Press Releases
On Senate Floor, Cortez Masto Calls Out Republican Efforts to Pass a National Abortion Ban, Override Nevadans’ Right to Choose
"[T]his was never about states' rights, really, to my right-wing colleagues who want to restrict a woman's fundamental rights. And we know that because now they are pushing for a national abortion ban." "The current legislation introduced by Senator Graham stops the people in pro-choice states like mine, like Nevada, from choosing to protect the rights of women. At the same time, it leaves in place stricter abortion bans in 14 states." "Right now we're seeing some politicians once again … Continue Reading
September 13, 2022
Cortez Masto, Rosen Announce More Than $5M to Walker River Paiute Tribe for Water Upgrades
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced that the Walker River Paiute Tribe will receive $5.2 million in Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants for improvements to water infrastructure that will boost the local economy. These funds were allocated through the American Rescue Plan's Indigenous Communities program to support Tribes. "Tribes in Nevada and across the country were hit hard by the pandemic, and I supported … Continue Reading
September 11, 2022
Cortez Masto Statement on the Anniversary of September 11
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement on the 21st anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the United States: "Today marks 21 years since September 11, a horrific day when terrorists attacked our nation and killed thousands of innocent Americans. Paul and I stand with all Americans remembering the lives we lost and the families that were forever changed by this tragedy. We will never forget the heroism and bravery of the many … Continue Reading
September 09, 2022
Cortez Masto, Rosen Announce More Than $88M for Transportation Upgrades in Washoe County
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $88,917,130 to Washoe County for additional lanes for US-395, as well as improvements to North Virginia Street. This funding was made available as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which both Senators worked to pass. "This grant funding for Washoe County is great news for Reno and the surrounding areas, and it's going … Continue Reading
September 09, 2022
Cortez Masto Introduces Bill to Strengthen Strategic Partnerships With Pacific Islands, Defend U.S. National Security
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced a bill to strengthen the U.S.'s strategic partnerships with Pacific Island nations and help counter aggression from the Chinese government in the region. The Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement (BLUE) in the Pacific Act would allow the United States to establish stronger long-term diplomatic, security, and economic partnerships with Pacific Island nations. "As the Chinese government becomes increasingly aggressive in the … Continue Reading
September 09, 2022
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation by Crisis Pregnancy Centers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and a group of Senate colleagues in cosponsoring the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation (SAD) Act, which would crack down on false advertising related to abortion services by crisis pregnancy centers. The bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prohibit deceptive or misleading advertising related to the provision of abortion services and to collect penalties from organizations in violation of … Continue Reading
September 01, 2022
Cortez Masto Announces Release of First Report Required by Her Law to Help Reduce Law Enforcement Suicides
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sent to Congress the first report required under her bipartisan Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act, which was signed into law in 2020 to address an epidemic of law enforcement suicides. This Act requires the FBI to collect voluntary, anonymous data from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies on police suicides and attempted suicides and issue an annual report to … Continue Reading
August 31, 2022
Cortez Masto Joins AAPI Community Leaders in Las Vegas to Discuss How the Inflation Reduction Act Will Lower Costs for Nevadans
Las Vegas, Nev. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a roundtable with Asian American and Pacific Islander community leaders in Las Vegas to discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act will lower health care costs, create good-paying clean energy jobs, and combat climate change. Senator Cortez Masto and participants discussed the cost-cutting provisions in the legislation, including the extended tax credits for families who receive health insurance through the Affordable … Continue Reading
August 31, 2022
In Response to Calls From Cortez Masto, Federal Housing Finance Agency Announces Necessary Review of Federal Home Loan Bank System
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) announcement that it would conduct a review of the Federal Home Loan Bank system, which includes 11 regional government-sponsored entities that lend to their member financial institutions and insurance companies. The FHLB system's explicit mission is to support housing investment and meet communities' economic development needs. Under Director Sandra Thompson, the FHFA has begun a … Continue Reading
August 25, 2022
Cortez Masto Meets with Veterans in Elko to Discuss Her Work to Secure the New Elko National Cemetery, Support Veterans and their Families
Elko, Nev. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined veterans in Elko to discuss her work to secure approval for the Elko National Cemetery. Senator Cortez Masto was instrumental in the approval of this rural national cemetery, which will for the first time provide burial benefits in the Elko region to approximately 3,700 veterans and their eligible family members. During the roundtable discussion, Cortez Masto also discussed legislation she helped pass to support Nevada's … Continue Reading
