In The News
Cortez Masto Hosts Fifth Mentorship Initiative Meeting with Native American Congressional Staffers
Washington, D.C. - On Friday, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a meeting with Native American staffers focused on overcoming barriers to greater diversity in congressional offices. This meeting was the fifth installment of Cortez Masto's Cafecito Con Catherine mentorship series, an initiative dedicated to empowering people from minority backgrounds who work on Capitol Hill. Cortez Masto has previously met with Latina, Asian American and Pacific Islander, African American, … Continue Reading
December 11, 2017
Cortez Masto Joins First Responders, Volunteers at El Sol Toy Drive
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) participated in the annual El Sol de Nevada Toy Drive on Saturday in Reno. At the event, the Senator joined first responders and fellow volunteers to distribute toys to children throughout northern Nevada. The El Sol Toy drive is held every year by El Sol de Nevada. "The holiday season reminds us of the importance of giving, especially to children and families in our communities who may need a helping hand," said Senator Cortez … Continue Reading
December 07, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Resignation of Senator Al Franken
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after Senator Al Franken's announcement that he will resign: "I am extremely disappointed in Senator Franken. The experiences shared by the brave women who have come forward show a disturbing pattern of behavior. "Throughout my career as a prosecutor and Nevada's Attorney General, I've stood up to support survivors of sexual violence and misconduct. My time working with these survivors has shown … Continue Reading
December 06, 2017
Cortez Masto Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing to Ban Bump Stocks
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee to highlight the need to ban bump stocks from being sold to the public. Following the Las Vegas shooting on October 1st, Cortez Masto shed light on the human cost of the existing bump stocks loophole, and called on members of the Judiciary Committee to effectively ban these deadly devices. Below are her opening remarks as prepared for delivery: Chairman Grassley, Ranking … Continue Reading
December 06, 2017
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Call for Investigation of Botched FEMA Contracts for Hurricane Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a group of senators led by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in calling for an investigation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) decision, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, to award over $30 million in contracts to Bronze Star LLC for temporary roofing materials in Puerto Rico that were never delivered. The hurricane caused billions of dollars in property damage, and left many … Continue Reading
December 06, 2017
Cortez Masto Calls Out GOP on Wall Street Reform, Consumer Protection Hypocrisy
Click Here to Watch Washington, D.C. - During a U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs markup on a bill to roll back major provisions in the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), a member of the Committee, proposed six amendments to empower consumers and protect taxpayers from bank bailouts. Cortez Masto Amendment 70 ensured that borrowers would be able to take their bank to court. By reinstating a rule from the … Continue Reading
December 05, 2017
Cortez Masto: Trump Threatens A Century of Environmental Protections
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke officially recommended that President Trump make boundary changes to Gold Butte National Monument. This decision comes just a day after President Trump sharply reduced the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah. "Today's recommendation, along with yesterday's decision by President Trump, threatens over a century of … Continue Reading
December 05, 2017
Cortez Masto Urges President to Swiftly Nominate Aggressive Head of Consumer Watchdog
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and 43 other senators in a letter urging President Trump to follow the law and swiftly nominate a permanent director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) who will put working families ahead of Wall Street. In their letter, the senators cited the CFPB's "aggressive enforcement and supervision," which has resulted in $12 billion in relief to 29 million … Continue Reading
December 04, 2017
Cortez Masto Joins Colleagues in Urging FCC Chairman Pai to Delay Vote Rolling Back Net Neutrality Rules
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined 27 of her Senate colleagues in a letter, led by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, expressing concern over reports that bots filed hundreds of thousands of comments to the FCC during the net neutrality policymaking process and calling on the Chairman to delay the planned December 14th vote to roll back net neutrality rules until an investigation of the … Continue Reading
December 04, 2017
Cortez Masto Applauds DOJ Grant for Hiring, Rehiring Police Officers in Paiute, Shoshone Communities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for disbursing $375,000 in grants under the COPS Hiring Program to the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribes, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, and Temoak Western Shoshone Law Enforcement to hire and rehire law enforcement officers: "The COPS Hiring Program provides state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies with support in hiring and rehiring officers with … Continue Reading
