latest threat to abandon the Puerto Rico recovery effort:"The threats against Puerto Rico by President Trump this morning are galling, and fail the basic test of who we are as Americans. We do not abandon Americans during their time in need - be it on the battlefield or following a natural disaster. The President may not understand the devastation and suffering of Americans in … Continue Reading
October 11, 2017
Reps. Torres, Engel, Schneider Introduce Bill to Update Reporting Requirements for Semi-Automatic Rifles
Washington, D.C.—Today, Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Bradley S. Schneider (D-IL), and Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) introduced the Multiple Firearm Sales Reporting Modernization Act. If approved by Congress and passed into law, the bill would require a federal firearms licensee to report the sale of two or more long guns, including semi-automatic rifles such as the AR-15 and the AK-47, within a five-day period.This bill's introduction comes less than two weeks after the mass shooting in Las Vegas. … Continue Reading
October 10, 2017
Torres Joins House Veterans Affairs Committee to Visit Deported Veterans in Search of Solutions to Honor Their Service
Tijuana, Mexico - Today, Rep. Norma Torres traveled to Mexico to meet with deported U.S. veterans to understand and address the barriers that prevent them from accessing the veterans benefits earned through service to our country. The visit to the Deported Veterans Support House in Tijuana, Mexico, revealed significant opportunities for the Department of Veterans' Affairs and Congress to work together to improve the lives of those who served."It is heartbreaking that veterans, who have given … Continue Reading
September 29, 2017
Rep. Torres leads all Natural Resources Committee Dems to ask for an Oversight Hearing on the Trump Administration’s Puerto Rico & USVI Relief Efforts
Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member Norma Torres of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native affairs released a letter to Chairman Bishop, led by Torres and signed by all nineteen Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee, requesting an oversight hearing on the Trump administration's efforts to address the growing crisis in Puerto Rico. The letter outlines the urgent need to help ensure our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands … Continue Reading
September 26, 2017
Rep. Torres Signs Petition to Bring DREAM Act to the House Floor, Calls for Immediate Action
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (CA-35) joined dozens of House Democrats in signing a petition to force a vote on the bipartisan DREAM Act. If the petition is signed by a majority of Members, the House would have to take a vote on this legislation, which would offer a path to citizenship for young immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. "President Trump has put in jeopardy the hopes and dreams of hard-working young immigrants." said Rep. Torres. "Now Congress … Continue Reading
September 20, 2017
Rep. Norma Torres Statement on Latest Trumpcare Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (CA-35) issued the following statement on the Republican Senate Healthcare proposal by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA)."The latest healthcare repeal legislation the Senate is attempting to pass is the worst possible proposal for California. This dangerous legislation essentially robs hundreds of billions of dollars from Californians' healthcare services, while removing protections for those with preexisting conditions, … Continue Reading
September 15, 2017
Torres Demands Action and Answers on Equifax Data Breach
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) joined in sending a letter to Richard F. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Equifax, expressing concern and demanding answers about the recent massive security breach and the company's troubling response."Millions of consumers place their trust in the credit bureaus and their handling of massive amounts of personal financial information," said Torres. "A breach of this magnitude is already unacceptable, but the failure to notify consumers in a … Continue Reading
September 15, 2017
Torres Introduces Bill to Increase Affordable Housing Options
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) introduced the HUD Manufactured Housing Modernization Act of 2017, a bill to increase the availability of affordable housing by modernizing outdated regulations so they include new manufactured housing options. "With housing prices rising in the Inland Empire and around the country, working families are finding the American Dream further and further out of reach," said Torres. "Manufactured housing can provide modern, well-built … Continue Reading
September 13, 2017
House Passes Torres Amendment Helping U.S. Manufacturers Compete in the Global Economy
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan amendment offered by Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) increasing funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a program to help American manufacturers increase exports."Time after time during my recent ‘Made in the 35th' manufacturing tour, business owners told me how difficult it is to compete with China and how they face an unfair playing field when it comes to the support other countries provide their … Continue Reading
September 07, 2017
Homeland Security Committee Passes Torres Port Cybersecurity Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Today the House Committee on Homeland Security voted to advance H.R. 3101, the Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) following the recent world-wide cyber-attack that resulted in the shutdown of the largest terminal at the Port of Los Angeles."The most recent cyber-attack revealed serious vulnerabilities in our nation's maritime security, so I was pleased the Homeland Security … Continue Reading
September 07, 2017
House Unanimously Approves Torres Amendments Increasing Infrastructure and Transit Funding
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House of Representatives unanimously approved two amendments introduced by Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) increasing funding for infrastructure and transit programs."Our nation's infrastructure continues to grow and traditional means of financing struggle to keep up," said Torres. "My amendment fully funding the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Demonstration Program will help communities navigate innovative, outside financing options and help make funds more … Continue Reading
September 06, 2017
Torres Leads Charge on Improving Local Transportation, Protecting Immigrants, and Stabilizing Central America
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, the House of Representatives will vote on a series of proposals introduced by Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) that will increase funding for regional transportation planning and transit oriented development, will protect vulnerable immigrants from abusive practices, and will strengthen anti-corruption efforts in Guatemala."I'm proud to be pushing Congress to act on issues important to voters in the 35th District including improving transportation here in the Inland … Continue Reading