In The News
Cortez Masto Urges Administration to Improve Gig Workers’ Access to Unemployment Benefits
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a letter with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and eight fellow Senators to the Department of Labor (DOL), asking the Department to clarify how states can best ensure gig and other misclassified workers are getting the unemployment benefits they deserve as quickly as possible. In Nevada and across the country, millions of people employed in the "gig economy" have been improperly classified by their employers as independent … Continue Reading
June 09, 2020
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Protect Consumers Holding Corporations Accountable in the Courts
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the End Double Taxation of Successful Consumer Claims Act to protect American consumers' right to sue corporations for fraud. The legislation will help ensure that consumers who win fraud causes are not liable for taxes on funds awarded to their attorney. "Consumer fraud, abusive debt collection and credit reporting errors are plaguing consumers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. No consumer should be deterred from … Continue Reading
June 09, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds $848,000 Contract for Nevada Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site (UASTS)
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the $848,685 in funding awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) toward an overall contract of $1.79 million to demonstrate and validate drone technology in coordination with Nevada's Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) test site. The contract awarded to Switch (NYSE: SWCH), who contracted with the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) will help fund the demonstration and validation of new drone … Continue Reading
June 08, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges Top Health Officials to Swiftly Distribute Emergency COVID-19 Funds to Hospitals Serving Low-Income, Vulnerable Populations
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and a group of 13 bipartisan colleagues in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma requesting that the Administration act swiftly to distribute emergency funding allocated in COVID-19 spending packages to hospitals that overwhelmingly serve Medicaid and … Continue Reading
June 05, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen Continue to Fight for Coronavirus Resources for Nevada
Washington, D.C. - This week, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) sent a series of letters pushing for federal resources to support behavioral health care for children as they experience this unprecedented time, as well as calling for in Nevada's clean energy sector and its workforce. "As our state works to safely rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, we must do everything we can to protect our children and their mental health development so that they can … Continue Reading
June 05, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Communities of Color from Coronavirus
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in cosponsoring the Community Solutions for COVID-19 Act, which would provide funding to communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The bill would establish a $1.5 billion grant program over three years to help Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and other eligible organizations create and expand programs to improve health equity and reduce or eliminate … Continue Reading
June 05, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds $3 Million in Grants to Support Native American Community Development Projects
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) celebrated the awarding of $3 million in grant funding to help the Moapa Band of Paiutes and the Winnemucca Tribe construct affordable housing and community development projects. The awards will be distributed through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Indian Community Development Block Grant program. "This funding will help construct new affordable housing options and a community gathering place for two of … Continue Reading
June 04, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds $1.7 Million in Funds to Fight Coronavirus
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $1,767,879 to the state of Nevada for health care systems treating patients and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. "As Nevada reopens, the state needs federal support like this to make sure that we continue to slow the spread of coronavirus, care for patients, and improve our ability to respond to emerging hot spots. I'm proud to have voted for … Continue Reading
June 04, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen, Colleagues Seek Answers on How FEMA Is Preparing to Protect Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands During Hurricane Season
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) joined a letter led by Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ahead of the upcoming hurricane season in the Caribbean. In the letter, the lawmakers seek answers to how FEMA is preparing to respond to a storm that hits Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands amidst the numerous other ongoing disasters and … Continue Reading
June 03, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Prevent and Review Officer-Involved Deaths
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and five other Senators in cosponsoring the Police Training and Independent Review Act to provide grants to states that require fair and impartial police training and the independent investigation and prosecution of the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers. "Time after time, Nevada and the nation have witnessed the unjustified and unjustifiable use of force against people … Continue Reading
June 03, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Help COVID-19 Workers With Education, Savings
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in cosponsoring the Pandemic Responder Service Award Act to establish an award program for front-line health care workers who responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. The total annual award, up to $10,000 adjusted for inflation, would be based on time served and would be available for up to four years. "Our frontline health workers put themselves at tremendous risk every day, and in doing that, … Continue Reading
June 02, 2020
Cortez Masto Calls for Workforce Development in Response to Economic Downturn
Washington, D.C. - In today's Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on the implementation of the CARES Act, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) asked panelists what Nevada and the nation could do in future coronavirus legislation to stimulate workforce development and increase employment. Senator Cortez Masto prefaced her question with information about Nevada's experience during the foreclosure crisis: "The last recession devastated us. It took seven years to … Continue Reading
June 02, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen, Colleagues Call for Federal Investigation into Racially Discriminatory and Violent Policing at Minneapolis Police Department
After George Floyd was killed at the hands of a Minneapolis Police officer, the lawmakers say DOJ probe is needed to ensure change, future accountability Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), along with 24 colleagues, in calling on the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct an investigation into the patterns and practices of racially discriminatory … Continue Reading
June 01, 2020
Cortez Masto Honors LGBTQ Pride Month
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in recognition of LGBTQ Pride Month: "Born out of the Stonewall riots of 1969, Pride Month offers us a unique and important opportunity to honor the courage of all those fighting to end discrimination. While our country has made great strides towards equality over the past 50 years, from legalizing same-sex marriage to repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', homophobia, transphobia and bigotry still … Continue Reading
June 01, 2020
Cortez Masto Honors Immigrant Heritage Month
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) recognized Immigrant Heritage Month, which is observed in June. "Nevada is home to immigrants from all over the globe, and this beautiful diversity is one of our state's strengths. During this Immigrant Heritage Month, I'm proud to celebrate the many American families-like my own-with immigrant histories. In the face of attempts to divide Americans from one another based on their heritage, we must work even harder to demonstrate … Continue Reading
June 01, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds $2 Million Award for Wildfire Research to the University of Nevada, Reno
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced a National Science Foundation (NSF) award of $2,000,000 to the University of Nevada, Reno to pursue research into digital platforms that could be used to predict and monitor fire risks and help direct emergency responses to fires. "As wildfire season gets longer, Nevada needs this kind of innovative, technology-driven research into preventing and responding to wildfires. I am proud of the incredible work of … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Cortez Masto Hosts Conversation with Nevada Nurses Combating COVID-19
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined a call with nurses across Nevada for a conversation about the ways she can support medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted her work to ensure Nevada's nurses continue to have the support and supplies they need to care for patients and keep themselves safe. "Nevada's nurses have saved countless lives during the coronavirus pandemic, all while putting their own health and safety on the line in … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen, Colleagues Request Information About the Distribution of Coronavirus Relief Funds to Tribal Governments
Las Vegas, Nev.- U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and nine of their colleagues in a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin requesting that the agency clarify the disbursement formula used to allocate payments to Tribal governments from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The senators echoed the concerns of many Tribes that the Treasury … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen Applaud $3.8 Million DOT Green Energy Grant to Reduce Public Transportation Emissions
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $3,853,200 to the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada for the purchase of no or low emission public transportation vehicles. Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen wrote a letter of support for RTC of Southern Nevada's grant application. "Thousands of Las Vegas residents rely on public transportation every day, and I … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Cortez Masto Congratulates Nevadans Admitted to Service Academies
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Nevada students admitted to the United States service academies and preparatory schools as well as their families via teleconference to congratulate them on their achievements. "I'm so proud of these young men and women, who represent the best of the Silver State. Their hard work, dedication, and willingness to serve their country should inspire us all. I know they have bright futures as leaders, both at college and beyond, … Continue Reading
