Press Releases
Torres Praises House Taking Up Key Bill in ONT Transfer
WASHINGTON, DC - This Tuesday, the House of Representatives is set to debate and vote on H.R. 4369, key legislation necessary to complete the transfer of LA/Ontario International Airport to local control."Despite our strategic location in a growing region at the center of an important freight movement system, Ontario Airport has been neglected for far too long, impacting passenger numbers and our region's potential for economic growth," said Torres, whose congressional district includes the … Continue Reading
June 09, 2016
House to Vote on Torres Amendment Removing Minimum Wage Provision in Puerto Rico Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House of Representatives will debate an amendment offered by Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) that removes a provision from H.R. 5278, the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability At (PROMESA) that allows the minimum wage to be lowered for workers under 25. "The minimum wage provision in this bill is bad for young workers, and it's bad for Puerto Rico," said Torres. "It does not fix the island's problems and in the long run, may make them worse. … Continue Reading
May 01, 2016
Torres Marks Small Business Week Highlighting Progress on Jobs Plan
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) marked the start of Small Business Week (May 1-7) by releasing a one-year update to her jobs plan. A Roadmap to Economic Resilience - One Year Later details the progress made on key recommendations to foster small business growth and entrepreneurship and create jobs in the Inland Empire. "Small businesses are the engine that drives our local economy, and in order for them to thrive, we need to build a robust, dynamic local economy and … Continue Reading
April 26, 2016
Torres Introduces Bill to Expand Access to Tribal Early Childhood Education
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) introduced the Tribal Early Childhood, Education, and Related Services Integration Act, a bill that seeks to expand early education opportunities and close the achievement gap between Native and Non-Native children by making it easier for tribes to apply for support for early childhood education services."Native youth continue to lag behind their Non-Native peers in high school graduation, national math and reading assessments, and even … Continue Reading
April 23, 2016
Torres Hosts Resource Fair for Local Veterans
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) hosted a Veterans Resource Fair to provide local veterans with information on resources available to them and their families. Veterans also had the opportunity to sit down and meet one-on-one with service officers from the Department of Veterans of Affairs to get help on pending claims. "Far too many of our local veterans are struggling, whether it's to find a job, get health care, or secure an affordable place to live, but many are unware … Continue Reading
April 13, 2016
Event Advisory - Torres to Host Veterans Resource Fair
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) will host a Veterans Resource Fair to provide local veterans with information on resources available to them and their families and to give veterans the opportunity to meet one-on-one with service officers from the VA for help with their claims. This event is free and open to the public, however appointments are required for claims assistance.What: Resource Fair for local veterans with the opportunity to receive one-on-one claims … Continue Reading
April 01, 2016
Winner of 2016 Congressional Art Competition Announced
ONTARIO, CA - Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) unveiled the winner of the 35th District's 2016 Congressional Art Competition at an awards ceremony and exhibition yesterday evening at the Museum of History & Art, Ontario. The winning piece, Maybe Tomorrow You'll Become What You Say by Dalia Marin of A.B. Miller High School, was selected out of 41 pieces submitted from 40 participants representing eight high schools throughout the district. "The quantity and quality of this year's … Continue Reading
March 10, 2016
Torres Hosts Public Safety Round Table for Local, State, and Federal Officials
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) held a round table meeting at the Ontario Police Department for local, state, and federal public safety officials to discuss ongoing threats to the region and how they can work together to keep communities safe. Today's meeting was a follow-up to a similar meeting held in August 2015. "Since our last Public Safety Round Table, our community suffered a horrific terrorist attack right in our own backyard," said Torres. "It was a stark … Continue Reading
March 08, 2016
Torres Welcomes "Commandant's Own" to Ontario
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) presided over the "Celebration of Heroes" Battle Color Ceremony performed by the United States Marine Corps Battle Color Detachment at Chaffey High School in Ontario. Today's ceremony was part of the Battle Color Detachment's 2016 National Tour and was free and open to the public. "The Battle Color Detachment is the public face of the Marine Corps with their skill, discipline, and rich history perfectly embodying the spirit of the Marines," … Continue Reading
February 25, 2016
Readout of Rep. Torres and Central America Caucus Meeting with President Morales of Guatemala
RESUMEN DE REUNIÓN ENTRE REP. NORMA TORRES Y CAUCUS DE ASUNTOS CENTROAMERICANOS Y EL PRESIDENTE DE GUATEMALA JIMMY MORALES WASHINGTON, DC - Congresista Norma Torres (D-CA) y miembros del recién-formado Caucus de Asuntos Centroamericanos se reunieron con el Presidente Jimmy Morales de Guatemala. Antes de la reunión con el Caucus, Morales y Torres, presidenta del Caucus y la primera congresista de origen guatemalteco, se reunieron por separado. Durante su reunión, Presidente Morales y … Continue Reading
