Press Releases
Torres Hosts Roundtable on Zika in Southern California
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) hosted a gathering of area organizations working to address the Zika crisis in Southern California at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. The participants provided an update on the ongoing impact of Zika on the region and discussed opportunities to coordinate efforts to prevent the spread of the disease."The Zika virus continues to wreak havoc throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean and Zika-carrying mosquitos … Continue Reading
October 07, 2016
Torres Joins UPS Roundtable with Local Businesses
ONTARIO, CA - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) took part in a business roundtable meeting with UPS and several of their local partners to discuss issues important to Inland Empire business owners. The roundtable, hosted by UPS, took place on Wednesday at the Inland Empire United Way in Rancho Cucamonga."The logistics industry is one of the primary economic drivers in the Inland Empire region with a wide range of inter-connected businesses dependent on this expansive industry," said Torres. … Continue Reading
October 06, 2016
Torres Headlines Regional Gathering of 9-1-1 Leadership
ONTARIO, CA - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) and Admiral David Simpson, 9-1-1 Bureau Chief for the Federal Communications Commission, led a 9-1-1 Town Hall for Southern California emergency managers on Wednesday at the Ontario Convention Center. Earlier in the week, Torres and Simpson joined Ontario and San Bernardino County officials for a leadership breakfast and listening session before area leaders embarked on tours of local Public-Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) including Ontario Police … Continue Reading
September 23, 2016
Torres Introduces Bill to Make it Easier to Find Small Business Loans
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) introduced the Communicating Lender Activity Reports from the Small Business Administration (CLEAR SBA) Act which will make it easier for small businesses to find available lenders and get the capital they need to grow and succeed."During my Job Creation Listening Tour, I heard time and again about the challenges small businesses face when trying to access small business loans, in particular a lack of information about resources and … Continue Reading
September 21, 2016
ICYMI: Torres Op-Ed in The Hill - 911 dispatchers are not clerical workers
WASHINGTON, DC - On September 20, 2016, The Hill published an op-ed by Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona) on the misguided classification by the Office of Management and Budget of 911 dispatchers as office staff rather than "Emergency Protective Service" personnel like other members of the first responder community. The op-ed can be found here and below:On any given day, a 911 dispatcher might direct police as a crime is in progress, provide lifesaving first aid, or speak to a caller on … Continue Reading
September 15, 2016
Torres Bill Brings Accountability to Wall Street Firms That Invest in Fire and Ambulance Services
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) introduced the 911 Emergency Services Protection Act to hold Wall Street firms accountable when they invest in local emergency services companies."If a private equity firm decides to invest in an emergency service company, they also take on the responsibility to provide those services to the level our communities expect," said Torres. "Unfortunately, that doesn't always happen, and the consequences can be tragic. This is why I introduced … Continue Reading
September 09, 2016
Torres Amendment Holds Wall Street Accountable When Investing in Local Emergency Services
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) offered an amendment to H.R. 5424, the Investment Advisers Modernization Act of 2016, to address growing concern that investment in local emergency services companies by private equity firms is negatively impacting fire and ambulance response times and potentially placing lives at risk."My amendment will make sure there is accountability and transparency when private equity firms invest in emergency services companies," said Torres. "Our … Continue Reading
September 08, 2016
Torres to OMB: 911 Dispatchers Are More Than Office & Support Staff
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget to object to their classification of 911 dispatcher, or “public safety telecommunicator”, as an “Office and Administrative Support Occupation” in the draft Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) and to urge them to classify this position as a “Protective Service Occupation” in the final SOC structure. “As a former 911 dispatcher, I know that public safety telecommunicators are critical … Continue Reading
August 30, 2016
Members of Congress Applaud Announcement of DHS Review of Private Detention Centers
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Jared Polis (D-CO), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), and Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to the announcement by Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson that the Department will review its use of private contractors to operate immigration detention centers. This announcement … Continue Reading
August 17, 2016
Torres Statement on Lack of Cap-and-Trade Funding for Foothill Gold Line
ONTARIO, CA -Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) issued the following statement regarding the announcement that the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension project from Azusa to Montclair was not selected to receive cap-and-trade funding as a part of the 2016 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program."I'm extremely disappointed that the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) did not award cap-and-trade funding to the Gold Line Foothill extension project," said Torres. "The second phase of … Continue Reading
