In The News
Cortez Masto Applauds Nearly $100,000 to Address Microplastics in Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $97,000 for projects to address microplastic pollution in Lake Tahoe. "I'm delighted to see these funds go to studying the problem of microplastics at Lake Tahoe, and supporting the excellent research of scientists and community leaders working to address it. I'll keep working in the U.S. Senate to keep Lake Tahoe's waters clean and support the communities … Continue Reading
August 26, 2020
On 19th Amendment’s Centennial, Cortez Masto Honors Women’s Equality Day
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today released the following statement on Women's Equality Day, which this year falls on the hundredth anniversary of the certification of the 19th Amendment of the Constitution granting women the right to vote. "The Nineteenth Amendment marked a turning point in U.S. history, opening the door for women to participate more fully in the political process. Like other landmarks in our history, it created … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Cortez Masto Hosts 24th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today hosted the first-ever virtual and 24th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit, entitled "Resilient Tahoe." During the virtual summit, Senator Cortez Masto was joined by members of Nevada's and California's congressional delegations, governors, front-line workers, tribal members, scientists and conservationists. The summit focused on the success of public-private partnerships to protect Lake Tahoe and convened discussions on the challenges … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Cortez Masto Delivers Remarks at Virtual Tahoe Summit
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today delivered remarks at the first-ever virtual and 24th annual Lake Tahoe Summit, highlighting the importance of maintaining the lake's resilience and strengthening the communities that depend on it. Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery. We gather today, as we have each year for nearly a quarter century, to rededicate ourselves to working together to protect this incredible lake and the life that depends on it. As … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds $444,000 NIH Grant Award for University of Nevada Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases award of $444,540 to the University of Nevada Las Vegas for Allergy, Immunology & Transplantation research. "The University of Nevada Las Vegas is one of the nation's top public research institutions thanks to the pioneering work conducted by its faculty and students. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Cortez Masto Hosts Virtual Legislative Briefing on Bills to Ban Oil and Gas Drilling on the Ruby Mountains, Prohibit Oil and Gas Speculation on Low Potential Lands
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today hosted a virtual legislative briefing with national and Nevada stakeholders on the status of her End Speculative Oil and Gas Leasing Act and Ruby Mountains Protection Act. During the legislative briefing, Senator Cortez Masto heard from large retailers like Patagonia, Nevada outdoor guides and other small business owners, local government officials, Tribal leaders, representatives from state agencies and advocates on the … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges Interior Secretary Bernhardt to Remove Pendley As Leader of Bureau of Land Management
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt urging him to remove William Perry Pendley from his position leading the Bureau of Land Management. The Senators also call on the President to nominate a qualified director for consideration through the regular confirmation process. Following a letter from the Democratic Caucus to … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Ahead of 24th Annual Tahoe Summit, Cortez Masto Announces New RTC Pilot Program to Provide Public Transit Between Reno-Sparks and Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas, Nev. - Ahead of tomorrow's first-ever virtual and 24th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced a new pilot program by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County to sustainably connect the Reno-Sparks community with Lake Tahoe. The program, which is scheduled to launch in the summer of 2021, will allow people in the Reno-Sparks area to book public transit trips to Lake Tahoe on an RTC FlexRIDE vehicle. "This exciting new … Continue Reading
August 21, 2020
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Press for Accurate 2020 Census Count for Native Communities
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and 18 Senate Democrats in urging the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Census Bureau to honor their previously announced 2020 Census completion date to ensure an accurate count for Indian Country and the Native Hawaiian community. The letter urges the Trump administration to reverse its decision to end the census collection period on September 30th instead of the … Continue Reading
August 21, 2020
Cortez Masto Announces Over $900,000 in HHS Grants to Improve Quality of Life for Nevada Families
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced two grant awards from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) totaling $902,720. The first grant of $155,150 was awarded to the State of Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division for their Lifespan Respite Care Integration and Sustainability Program which coordinates systems of accessible, community-based respite care services for family caregivers of children and adults of all ages with special needs. … Continue Reading
August 21, 2020
Cortez Masto Demands Postal Service Address Delivery Delays of Veterans’ Prescription Drugs
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and 29 of her colleagues in sending a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and VA Secretary Robert Wilkie demanding immediate action following reports of significant delays in veterans' prescription medications through the U.S. … Continue Reading
August 19, 2020
Cortez Masto Hosts Virtual Roundtable with U.S. Postal Service Workers in Nevada
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today held a virtual roundtable with United States Postal Service workers in Nevada to thank them for serving Nevada communities as essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to discuss procedural changes by the Postmaster General that are impacting mail delivery for Nevadans. "The dedicated employees of the U.S. Postal Service are a lifeline to communities across Nevada during this health care crisis," said Senator … Continue Reading
August 19, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds More Than $3 Million in Emergency Funds for Coronavirus Response
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $3,731,475.19 to the Renown Regional Health Center in Reno, Nevada. "I'm pleased to see these funds going to support treatment and care for coronavirus patients in Northern Nevada. Patients come to Reno from miles away to get the best possible care, and these funds allow hospitals … Continue Reading
August 19, 2020
Cortez Masto Joins Calls Demanding Answers from Postmaster General on Mail Service Delays
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and the entire Senate Democratic caucus to demand answers from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on significant operational changes he directed that have caused serious delays for postal customers in Nevada and across the country. "The Postal Service is an essential public institution with an obligation to serve every … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges Treasury Department Inspector General to Investigate Reports that OCC Officials Shelved Investigations of Banks Engaging in Discriminatory Lending Practices and Redlining
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) wrote a letter urging the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Inspector General to investigate allegations that Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) officials "quietly shelved at least six investigations of discrimination and redlining" in spite of staff recommendations that the agency impose fines and penalties. The OCC is one of the agencies responsible … Continue Reading
August 17, 2020
Cortez Masto Calls on Trump Administration to Stop Blocking International Students from Entering the Country
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a bicameral letter led by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chad Wolf calling on him to revise recent guidance that would prohibit new international college and university students with a full-time online course load from entering the U.S. The letter follows a xenophobic Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) directive that would have deported and barred all … Continue Reading
August 17, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Congressional Whistleblowers
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in cosponsoring the Congressional Whistleblower Protection Act, legislation that would give meaningful protections to taxpayer-funded employees who make disclosures to Congress. "Current law does not provide congressional whistleblowers with the adequate protections they deserve. As long as individuals who share vital information with Congress continue to face threats of retaliation, … Continue Reading
August 17, 2020
Cortez Masto Supports Housing Programs for Vulnerable Seniors in Nevada Struggling Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) in cosponsoring the Emergency Housing Assistance for Older Adults Act. This legislation would allow the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide $1.2 billion for sanitation supplies, personal protective equipment, Wi-Fi, additional service coordinators and a one-year extension of the iWish Program in HUD-assisted housing communities. "Seniors in Nevada and throughout the … Continue Reading
August 17, 2020
Cortez Masto Announces Job-Creating Grant Award for Western Nevada Development District
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced a $240,000 Economic Development Administration (EDA) planning investment grant awarded to the Western Nevada Development District. The grant updates a local economic planning framework, process, and strategy to support private capital investment and job creation in the region. "Investment in infrastructure is vital to ensure a robust economic recovery in the Silver State. I am excited to see additional grant … Continue Reading
August 14, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Relief Bill for Independent Live Music Venues During Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Cornyn's (R-Texas) Save Our Stages Act, which would provide Small Business Administration grants for independent live music venue operators affected by COVID-19. These grants would provide six months of financial support to keep venues afloat, pay employees, and preserve a critical economic sector for communities across America. "Nevada is home to some of the best live music and … Continue Reading
