Democratic U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres wants voters to know he was voted the most effective freshman legislator by the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University’s Center for Effective Lawmaking.
In his list of accomplishments, he introduced 20 pieces of legislation that resulted in passed bills. The most recent of which was a July law, the Enhanced Presidential Security Act, which requires the Secret Service to utilize a universal standard for the number of agents required to protect presidents, vice presidents and major presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Torres said the pieces of legislation he is proudest of include those empowering the U.S. Fire Administration to investigate the deadliest fires in the nation, the establishment of the Abraham Accords, setting standards for lithium-ion batteries, and calling on an investigation into the genocide of Muslims in the People’s Republic of China.
The Uyghur Genocide Intelligence Review Act, passed with President Joe Biden’s approval of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024, requires the director of national intelligence to submit an annual report to Congress on the Chinese government’s genocide against the Muslim ethnic group, Uyghurs.
Last month, after the director failed to submit his report, Torres sent a letter addressing his failure to comply and his concern, as the report is necessary to hold China accountable for the violations of human rights and crimes being committed against the people.
Torres’ addition to the Abraham Accords — also part of the 2024 defense authorizatrion act, which, among other things, established diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain — is legislation to create a special envoy responsible for coordinating between Israel’s government and other parties, such as regional ambassadors or nongovernmental organizations. This new role would help to strengthen and expand the existing Accords, according to the legislation.
A large portion of the envoy legislation includes bolstering the relationship between the U.S. and Israel. Torres said he believes the future of the Middle East is both pro-Israel and pro-Arab and this bill would help that future become a reality.
“I’ve been one of the strongest advocates for the Jewish people and the Jewish state. I advocate forcefully for U.S.-Israel relationships,” Torres said.
Torres said he is not just focussed internationally.
“Climate change and environmental protection have been important to me,” Torres said.
He cites his work alongside Sen. Chuck Schumer on a project to reimagine the Cross Bronx Expressway by capping it in an attempt to lower the emissions being released into the Bronx air that are polluting the community.
Torres also worked with Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz to protect Van Cortlandt Park against the Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to build a cricket stadium on the grounds.
In his fight against the building of the temporary stadium in one of the city’s largest green spaces, Torres argued there was little community engagement involved in the mayor’s proposal and his constituents felt blindsided by the idea a massive stadium would take up vital outdoor space many in the Bronx consider to be their backyard.
Beyond the environmental sector, Torres said he has led the charge on quality-of-life issues like senior access to Medicare coverage introducing the Right to Medicare Act, and price gouging by Con Edison.
Earlier this year, Torres conducted an investigation of the prices the utility company charged its consumers, finding Queens and Bronx residents pay different rates, with Bronx residents paying nearly 200 percent more.
Torres’s inspiration to become a representative for the Bronx stems from his childhood.
He said, growing up with his mother, who single-handedly raised him and his two siblings while working for minimum wage, $4.25 an hour in the 1990s, he lived in public housing, “which has been so chronically under-resourced by the federal government.”
Torres said he grew up surrounded by mold, mildew, leaks, lead and no heat for winter. These were the conditions, he said, that pushed him to become an advocate for the people of the Bronx, starting his work for the public as an advocate for tenants in public housing as the housing director under former city councilman James Vacca.
Torres served as a city councilman for the 15th district from 2013 to 2020 before running and winning the election for the district’s U.S. House representative.
He is the first openly gay Afro-Latino elected to Congress.
If elected to continue his career in public service, Torres said he hopes to continue working on the projects and legislation he has established to date. He said his constituents and what services their needs are his highest priorities.
“I strongly believe that we have an infrastructure that’s built for a world that no longer exists,” Torres said.