Press Releases
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Urge OPM to Protect the Rights of Transgender Federal Employees
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and 27 Senate colleagues in calling on the Trump administration to restore guidelines for protecting the privacy and rights of transgender federal employees. Last month, the Office of Personnel Management replaced information on its website that provided supervisors with guidelines regarding transgender federal employees with new guidance that omits essential information, including any … Continue Reading
December 19, 2018
Cortez Masto, Menendez, Booker Demand Answers from HUD on Reported Discriminatory Policy Denying Dreamers Access to Home Loans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Ben Carson demanding answers in response to a recent report that suggests the Trump Administration has implemented an unofficial policy of denying Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured mortgages to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, also known as Dreamers. "While federal courts … Continue Reading
December 18, 2018
Cortez Masto: Proposed Rollback of Obama-Era School Discipline Policies Hurts Nevada Students
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the Trump Administration's school safety commission, formed in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, recommended rolling back the Obama Administration's policies to address the disproportionate punishment of students of color in America's schools and suggested the federal effort to address discriminatory discipline practices have made schools more dangerous. In 2014, the Government … Continue Reading
December 18, 2018
Cortez Masto Applauds $20.8 Million EPA Grant Award for Nevada Water Infrastructure Projects
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to award $20.8 million in grant funding to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects. "Investing in our water infrastructure is vital to the health of the Silver State and provides Nevada families with clean drinking water, protects our environment from droughts and strengthens the infrastructure our communities need for economic growth. I … Continue Reading
December 18, 2018
Cortez Masto Applauds $300,000 DOT Grant to RTC of Southern Nevada for Transit-Oriented Development
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Department of Transportation (DOT) for awarding the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada a $300,000 grant to develop a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) plan for an 8.7-mile fixed guideway project proposed to run along Maryland Parkway into downtown Las Vegas. "The Maryland Parkway corridor is a hub for growing businesses, medical facilities and is home to UNLV's burgeoning campus. I'm … Continue Reading
December 18, 2018
Cortez Masto Statement on Administration Announcement of Final Bump Stock Ban Rule
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after learning that the Department of Justice's final rule banning bump stocks will take effect in 90 days. "I welcome the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms announcement of its rule to ban bump stocks as a first step toward addressing gun violence. However, Congress must act to make sure that the ban has the force of law and cannot be subject to repeal by judicial measures, or the actions of … Continue Reading
December 18, 2018
Cortez Masto Leads Bipartisan Letter Calling on Administration to Respond to Allegations of Chinese Government Election Interference
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other national security leaders in the Trump Administration expressing concern about ongoing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) attempts to undermine democracy. In the letter, the Senators encouraged the Administration to work closely with Taiwan to investigate the allegations of interference and respond if necessary. "CCP attempts to erode democratic processes and norms … Continue Reading
December 17, 2018
Cortez Masto Applauds Final Passage of Human Trafficking Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the passage of S.1311, the Abolish Human Trafficking Act and S.1312, Trafficking Victims Protection Act. The Abolish Human Trafficking Act reauthorizes domestic anti-human trafficking programs from the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) and strengthens the U.S. government's approach to combating trafficking. "Since my time as Nevada's attorney general, ending human trafficking … Continue Reading
December 14, 2018
Cortez Masto: Today’s Ruling Another Example of Administration, GOP Leaders Ripping Away Healthcare Coverage from Millions of Americans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in response to a federal judge's ruling that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional. "Today's ruling is yet another example of this Administration and Republican leaders continuing down the path of ripping away health care coverage from millions of hardworking American families. The Affordable Care Act has helped provide health care coverage to thousands of hardworking Nevadans and put … Continue Reading
December 13, 2018
Cortez Masto Announces Appointment to Senate Finance Committee
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced her appointment to the United States Senate Finance Committee for the 116th Congress. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to serve Nevadans on these crucial committees and advocate for their interests. As we enter the 116th Congress, I will continue working on the issues that matter most to Nevadans - like defending their health care, expanding affordable housing in our rural and urban communities, ensuring … Continue Reading
