In The News
Cortez Masto Urges ICE and DHS to Immediately Withdraw New Guidance that Threatens International Students
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined 95 Senate and House colleagues in a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urging the agencies to withdraw new guidance issued by ICE that imperils the status of international students who would be studying online at U.S. universities this coming academic year. The guidance threatens international students with deportation if they do not comply with the … Continue Reading
July 09, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges Administration to Combat Drone Incursions in Wildfire Response
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Steve Dickson, U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen and Bureau of Land Management Deputy Director William Perry Pendley requesting an update on interagency efforts to inform the public about the dangers of flying drones near active wildfires. Drone incursions in the airspace surrounding wildfires can cause aerial firefighting tools to be grounded, limiting the … Continue Reading
July 09, 2020
Cortez Masto Introduces New Bill to Help More Small Businesses Access SBA Loans
Las Vegas, Nevada - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) in introducing new legislation that will help more small businesses access flexible Small Business Administration (SBA) funding to cover their operational costs and stay open.The legislation will make key updates to the economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) program, including cutting the interest rate to 1 percent, raising the cap on maximum loan amounts, adding a new EIDL advance for hard … Continue Reading
July 08, 2020
Cortez Masto Statement on SCOTUS Ruling Allowing Employers to Opt Out of ACA’s No-Cost Birth Control Requirement
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump Administration's efforts to expand the number of employers who can refuse to provide free birth control for their workers despite the Affordable Care Act mandate. "Since his first day in office, President Trump has been intent on gutting women's health care and reproductive freedoms. I'm disappointed that today's decision allows the Administration … Continue Reading
July 08, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Resolution to Protect the Post Office
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in cosponsoring a resolution outlining the importance of the U.S. Postal Service and urging increased funding in the next COVID-19 relief package to help the key agency offset losses incurred due to the pandemic. The resolution also makes clear that the USPS should not be forced to reduce its services, close post office facilities, or excessively raise rates. "The U.S. Postal Service is a … Continue Reading
July 08, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Support Homeowners, Renters Struggling Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) in introducing the Coronavirus Housing Counseling Improvement Act, legislation that would expand access to critical information, assistance programs and services for millions of families struggling to remain in their homes because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout. Specifically, this legislation would provide $700 million for NeighborWorks to support housing counseling services … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds $400,000 Grant to the Western Nevada Development District for Economic Recovery
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce has awarded $400,000 to the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic and drive economic development planning going forward. "Nevada has been one of the hardest-hit states in the nation in terms of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our citizens and small business owners," said … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Cortez Masto Raises Concerns About Tribes Being Denied Access to Critical Federal COVID-19 Data
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) in a letter calling on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to clarify their policies and practices regarding Tribal epidemiology centers' (TECs) access to disease surveillance data, … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Cortez Masto Introduces Comprehensive Legislation to Support Child Welfare Agencies During COVID-19
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in introducing the Child Welfare Emergency Assistance Act, comprehensive legislation to provide flexible, emergency aid for key child welfare programs working to support young people and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senators' legislation will help ensure child welfare agencies and organizations are equipped with resources to … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Cortez Masto Leads Call for VA to Ensure Employees Receive Hazard Pay For Their Work on the Front Lines of the Coronavirus Pandemic
Las Vegas, Nev. - In response to outreach from Nevada constituents, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and 17 Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requesting more information on VA hazard and retention pay policies for clinical employees involved in the COVID-19 response. VA employees deserve hazard pay for their dangerous work during the coronavirus pandemic, and this letter encourages the VA to consider … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Cortez Masto Statement on Passing of Irwin Molasky
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement today on the passing of Irwin Molasky. "Irwin Molasky's towering contributions to my hometown of Las Vegas are only eclipsed by the fantastic structures he developed over five decades. Irwin was a good man, friend to so many and a risk taker who saw a good bet in Las Vegas when he moved here in 1951. Las Vegas is the place it is today in no small part because of his vision. Paul and I will miss him … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Cortez Masto to Trump Administration: Don’t Rip Away Health Care for Millions During Public Health Crisis
Las Vegas, Nev. - As the Trump Administration moves full-steam ahead to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in introducing a resolution with 45 colleagues putting in the official Senate record their condemnation of the Administration's "reckless" effort to rip coverage away from hardworking Americans. The resolution also demands that the Department of Justice (DOJ) defend the existing law in court and halt its … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds Over $1.7 Million in Telehealth Grants for Nevada
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Federal Communications Commission for awarding $1,757,091 in grant funding through the Wireline Competition Bureau to four organizations in Nevada. The funds will support the organizations' telehealth capabilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "As the Silver State continues to maintain social distancing practices, telehealth is more important than ever to ensuring we stem the spread of the virus. This funding … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Reduce Student Loan Payments
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in introducing legislation to allow eligible student borrowers to refinance their federal loans and ease their debt burdens. The Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act would let borrowers locked in to high interest rates from the past take advantage of the historically low rates current new borrowers are eligible for. "Nevadans carry tremendous student loan debt-an … Continue Reading
July 03, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds Over $18 Million In Airport Infrastructure Grants For Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Department of Transportation for awarding $18,633,926 in grant funding under the Airport Improvement Program to five Nevada airports. The funds will go toward infrastructure improvements. "This funding will go a long way to ensuring airports-which are vital to the health of our communities and our economy-are able to make the infrastructure improvements and investments they need to support the Silver State's … Continue Reading
July 03, 2020
Cortez Masto Calls on Treasury, IRS to Send Missed COVID Relief Payments to Non-filers with Dependents
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and fellow Democratic Senate Finance Committee members in a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig calling on them to immediately distribute further supplemental economic impact payments to those who are in need rather than make them wait until tax time next year. "[Economic Impact Payment] recipients … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Support Firefighters Who Contract COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Senator Joe Manchin (D- W.Va.) in cosponsoring legislation to protect federal firefighters in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 as a Presumptive Disease in Wildland Firefighters Act would make it easier for firefighters to obtain workman's compensation coverage in the case of infection due to their work. "As this year's wildfire season intensifies, we need to make sure to protect federal … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Cortez Masto Sends Letter Urging Administration to Support the Creation of a National Veterans Cemetery in Elko
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) urging them to support her legislation to create a National Veterans Cemetery in Elko, Nevada. In addition to authoring a bill this past March, Senator Cortez Masto recently filed identical legislation as an amendment to the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) advocating for the transfer of federal land to be used as a … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Invest in Minority-Owned Businesses
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) today introduced the Minority Business Resiliency Act. The bill would make the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which was created by Executive Order in 1969, permanent and expand the reach of the agency by creating regional MBDA offices, strengthening its grant making capacity, and increasing its coordination with other federal … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Cortez Masto Supports Making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which would designate June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day, an official federal holiday. "Recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday is long overdue. As Americans, we need to acknowledge and reflect upon our country's legacy of slavery, but also celebrate Black Americans and the innumerable contributions they have made and continue to make to shape our nation. … Continue Reading
