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Ritchie Torres Press

The New Yorker: Fighting for the Poor Under Trump

Ritchie previously worked as the housing director for a city councilor.

Ritchie Torres currently serves as the US Representative for Congressional District 15. He was elected in 2020 and is serving his 2nd term. He previously served 2 terms as a member of the New York City Council from 2014-2020. He is the first openly LGBTQ+ Afro-Latino Member of Congress. 

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Wants to expand access to safe and affordable housing.

Opposes tax reduction for wealthy citizens. 

Said, "A strong economy requires thoughtful, equitable policies, not Trump's short-sighted approach."

- Wants to expand access to safe and affordable housing.
- Opposes tax reduction for wealthy citizens. 
- Said, "A strong economy requires thoughtful, equitable policies, not Trump's short-sighted approach."

Economy

As a US Representative, Torres passed a bill mandating financial institutions to compile and maintain specific data on applications for credit from LGBTQ-owned businesses, which codifies the term “LGBTQ-owned business”

- Supports LGBTQ+ rights.
- As a US Representative, Torres passed a bill mandating financial institutions to compile and maintain specific data on applications for credit from LGBTQ-owned businesses, which codifies the term “LGBTQ-owned business”

Public Safety

Opposes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed payment rule for 2025, believing it will reduce access to home health services for seniors, disabled individuals, and vulnerable populations.

Supports establishing  a universal healthcare program, like Medicare for All that adds dental, vision, prescription drugs, women’s reproductive health services, maternity and newborn care, long term services among other services.

- Opposes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed payment rule for 2025, believing it will reduce access to home health services for seniors, disabled individuals, and vulnerable populations.
- Supports establishing  a universal healthcare program, like Medicare for All that adds dental, vision, prescription drugs, women’s reproductive health services, maternity and newborn care, long term services among other services.

Healthcare

The CIty: Rep. Ritchie Torres Decries ‘Shocking’ Disparities That Cut NYC Out of Green Bonds

Believes NYC did not receive a proportional share of state funding for infrastructure and environmental projects. 

- Believes NYC did not receive a proportional share of state funding for infrastructure and environmental projects. 

Energy & the Environment

Jewish Insider: Ritchie Torres: ‘I am the embodiment of a pro-Israel progressive’

Says he is "pro-Israel" and that aid to Israel should be unconditional.

Supports creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children and those with  Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and who are Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders.

- Says he is "pro-Israel" and that aid to Israel should be unconditional.
- Supports creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children and those with  Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and who are Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Sponsored legislation that would require congressional candidates to file information about their education, employment, and military service and create penalties for providing false information.

- Sponsored legislation that would require congressional candidates to file information about their education, employment, and military service and create penalties for providing false information.

Voting & Elections

Representative Ritchie Torres

Co-sponsored legislation that would increase the number of mental health providers in schools.

Said children "must be provided the opportunity to learn about the incredible contributions and significant impacts of so many heroic trailblazers in the LGBTQI+ and women’s movement."

Supports canceling as much as $50,000 in student debt for federal student loan borrowers and extending the interest reduction on student loans as a form of pandemic relief.

- Co-sponsored legislation that would increase the number of mental health providers in schools.
- Said children "must be provided the opportunity to learn about the incredible contributions and significant impacts of so many heroic trailblazers in the LGBTQI+ and women’s movement."
- Supports canceling as much as $50,000 in student debt for federal student loan borrowers and extending the interest reduction on student loans as a form of pandemic relief.

Education

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Ritchie Torres

Ritchie Torres currently serves as the US Representative for Congressional District 15. He was elected in 2020 and is serving his 2nd term. He previously served 2 terms as a member of the New York City Council from 2014-2020.

Opposes tax cuts for wealthy people and believes that more fair economic polices are needed.

- Opposes tax cuts for wealthy people and believes that more fair economic polices are needed.

As of September 19, 2024, Ritchie Torres’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Opposes Medicare cuts that would reduce funding for at-home health services.

- Opposes Medicare cuts that would reduce funding for at-home health services.

Expressed concern that NYC was not receiving a fair share of state funding for infrastructure and environmental projects

- Expressed concern that NYC was not receiving a fair share of state funding for infrastructure and environmental projects

Supports creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children and people who have temporary legal status.

- Says he is "pro-Israel" and that aid to Israel should be unconditional.
- Supports creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children and people who have temporary legal status.

- Co-sponsored legislation that would increase the number of mental health providers in schools.
- Said children "must be provided the opportunity to learn about the incredible contributions and significant impacts of so many heroic trailblazers in the LGBTQI+ and women’s movement."

Ritchie was born and raised in the Bronx. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from New York University.

As of September 23, 2024, Ritchie Torres’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. New York currently has 26 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a US Citizen for at least seven years before their election and a New York resident. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.