Representative Norma Torres of California—the first former 911 dispatcher to serve in Congress—has invited Richard Montoya Jr., a fellow 911 dispatcher, as her guest to President Biden’s State of the Union Address to Congress on Thursday, March 7.

Richard Montoya Jr. is an L.A. native and works as a 911 dispatcher with the Los Angeles Police Department. He is also a member of AFSCME Local 3090 for which he is the Secretary and Treasurer.

“Union members and 911 dispatchers like Richard Montoya Jr. exemplify the working people House Democrats and the President are fighting for,” Representative Torres said in a statement . “Dispatchers like Montoya work hard to keep the residents of the Inland Empire safe and they deserve a government committed to reducing the costs of healthcare, education, and housing while creating good jobs and a strong, thriving economy. They also deserve the government’s formal recognition as emergency responders. I hope by inviting a current 911 dispatcher I am able to bring awareness to this important issue and my bill, the 911 Saves Act to finally give them the recognition and resources they need and deserve.” 

Torres has proposed the 9-1-1 SAVES Act to reclassify 911 dispatchers, changing their status from clerical workers to first responders, in order to give them access to critical federal grants and resources only available to emergency responders.