In The News
Cortez Masto Tours Food Bank of Northern Nevada
McCarran, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) toured the Food Bank of Northern Nevada (FBNN) and hosted a roundtable where she highlighted the importance of SNAP and food bank programs in the state. Cortez Masto also discussed issues concerning hunger and poverty in Nevada, and commended the FBNN for its leadership in helping Nevadans struggling with hunger. "The Food Bank of Northern Nevada provides an invaluable support system to both our urban and rural communities, not … Continue Reading
March 27, 2018
Cortez Masto: The 2020 Census Must Remain Non-Partisan
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement criticizing the Commerce Department's decision to politicize the non-partisan 2020 Census by including a question on citizenship: "I am alarmed that the Trump Administration is politicizing the Census by the addition of a citizenship question. This decision trades the accuracy of a census designed to provide complete count of the entire nation's population for a political win for President Trump. … Continue Reading
March 26, 2018
Cortez Masto: Spending Agreement Will Help Ease Affordable Housing Crisis in Nevada
Reno, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement highlighting the omnibus spending agreement priorities on affordable housing that she fought for and secured for the people of Nevada: "This spending agreement rejects the Trump Administration's proposal to eviscerate federal support to help low-income elderly, people with disabilities, veterans and families afford their rent. The appropriations bill restores funds to proven affordable housing programs … Continue Reading
March 26, 2018
Cortez Masto: Transgender Service Members Devote Their Lives To Serving & Protecting Our Country
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement criticizing President Trump for moving forward with his ban on transgender Americans serving in the military: "President Trump has attacked Americans based on the color of their skin, their immigration status, their lack of wealth, their physical ability and their gender identity. We should not be fooled by the new version of this ban - let's be clear, it still aims at undermining the ability of … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Cortez Masto: I am Proud to Fight for Nevada’s Priorities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the President signed the omnibus legislation, which secures crucial funding for critical issues impacting the State of Nevada. "Nevadans have waited for far too long for this Republican Congress to step up and act to address important priorities. I am proud to have fought for provisions that secured additional funding to increase the supply of affordable housing, funded opioid addiction … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Urge DOE to Investigate Jim Manning’s Potential Conflicts of Interest
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led her colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Ethics Official Marcella Goodridge-Keiller, raising concerns over James "Jim" Manning's potential conflicts of interest due to concurrently serving roles as DOE Acting Under Secretary and the Acting Chief Operating Officer of Federal Student Aid. Because Manning is effectively in charge of all major policy and operations governing student loans, grants, … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Prevent Trump Administration from Politicizing Census with Citizenship Question
Washington, D.C. - In response to the Trump Administration's efforts to include a question on citizenship in the non-partisan 2020 Census - likely depressing participation among immigrant households - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) to introduce the Every Person Counts Act of 2018 (S. 2580) that would prohibit the Census Bureau from asking a question on citizenship or immigration status. … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Cortez Masto Presses DHS IG to Investigate Allegations of Separation of Children from Asylum-Seeking Parents
Washington, D.C. - Following recent reports of the case of a seven-year-old girl and her mother from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who were separated for more than four months after presenting themselves at the U.S. border and seeking asylum, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in a letter, pressing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Inspector General to investigate allegations that DHS is separating the children of … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Cortez Masto Questions HUD Secretary Carson on Affordable Housing Crisis, LGBTQ Housing Discrimination
Washington, D.C. - At today's Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) questioned Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson on his plan to address the nation's affordable housing crisis and followed up on his lack of response to a letter she sent last summer about HUD's withdrawal of its LGBTQ guidance for shelters from their website. Cortez Masto highlighted the nation's affordable housing crisis, … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Cortez Masto’s Amendment to Include Investor Protections for Indian Tribes Passes Senate
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after her amendment to include increased investor protections for Indian tribes was adopted into the Indian Economic Enhancement Act of 2017 and passed out of the Senate: "It has always been one of my top priorities in Congress to ensure that tribal leaders are empowered to make the changes they want to see in their communities. This legislation will expand access to key economic development … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Cortez Masto Seeks Information on Closing of EPA’s Las Vegas Laboratory
