Torres, Norma, 1965-

Norma Judith Torres, (née Barillas; born April 4, 1965) is an American politician. A membner of the Democraticv Party, she has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing California's 35th congressional district since 2015.

Born in Escuintla, Guatemala, she came to the United States with her uncle when she was five years old, becoming a legal resident in her teens and gaining citizenship in 1992. After graduating from Mountain View High School in El Monte, California, she attended Mount Saint Antonio College and Rio Hondo College before earning a B.A. from National Labor College. Torres worked as an emergency 9-1-1 dispatcher and sales representative before being elected to the Pomona, California city council, serving there from 2000 to 2006. She served as Mayor of Pomona from 2006 until her election to the California State Assembly in 2008. In 2012, Torres was elected to the California State Senate.

Torres was elected to the U.S. House of Representative from California's 35th congressional district in 2014. She currently serves on the powerful House Appropriations and Rules Committees. The Appropriations Committee is responsible for appropriating all federal spending, domestic and abroad. As a member of the Rules Committee, she helps determine the consideration of all legislation on the House floor. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Torres worked to address the root causes of migration from Central America and has fought to ensure accountability and transparency for U.S. funds spent abroad. On the Homeland Security Committee, she worked to tackle the many serious national security challenges facing the nation. In the committee, Torres prioritized the need to address cybersecurity risks at the nation’s ports. Torres also served on the Natural Resources Committee, where she championed initiatives that would strengthen Indian’s Country’s ability to become more self-sufficient and address the disturbing increase in murdered and missing Native American women.