In The News
Cortez Masto Seeks to Expand Important Tax Credit to Put Money Back in Pockets of Workers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation that would help expand two anti-poverty tax credits that help put money back in the pockets of hardworking Nevadans and their families. The Working Families Tax Relief Act expands access to and the value of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC), and ensures that no worker can be taxed into poverty by the federal tax system. "It is appalling that hardworking Nevadans face the real … Continue Reading
June 22, 2017
Cortez Masto Rips Energy Secretary Rick Perry for Breaking Promise to Nevada
Washington, D.C. - During today's Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) blasted Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who recently suggested that the government has a 'moral obligation' to revive the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. Perry's statement is ill-conceived and a complete reversal of the position he expressed in January that decisions concerning nuclear waste siting should be left to the states. Cortez Masto said, "When you were … Continue Reading
June 22, 2017
Cortez Masto Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Advance Development of Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) today introduced bipartisan legislation designed to advance the development of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and build on the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) efforts to safely integrate them into the National Airspace System. The Safe Drone Act of 2017 will ensure that the United States keeps pace in the development and implementation of unmanned … Continue Reading
June 22, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Senate Republican Bill to Repeal the Affordable Care Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the newly released Senate Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act: "Leave it to Senate Republicans to come up with a more atrocious, callous version of the House Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act and strip healthcare from millions of Americans - and hundreds of thousands of Nevadans. Because of the ACA, nearly 400,000 Nevadans have gained access to quality care; … Continue Reading
June 22, 2017
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Strengthen Consumer Protections for Active Duty Servicemembers, Their Families
Washington, D.C. - This week, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation to strengthen consumer protections for servicemembers and their families. The Military Consumer Enforcement Act, sponsored by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), would authorize the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Office of Servicemember Affairs to oversee enforcement of financial protections outlined in the Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Congress … Continue Reading
June 21, 2017
Cortez Masto and Senate Dems Hear Testimony Regarding Impact of Trumpcare on Rural Nevada
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and her colleagues in the Senate Democratic caucus held a hearing to examine the potential impact of Trumpcare on rural communities. The senators heard testimony from healthcare providers, patients, and advocates from across the country concerned that the Republican healthcare bill would undermine the health of people in rural communities and lead to the closure of rural health clinics. The witnesses also drew attention to … Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Urge Administration to Press Egyptian President on Human Rights, Anti-NGO Law
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) yesterday urged President Trump to press Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the worsening human rights situation and restrictions on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Egypt. "A strong U.S.-Egypt relationship is … Continue Reading
June 19, 2017
Cortez Masto Joins Democratic Colleagues on Senate Floor Calling Out Republicans for Secretive, Undemocratic Healthcare Process
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined her Democratic colleagues on the Senate floor to call out Senate Republicans for their secretive and undemocratic process for their American Health Care Act (AHCA). Republicans have refused to hold a hearing or debate on the legislation, which would repeal the Affordable Care Act, and cause millions of Americans - including children, veterans, and seniors - to lose affordable, quality healthcare. On the floor, … Continue Reading
June 19, 2017
Cortez Masto Commemorates Juneteenth
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement commemorating Juneteenth: "Juneteenth marks a pivotal point in American history: the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans on U.S. soil. The painful role slavery played in our history cannot be forgotten, and we must ensure we learn from errors in the past so that they are never repeated again. On Juneteenth, we take the time to remember the day that barbaric practice ended in our … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Cortez Masto Cosponsors the “No Hearing, No Vote Act”
Senate Dems Announce "No Hearing, No Vote Act" to Prevent the Senate from Considering Any Reconciliation Bill, Like Trumpcare, Unless It Was Reported Out By at Least one of the Instructed Senate Committees & Had At Least One Hearing on Every Major Reported Provision in The Bill Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation introduced by Senate Democrats that would hold Senate Republicans' feet to the fire and require that any legislation going … Continue Reading
June 15, 2017
Cortez Masto Applauds U.S.-China Deal on Beef Exports, Touts Importance to Nevada Ranchers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the Department of Agriculture's announcement on the U.S. and China's final agreement to open up the Chinese market to U.S. beef exports. In April, Cortez Masto signed a bipartisan letter urging the President to prioritize reaching an agreement with China in advance of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "As the second largest importer of beef, the Chinese market will create … Continue Reading
June 15, 2017
Cortez Masto Commemorates 5th Anniversary of DACA
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement commemorating the 5th anniversary of former President Barack Obama's announcement of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: "President Obama's implementation of the DACA program has opened countless doors for young undocumented immigrants. Thanks to this program, thousands of young men and women who used to live in the shadows are now doctors, engineers, activists, professional … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Cortez Masto Condemns Department of Education’s Refusal to Implement Pro-Student Policy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement condemning Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's decision to no longer implement the Obama-era "borrower defense" and Gainful Employment rules set to take effect next month. The rules would have protected at least 3,000 students from predatory for-profit colleges: "I am deeply disappointed that the Department of Education has decided to ignore the needs of thousands of Nevadans and delay the … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Alexandria Shooting Involving Members of Congress
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on today's shooting in Alexandria, VA involving members of Congress, their staff and Capitol Police officers: "In light of this morning's attack, I call on Americans to come together to condemn all acts of violence. Today we demonstrate our resilience in times of darkness and work together to overcome hate with empathy and kindness. My heart goes out to Rep. Steve Scalise, staff and officers who … Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
Cortez Masto, Heller, Raise Concerns about Pending Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nominees
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) today submitted a joint statement to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works ahead of a hearing on the nominations of Kristine Svinicki, Annie Caputo, and David Wright to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the independent agency responsible for licensing the Yucca Mountain nuclear repository. "We recognize that the nominees considered before the Committee today have a history … Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Sage Grouse Conservation Efforts
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement in support of the existing federal sage grouse plans that implement habitat-based sage grouse conservation management. Last week, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced that the Department of the Interior will shift its focus towards a population-based conservation approach, ignoring decades of experience and habitat management models used by Western governors. "Conservation is a delicate process … Continue Reading
June 12, 2017
Cortez Masto Urges Secretary DeVos to Protect Students, Reverse Student Loan Decisions
More than 150 Members of Congress highlight concerns surrounding Secretary DeVos' decision to change the federal student loan servicing contract process Members of Congress also cited concerns with Secretary DeVos' decision to reward just one company with all federal student loans-a move that would hurt both borrowers and taxpayers Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Reps. Bobby Scott … Continue Reading
June 09, 2017
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Protect LGBTQ Americans from Housing Discrimination
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined 15 of her colleagues in cosponsoring the Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2017, a bill that would add gender identity and sexual orientation to the classes protected from discrimination under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), to ensure equal housing opportunities for all Americans. U.S. Representative Scott Taylor (R-Va.) introduced the original House version of this bill in early March of this year. The FHA only … Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Former FBI Director Comey Hearing Before Senate Intelligence Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on today's Senate Intelligence Committee hearing with former FBI Director James Comey: "Today's hearing was another reminder to the American people: Russia intentionally interfered in the 2016 Presidential Election, an active assault on our country's founding democracy. President Trump and his Administration's continued denial of this fact is a harmful ignorance that undermines our country's core … Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Oppose Proposal to Auction Off DOE Transmission Assets
Senators Challenge Short-sighted Plan to Sell Department of Energy's Power Marketing Administrations Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and a bipartisan group of Western senators wrote to Energy Secretary Rick Perry to oppose a provision in the President's FY 2018 Budget that would auction off the transmission assets of the Department of Energy's Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs). The senators write in the letter, "The PMAs - the Southeastern … Continue Reading
