Press Releases
Cortez Masto: DACA Lawsuit Nothing Less Than an Attack on Nevada Families
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement today after a coalition of seven states, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit yesterday challenging the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that threatens to deny Dreamers the ability to renew their status and could cancel work permits for thousands of DACA recipients in Nevada, and hundreds of thousands throughout the country: "Attorney General Paxton's … Continue Reading
May 01, 2018
Cortez Masto Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement today celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which is commemorated every May: "Nevada is home to a vibrant and diverse Asian Pacific American community. During the month of May, Nevadans come together to celebrate the cultures, foods, people, and centuries-old traditions of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. Throughout Nevada, their achievements and contributions are growing our … Continue Reading
April 30, 2018
Cortez Masto Celebrates Young Americans on El Día del Niño
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement today celebrating el Día del Niño. Cortez Masto is an original cosponsor of the 2018 Senate resolution designating April 30th as "El Día del Niño, Celebrating Young Americans" to recognize the importance of investing in cross-cultural, community-based education for our youth. "On this day, we recognize that all children, no matter their backgrounds, deserve a world … Continue Reading
April 27, 2018
Cortez Masto Tells Defense Secretary Mattis Transgender Troop Ban is Harmful to Military
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in a letter to Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis opposing his implementation recommendations for President Trump's transgender ban and decrying the ban overall. The senators' letter follows statements by the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force and Commandant of the Marine Corps asserting that open transgender service has had no negative effect on unit cohesion, discipline, or … Continue Reading
April 26, 2018
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Increase Transparency of Presidential Pardons
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced the Abuse of the Pardon Prevention Act, legislation that will add transparency and accountability to the pardon process in cases involving investigations of the President or his relatives. "I am deeply troubled by indications that President Trump may use his pardon powers as a tool to obstruct justice or derail ongoing investigations against his campaign, businesses and personal … Continue Reading
April 26, 2018
Cortez Masto: Mr. President, Nevada Veterans Deserve Better
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement today in response to Dr. Ronny Jackson's withdrawal as the nominee to lead the United States Department of Veterans Affairs: "Let's be clear: the President of the United States nominated an individual for VA Secretary that reportedly drunkenly crashed a government-owned vehicle; to steer one of the biggest federal agencies that serves our veterans. I supported Secretary Shulkin for his commitment … Continue Reading
April 25, 2018
Cortez Masto, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Broaden Pool of Main Street Investors
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced bipartisan legislation that would expand the number of Americans who are allowed to invest in our nation's small businesses by allowing individuals who have relevant education, professional expertise, and other credentials to invest. Under current law, an individual must be deemed an "accredited investor" to invest in a private offering of securities, but under the Securities Act of 1933, an … Continue Reading
April 25, 2018
Cortez Masto: HUD Secretary Ben Carson is Playing Reverse Robin Hood, Taking from Poor to Give to Rich
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement today in response to the news that U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson will propose a plan to force low-income families to meet a work requirement and pay more for federal housing: "Secretary Ben Carson is trying to play Reverse Robin Hood in his role as the leader of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The proposal he plans to introduce could triple the rent … Continue Reading
April 25, 2018
Cortez Masto Raises Concerns Over Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to the White House’s Office of American Innovation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation and Gary C. Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management, sent a letter to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly raising concerns over the White House's Office of American Innovation (OAI). Several reports indicate that the office has consistently refused to answer questions about potential … Continue Reading
April 24, 2018
Cortez Masto Statement on Pompeo Nomination
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the nomination of CIA Director Mike Pompeo to serve as Secretary of State: "America's Chief Diplomat needs to believe in the power of diplomacy. Mike Pompeo has a history of advocating for reckless and ignorant policies that put American troops at risk and undermine American values abroad. Director Pompeo has repeatedly defended torture, attacked Muslims for their faith, worked against the … Continue Reading
April 24, 2018
Cortez Masto: Kochs' Dark Web of Money Flows Through the LIBRE Initiative to Deceive Latinos