December 01, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Sexual Harassment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement today after new reports were published related to sexual harassment by Members of Congress, including Nevada Representative Ruben Kihuen: "Sexual harassment in any context is unacceptable. I am frustrated, disappointed, and disgusted by the stories I have learned from women and men who were harassed and disrespected by powerful men in government, entertainment, private business and media. I … Continue Reading
December 01, 2017
Cortez Masto, Heller Urge Senate Leaders to Take Swift Action in Funding CHIP
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) recently urged Senate leaders to swiftly advance a renewal of federal funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides medical coverage and care to vulnerable children in Nevada, and across the country, who otherwise may not get care. In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senators Cortez Masto and … Continue Reading
November 30, 2017
Cortez Masto Urges UnitedHealth Group, Aetna to Help Las Vegas Attack Victims
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) wrote a letter to David S. Wichmann, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, and Mark T. Bertolini, CEO of Aetna Inc., urging them and their companies to do whatever they can to help the victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting with any potential out-of-network charges, co-payments, and deductibles. Many of the victims of the mass shooting were from outside the state of Nevada. This could potentially expose them to out-of-network costs. … Continue Reading
November 29, 2017
Cortez Masto Celebrates the Life & Legacy of Joe Crowley
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement celebrating the life and legacy of former University of Nevada, Reno, President Joe Crowley, who passed away yesterday at the age of 84: "Paul and I are saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Joe Crowley. Joe dedicated his life to education as a professor of History, and as the longest-serving president of the University of Nevada, Reno. Joe was an institution, a model of public service and … Continue Reading
November 29, 2017
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Eliminate Taxpayer Subsidies for Lobbyists
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement announcing legislation to repeal the tax deduction for local lobbying expenses. Under current law, businesses are prohibited from deducting their lobbying expenses when they attempt to influence federal and state lawmakers, but a loophole still allows for these same corporations to deduct for local lobbying expenses. This bill would close this loophole and eliminate taxpayer subsidies for … Continue Reading
November 28, 2017
Cortez Masto: Part-time Director at CFPB a Slap in the Face to Millions of American Consumers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement today after a U.S. District Court ruled not to immediately reinstate Leandra English to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) after President Trump's unlawful appointment of White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney as Acting Director of the CFPB: "Congress passed Wall Street Reform after the financial crisis to protect consumers in Nevada, and across our country, from predatory … Continue Reading
November 28, 2017
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Pen Letter to AG Sessions on the Alarming Rise of Hate Crimes Across the U.S.
Washington, D.C. - Following the publication of the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report Hate Crime Statistics report, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a group of her Senate Democratic colleagues, led by U.S. Senator Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), in sending a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions raising questions about the Trump Administration's commitment to combat the alarming increase in hate crimes across the United States last year. In their missive, the senators … Continue Reading
November 27, 2017
Cortez Masto Applauds Federal Highway Administration’s $3 Million Emergency Relief Grant to Nevada Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for awarding the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) $3 million in emergency repair grants to assist in the reconstruction of roads and highways damaged during the January and February 2017 flooding in Northern Nevada. "Safe roads and highways are vital to a safe community and stable economy," said Senator Cortez Masto. "Emergency repair grants help ensure the Nevada … Continue Reading
November 27, 2017
Cortez Masto: I Reject Trump Administration Effort to Interfere with Independent Consumer Agency
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement today calling on the Trump Administration to respect the law and follow the provision under Wall Street Reform that requires that the Deputy Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) shall become the Acting Director in the event that a Director has not been confirmed by the Senate: "Wall Street Reform specifically provides that the … Continue Reading
November 21, 2017
Cortez Masto Tours Southern Nevada Traffic Management Center, Highlights SMART Communities Initiative
Las Vegas, NV - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) toured the Southern Nevada Traffic Management Center as part of her SMART Communities initiative and hosted a roundtable discussion with local transportation officials. Senator Cortez Masto discussed the ways in which technological innovation can help Nevada cities develop more efficient and up-to-date infrastructure and transportation systems. The Senator recently introduced bipartisan legislation that will build on the success of … Continue Reading