December 13, 2018
Cortez Masto Bids Farewell to Senator Heller
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) honored her friend and colleague Senator Dean Heller (R-Nev.) on the floor of the United States Senate. Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery. Senator Cortez Masto's remarks are available in both AUDIO AND VIDEO FORMAT. You may download video of the speech HERE and audio HERE. M. President, I come to the floor today to honor and express my gratitude for my friend and colleague, Senator Dean Heller. Dean has spent 30 … Continue Reading
December 13, 2018
Cortez Masto Applauds Passage of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the unanimous passage of the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, bipartisan legislation that she introduced with Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) to create a public health infrastructure to combat Alzheimer's disease and preserve brain health. "The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's will fund and promote … Continue Reading
December 12, 2018
Cortez Masto: Americans Deserve Transparency in Elections
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after she voted in support of a resolution to reverse a Trump administration rule limiting donor disclosure requirements for political nonprofits. "American voters deserve to know the source of dark money in our election system. Transparency and accountability are key to protecting our democracy and ensuring that Americans know when special interests may be involved in influencing their decisions … Continue Reading
December 12, 2018
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Call for FERC Commissioner McNamee’s Recusal from Future Business Involving Potential Subsidization of Coal and Nuclear Plants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a letter with her Senate Democratic colleagues calling for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Commissioner Bernard McNamee to recuse himself from any future business at FERC involving the potential subsidization of coal and nuclear plants. In the letter, the senators expressed concerns regarding Mr. McNamee's actions in his previous role at the Department of Energy (DOE) in developing and filing a rule to subsidize … Continue Reading
December 12, 2018
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Help Protect People’s Personal Data Online
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation led by Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the top Democrat on the Senate Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet Subcommittee, to protect people's personal data online. The Data Care Act would require websites, apps, and other online providers to take responsible steps to safeguard personal information and stop the misuse of users' data. "Everyone who uses the internet is vulnerable to the … Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
Cortez Masto Applauds Final Senate Passage of Farm Bill, Touts Victories for Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the Senate's final approval of the Farm Bill, which includes provisions that strengthen conservation efforts across the country. In addition, the Farm Bill includes two bipartisan provisions introduced by Cortez Masto, which will create a permanent interagency rural council and a rural broadband integration working group. "I'm pleased that this critical bipartisan legislation to … Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
Cortez Masto, Moran Lead Senators Urging FAA to Implement and Improve Airport Contract Tower Program
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) led a bipartisan letter of 36 Senators urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement a provision in this year's FAA spending bill allowing airports that utilize the contract tower program to become eligible for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants from the small airport fund. This provision, which was introduced and included in the recent FAA Reauthorization law by Senators Cortez … Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, legislation that would prevent employers from forcing pregnant women out of the workplace by placing them on unpaid leave, firing them, or forcing them to quit when they are denied the reasonable accommodations that they need to continue working safely during their pregnancies. The bill ensures that, where an employer can provide a reasonable accommodation such as a minor … Continue Reading
December 10, 2018
Cortez Masto Demands Answers Over HHS Removal of Latino Outreach Guidance from Health Insurance Marketplace Website
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma demanding answers about the agency's removal of a document entitled, "Marketplace Outreach: Best Practices for Outreach to Latino Communities" from its Health Insurance Marketplace website. Despite the Affordable Care Act's significant impact in lowering uninsured rates across the country, Cortez Masto notes that Latinos still have the … Continue Reading
December 07, 2018
Cortez Masto Announces Departure of Chief of Staff Scott Fairchild, Names Reynaldo Benitez as New Chief of Staff
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced the departure of her Chief of Staff of nearly two years, Scott Fairchild. Today, Cortez Masto named Reynaldo Benitez as her new Chief of Staff. "Scott has been a steadfast advisor on a host of critical issues, and his keen strategic sense has been crucial to me in my first years," said Cortez Masto. "He has been crucial to helping me establish my office and in fighting for the interests of the people of Nevada. I look … Continue Reading