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, urging him to explain the agency's decision to expedite the closing of its Las Vegas laboratory facilities, located within leased space at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). "This decision leaves more than 50 employees in Nevada weighing relocation, retirement, or resignation. Additional information indicates that 28 contractors would also … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Cortez Masto Discusses Smart Cities & 5G with Axios’ Mike Allen
(Senator Catherine Cortez Masto participates in a discussion with Axios' Mike Allen on Smart Cities & 5G) Washington, D.C. - Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Axios' Mike Allen this morning to discuss her "Innovation State" initiative. In her conversation, the Senator highlighted the innovative work happening throughout the state of Nevada, including by the state DOT and Washoe and Southern Nevada RTC's, talked about the autonomous shuttle in Las Vegas, highlighted the … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Cortez Masto on Omnibus: I Look Forward to Reviewing How Bill Addresses Nevada’s Priorities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the omnibus spending deal: "While this legislation appears to provide critical funding to address Nevada's affordable housing crisis, provide for infrastructure investments, fight the opioid epidemic, boost college affordability programs, invest in Child Care Development Block Grants and authorizes a pay raise to our troops while increasing health care resources for veterans, it is far from … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Cortez Masto Applauds Passage of Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement celebrating the passage of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) today in the Senate: "As Attorney General of Nevada, I spent eight years working to crack down on sex trafficking rings, support survivors, and hold traffickers accountable. I ran for Senate because I wanted to continue that work at the federal level. I am proud to support the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, a crucial … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Cortez Masto Touts the Importance of the Export-Import Bank for Nevada Businesses
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in support of the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank of the United States and it's positive impact on Nevada businesses: "Despite Republican efforts to eliminate the Export-Import Bank, in the past five years, the Ex-Im Bank has financed more than $7 million in exports from Nevada, supporting 23 business from across the state, 16 of which are small businesses and 6 of which are minority or women owned. … Continue Reading
March 20, 2018
Cortez Masto Raises Concerns Over Costs & Safety Associated with Administration’s Proposal to Restart Yucca Mountain
Washington, D.C. - At today's Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on President Trump's Fiscal Year 2019 budget for the Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) questioned Energy Secretary Rick Perry regarding the administration's proposed $120 million budget to restart the Yucca Mountain Project and expenditures related to the project's licensing process. Cortez Masto sent a letter to Secretary Perry yesterday, requesting information on DOE's … Continue Reading
March 20, 2018
Cortez Masto Cosponsors National Guard Benefits and Parity Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after co-sponsoring the National Guard Benefits and Parity Act, legislation led by Senators Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.) and Roger F. Wicker (R-Miss.) that would ensure that National Guardsmen and Reservists are entitled to the same benefits as their active-duty counterparts while deployed. "Nevada has 7,648 Reserve and National Guard members who deserve the same education, retirement and … Continue Reading
March 20, 2018
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Anti-Bullying Legislation
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to combat bullying in schools, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Safe Schools Improvement Act, legislation that works to ensure that no child is afraid to go to school because of unchecked bullying and harassment. A Department of Education study found that 1 in 5 children between the ages of 12 and 18 will be impacted by bullying. "I am proud to cosponsor this legislation because it will help us prevent bullying and make our children … Continue Reading
March 19, 2018
Cortez Masto Statement on Trump’s Opioid Plan
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on President Trump's proposed opioid plan: "I hope President Trump's opioid plan is not another empty promise meant to distract from his continued impotence in helping millions of Americans and their families who are suffering from this epidemic. "There is no evidence that threatening suspected drug traffickers with the death penalty will do anything to alleviate the conditions that are causing … Continue Reading
March 19, 2018
Cortez Masto Applauds AmeriCorps VISTA Grant to Nevada Homeless Alliance
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding AmeriCorps for awarding a VISTA program grant of $62,358 to the Nevada Homeless Alliance. "Nearly 24,900 people will experience homelessness in Southern Nevada this year. Organizations like the Nevada Homeless Alliance provide crucial support to those in need. It is vital we invest in non-profits that are on the front lines fighting to help end homelessness and improve access to the … Continue Reading