August 11, 2016
Torres Announces Federal Funding for Pomona Anti-Human Trafficking/Prostitution Efforts
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded the City of Pomona with a $69,550 grant to combat human trafficking and prostitution. "Human trafficking and prostitution prey on the young and the vulnerable, often trapping them in a world of drugs, violence, and emotional abuse," said Torres. "Beyond the unspeakable pain of those involved, they also lead to rising crime levels across the community. I am proud to see the … Continue Reading
August 09, 2016
Torres Highlights Education Issues on "Back-to-School" Day
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) held a "Back-to-School Day" to meet with Inland Empire students, teachers and school administrators and encourage them to work hard and have a great year. "A quality education system is the foundation of a growing, resilient local economy," said Torres. "Making sure our kids get a solid education doesn't just make them better, it benefits our entire community. With students across the 35th District heading back to the classrooms, I wanted … Continue Reading
August 02, 2016
Torres to Take Part in National Night Out Events throughout 35th District
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) will join National Night Out festivities throughout the 35th district, taking part in the celebrations in Fontana, Montclair, Ontario, and Pomona. "At a time when community-police relations throughout the country have become increasingly strained, events like National Night Out help build trust between the police and the communities they serve," said Torres. "As a former member of my own neighborhood watch, I know we can all play a part in … Continue Reading
July 13, 2016
Torres Applauds Senate Passage of Key Bill in ONT Transfer to Local Control
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) applauded the Senate's passage of legislation that will allow for the transfer of Passenger Facility Charges collected at Ontario Airport (ONT) to Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). This legislation is necessary to complete the transfer of LA/Ontario International Airport to local control and has now passed both the House and the Senate as part of a broader bill extending Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs. "Without this … Continue Reading
July 12, 2016
Central America Caucus Meets with Honduran President
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Members of the Congressional Central America Caucus met with Juan Orlando Hernandez, the President of Honduras. Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA), founder and co-chair of the Central America Caucus, was joined by Caucus Members John R. Moolenaar (R-MI), Reid J. Ribble (R-WI), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Beto O'Rourke (D-TX), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). Today's meeting comes one day after Torres led a letter signed by 77 other Members … Continue Reading
July 12, 2016
Two Torres Bills Included in House Dem "Make It in America" Jobs Plan
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) applauded the recent release of House Democrats’ new “Make It in America” plan, a comprehensive legislative strategy to grow and strengthen the American economy. The plan includes two of Rep. Torres’s bills, H.R. 2485, the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Act (RIAA), a bill to help fill the infrastructure funding gap, and H.R. 2601, the Job Opportunities between Our Shores (JOBS) Act, which would connect educational institutions with … Continue Reading
July 08, 2016
Torres Statement on Dallas Attack and Police Involved Shootings
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona) issued the following statement in response to the recent attack on 11 Dallas police officers, and the police involved shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile: "As the mother of a police officer, I was shocked and saddened by the ambush in Dallas last night that took the lives of five police officers during an otherwise peaceful demonstration. There is no excuse for this kind of violence - ever. The police shootings of this past … Continue Reading
June 30, 2016
Rep. Torres Holds Gun Violence Community Roundtable
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) convened a roundtable meeting in Pomona with activists, community and religious leaders, and families impacted by gun violence to share ideas for how to address the growing gun violence epidemic. This meeting was part of the National Day of Action on Gun Violence Prevention where House Democrats across the country held events to build on the momentum from last week's historic 26 hour sit-in on the House floor. "Last week, House Democrats … Continue Reading
June 21, 2016
Torres Applauds Passage of Key Bill in ONT Transfer to Local Control
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) applauded the passage of H.R. 4369, legislation that will allow for the transfer of Passenger Facility Charges collected at Ontario Airport to Los Angeles World Airports. This legislation is necessary to complete the transfer of LA/Ontario International Airport to local control. "Without this bill, the long-overdue agreement to transfer control of Ontario Airport cannot move forward. I applaud the House for taking up this legislation … Continue Reading
June 21, 2016
Members Seek Update on Next Generation 911 Implementation and Solutions to Patchwork 911 Systems
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) requested an update from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the implementation of next generation 911 (NG911) systems across the country and the impact diverting local and state 911 fees has had on emergency services. NG911 systems use IP-based technology to receive data from a wider range of devices and mediums and provide more accurate locating capabilities than the older 911 infrastructure. The … Continue Reading