"The Koch brothers and their web of dark money organizations like LIBRE are deceiving Latinos and supporting the very same politicians who are working against Latino families." Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) delivered a speech on the Senate floor to shine a light on the Koch brothers' work to spread falsehoods aimed at undermining American democracy. Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery: There's an old saying that, "There's no such thing as a … Continue Reading
April 24, 2018
Cortez Masto, Hatch Introduce Resolution Condemning North Korea Labor Camps
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) introduced a resolution today denouncing North Korea's labor camps, condemning the country's human rights abuses, and calling upon Kim Jong-un to release all political prisoners. "We must stand united in condemning and calling attention to North Korea's widespread use of torture and disregard for human life," said Cortez Masto. "There is ample evidence … Continue Reading
April 23, 2018
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Call on Trump Administration to Halt Expansion of Junk Health Insurance Plans
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a letter led by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and signed by 47 senators calling on the Trump Administration to halt a proposed regulation that would expand the use of short-term health care plans to create junk health insurance plans that would raise premiums for older Americans and harm millions of people living with pre-existing conditions. "If finalized, the rule … Continue Reading
April 20, 2018
Cortez Masto Statement Commemorating 19th Anniversary of Columbine, Recognizing Student Voices in National Action
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in response to student actions taking place across the country commemorating the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre and the need for congressional action on common sense gun safety legislation: "Across the country students are taking part in actions like walkouts, rallies, community service, collecting school supplies for student lives, and other peaceful forms of protest. … Continue Reading
April 19, 2018
Cortez Masto Introduces FHA Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2018
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the FHA Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2018, legislation that will ensure banks, credit unions and mortgage lenders follow the law before taking a family's home. When families fall behind on their mortgage payments, lenders who benefit from taxpayer-backed insurance through the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) must communicate with the borrower, connect the borrower to homeownership counseling, offer … Continue Reading
April 19, 2018
Cortez Masto, Harris Introduce Legislation to Protect Workers from Occupational Health Hazards
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) introduced the Environmental Justice Right to Know Act - legislation to address shortcomings in the disclosure of chemicals in pesticides and personal care products. Workers who handle these personal care products-in hair salons, nail salons, and agricultural settings-are often women from low-income communities or communities of color. These workers are more likely than the general … Continue Reading
April 18, 2018
Cortez Masto Highlights Her Commitment to Safeguarding Nevada Seniors from Abuse and Exploitation
Washington, D.C. - At today's U.S. Senate Aging Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) highlighted the work she did as Attorney General of the state of Nevada to protect seniors from abuses in the state's guardianship system. The reforms enacted in Nevada are crucial steps to ensuring that all seniors are protected from those in positions of power who may wish them harm. Senator Cortez Masto believes Nevada's reformed guardianship laws should be a model for the rest … Continue Reading
April 18, 2018
Cortez Masto: US Olympic Governing Bodies Need Advocates Who See Athletes as People, Not Commodities
Sen. Cortez Masto questions U.S. Olympic Athletes during a Commerce Subcommittee hearing. Watch HERE Washington, D.C. - In today's Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security hearing, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) met with Olympic athletes who are survivors of sexual abuse. Cortez Masto requested this hearing in the wake of revelations that generations of young athletes had been subject to sexual abuse as they moved through … Continue Reading
April 18, 2018
Cortez Masto: Auto Loan Borrowers Deserve the Same Terms Based on Credit-Worthiness, Not Skin Color
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after she voted against Senate Republicans' Congressional Review Act resolution, which revokes protections put in place by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to combat discrimination in auto lending: "The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued guidance five years ago to protect borrowers from discriminatory practices in auto lending. Prior to OMB Director Mulvaney's involvement … Continue Reading
April 18, 2018
Cortez Masto & 171 Members of Congress Call for Pruitt’s Resignation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), and a group of 170 members of Congress in introducing companion resolutions in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives formally calling on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to resign. The resolution comes in response to Pruitt's repeated ethics violations, misuse of taxpayer dollars, and actions that … Continue Reading