August 23, 2022
Cortez Masto in Las Vegas: The Inflation Reduction Act Will Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Nevadans
Las Vegas, Nev. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a roundtable at Nevada HAND's Silver Sky Assisted Living facility with AARP, local health care advocates, and Las Vegas seniors to discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act will lower drug prices for Nevadans. During the roundtable, Senator Cortez Masto outlined the cost-cutting provisions in this historic legislation, including those that to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, cap the cost of insulin at … Continue Reading
August 23, 2022
Cortez Masto Calls on Admin to Speed Loan Forgiveness Program Changes for Military Service Members
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a letter with 16 of her Senate colleagues to Secretary Miguel Cardona, urging the Department of Education (DOE) to take steps to implement changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program that will make it easier for military service members to access benefits. At the Senator's urging, the Department has agreed to automatically enroll members of the military in the program before a program "waiver" to allow changes … Continue Reading
August 22, 2022
In Las Vegas, Cortez Masto Demands Urgent Action to Address Drought
Senator Cortez Masto delivered $4 billion in funding to combat drought through the Inflation Reduction Act, and today she called on the Department of the Interior to submit a detailed plan to ensure this funding is used to ensure other states along the Colorado River Basin are pulling their weight when it comes to water conservation Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) General Manager John Entsminger called on the … Continue Reading
August 19, 2022
Cortez Masto Hosts Press Conference with Local Labor, Clean Energy, and Conservation Leaders to Discuss Clean-Energy Jobs in Las Vegas
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined IBEW Local 357, Southern Nevada Building Trades, Nevada Conservation League, and the Environmental Defense Action Fund to discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act will create good-paying union jobs in Las Vegas and lower energy costs for families. Nevada's clean energy economy already employs over 32,000 Nevadans and this bill will invest another $2.7 billion into the Silver State's clean-energy economy, creating new jobs … Continue Reading
August 16, 2022
Cortez Masto and Rosen Urge DOI to Take Stronger Federal Action to Ensure All States Are Contributing to Water Conservation Along Colorado River
Washington, D.C. - In reaction to the U.S. Department of the Interior's (DOI) announcement that Nevada and other Western states will face reductions in their allotment of water from the Colorado River, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) sent a letter to DOI urging the administration to take stronger federal action to ensure that all states along the Colorado River Basin are contributing their fair share to meeting the severity of this crisis. Nevada has … Continue Reading
August 16, 2022
Cortez Masto: Inflation Reduction Act Will Cut Costs for Nevada Families, Strengthen Our Economy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. This legislation, which she helped pass in the Senate, will lower prescription drug costs, reduce the deficit, support Nevada's booming clean-energy sector, and create good-paying jobs. "Nevada's families will benefit from this legislation to bring down costs across our economy," said Senator Cortez Masto. "From deficit … Continue Reading
August 12, 2022
Cortez Masto and Rosen Announce Funding to Support Low Emission Buses Across Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced that the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) will receive $6.7 million to fund the purchase of three hydrogen fuel cell electric buses and safety improvements along bus routes across Las Vegas. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe will also receive $115,000 to expand transit options for Pyramid Lake residents. "These grants will help Nevada invest in clean, reliable public … Continue Reading
August 11, 2022
Cortez Masto Introduces Bill to Increase Benefits for Veterans With Service-Related Medical Issues
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced legislation to help disabled veterans who need to make accessibility improvements to their homes. The Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act would increase the amount allowed under current grant programs for home improvements and other structural alterations to $10,000. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Al Lawson (D-Fla.-05). "We honor veterans' sacrifice for our … Continue Reading
August 10, 2022
Cortez Masto Announces $25 Million for Fernley Highway Project to Spur Local Economy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that $25,000,000 in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is going to the city of Fernley to support the Victory Project, which will complete the Nevada Pacific Parkway connection from I-80 to Highway 50. The project will create jobs providing critical transportation infrastructure that supports the buildout of the Victory Logistics District, and it is expected to bring thousands of additional jobs to the region … Continue Reading
August 10, 2022
Cortez Masto Calls on Administration to Release Unspent COVID Relief Funds to Restaurants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a group of over 70 senators and members of Congress in calling on the Small Business Administration (SBA) to release critical COVID relief funding to restaurants. In the American Rescue Plan, Congress established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to help restaurants that had lost revenue due to the pandemic, but a recent report showed that the available RRF funds have not been fully used. The letter calls on the SBA to prioritize … Continue Reading