February 24, 2016
Central America Caucus Kicks Off by Meeting with Guatemalan President
WASHINGTON, DC-Today, Members of Congress launched the Central America Caucus, a newly-formed, bipartisan group of 32 Members of Congress chaired by Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) that is aimed at enhancing understanding about Central America and providing a forum for members and staff to discuss U.S. policy toward the region. The Caucus's first order of business was a meeting with Guatemala's newly-elected President, Jimmy Morales. "Despite the millions of Central Americans living in the US and … Continue Reading
February 24, 2016
Nuevo Caucus de Asuntos Centroamericanos se lanza con reunion con el Presidente de Guatemala
WASHINGTON, DC-Hoy, Miembros de la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos lanzaron el Caucus de Asuntos Centroamericanos. El nuevo grupo se forma con 32 miembros bipartidistas del Congreso y será dirigido por la Representante Norma J. Torres (D-CA). El objetivo del Caucus es despertar consciencia sobre Centroamérica y ofrecer un foro para que Miembros del Congreso puedan enfocarse en la póliza de los Estados Unidos hacia la región. La primera acción del Caucus fue una reunión con el … Continue Reading
February 09, 2016
Torres Statement on President's Budget
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget request: “The budget proposed today represents a continued investment in our communities and in the hard-working families of the Inland Empire. While our region continues to wrestle with unemployment, homelessness, and a transportation system that is struggling to keep up, this year we also witnessed an act of terror hit dangerously close to … Continue Reading
January 28, 2016
Torres Announces Military Academy Nominations
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) announced the names of the four students nominated to the U.S. Service Academies. The students were selected through a rigorous application and interview process, and their nominations will now go to the respective service academies for final approval. "The opportunity to choose nominees for the service academies is a responsibility I did not take lightly," said Torres. "All of our candidates not only had strong academic records and … Continue Reading
January 25, 2016
Torres Joins VA Secretary in San Bernardino
ONTARIO, CA - Today Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) joined Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald in meetings with public and private sector leaders working to address veterans homelessness in San Bernardino County. Secretary McDonald's visit to San Bernardino County kicked off his four day trip to the Los Angeles metro area. "As communities across the nation work to meet the administration's ambitious goal to end veterans homelessness, right here at home San Bernardino County is leading … Continue Reading
January 20, 2016
Torres Participates in Field Hearing on Ending Veteran Homelessness
ONTARIO, CA - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) took part in a field hearing at Riverside City College on reducing homelessness among veterans. The hearing, titled "Finding Solutions for Veteran Homelessness in Southern California," was hosted by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) and brought together representatives from the private and public sectors to discuss how local programs are helping to decrease the number of homeless veterans. "No individual willing to give their life for this … Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
Torres Response to State of the Union
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address: "President Obama spoke tonight to a nation facing difficult times in an increasingly turbulent world, but as he said, we have come a long way in the past seven years and have every reason to look ahead to an even brighter tomorrow. I share the President's optimism in the capacity of the American people and in the American spirit, and … Continue Reading
January 08, 2016
Torres Invites San Bernardino Dispatcher to State of the Union
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) announced that she will be joined at this year's State of the Union address by Annemarie Teall, the dispatcher who directed 911 traffic during the San Bernardino shooting. "Annemarie was the calm voice we all heard on the 911 recordings from that fateful day," said Torres. "As panic spread throughout the region, she and her team coordinated a swift, effective emergency response to what is likely the greatest tragedy our community has … Continue Reading
December 16, 2015
House Passes Torres Port Cybersecurity Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 3878, the Strengthening Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Coordination in Our Ports Act of 2015."More than $1.3 trillion in cargo moves annually through our nation's 360 commercial ports, and many of the goods that enter through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach come to my district before being shipped to the rest of the country," said Torres. "With this much economic activity and the increased use of cyber … Continue Reading
December 08, 2015
House Passes Torres/Carter Law Enforcement Training Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Today the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 420 to 2 H.R. 3842, a bill introduced by Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Buddy Carter (R-GA) making improvements to and permanently establishing the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). FLETC provides quality, cost-effective training to more than 70,000 law enforcement officers across a variety of agencies each year at seven locations around the country. "The urgency to pass this bill has only grown in the … Continue Reading