Press Releases
Cortez Masto Seeks Information on Closing of EPA’s Las Vegas Laboratory
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, urging him to explain the agency's decision to expedite the closing of its Las Vegas laboratory facilities, located within leased space at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). "This decision leaves more than 50 employees in Nevada weighing relocation, retirement, or resignation. Additional information indicates that 28 contractors would also … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Cortez Masto Discusses Smart Cities & 5G with Axios’ Mike Allen
(Senator Catherine Cortez Masto participates in a discussion with Axios' Mike Allen on Smart Cities & 5G) Washington, D.C. - Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Axios' Mike Allen this morning to discuss her "Innovation State" initiative. In her conversation, the Senator highlighted the innovative work happening throughout the state of Nevada, including by the state DOT and Washoe and Southern Nevada RTC's, talked about the autonomous shuttle in Las Vegas, highlighted the … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Cortez Masto on Omnibus: I Look Forward to Reviewing How Bill Addresses Nevada’s Priorities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the omnibus spending deal: "While this legislation appears to provide critical funding to address Nevada's affordable housing crisis, provide for infrastructure investments, fight the opioid epidemic, boost college affordability programs, invest in Child Care Development Block Grants and authorizes a pay raise to our troops while increasing health care resources for veterans, it is far from … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Cortez Masto Applauds Passage of Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement celebrating the passage of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) today in the Senate: "As Attorney General of Nevada, I spent eight years working to crack down on sex trafficking rings, support survivors, and hold traffickers accountable. I ran for Senate because I wanted to continue that work at the federal level. I am proud to support the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, a crucial … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Cortez Masto Touts the Importance of the Export-Import Bank for Nevada Businesses
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in support of the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank of the United States and it's positive impact on Nevada businesses: "Despite Republican efforts to eliminate the Export-Import Bank, in the past five years, the Ex-Im Bank has financed more than $7 million in exports from Nevada, supporting 23 business from across the state, 16 of which are small businesses and 6 of which are minority or women owned. … Continue Reading
March 20, 2018
Cortez Masto Raises Concerns Over Costs & Safety Associated with Administration’s Proposal to Restart Yucca Mountain
Washington, D.C. - At today's Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on President Trump's Fiscal Year 2019 budget for the Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) questioned Energy Secretary Rick Perry regarding the administration's proposed $120 million budget to restart the Yucca Mountain Project and expenditures related to the project's licensing process. Cortez Masto sent a letter to Secretary Perry yesterday, requesting information on DOE's … Continue Reading
March 20, 2018
Cortez Masto Cosponsors National Guard Benefits and Parity Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after co-sponsoring the National Guard Benefits and Parity Act, legislation led by Senators Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.) and Roger F. Wicker (R-Miss.) that would ensure that National Guardsmen and Reservists are entitled to the same benefits as their active-duty counterparts while deployed. "Nevada has 7,648 Reserve and National Guard members who deserve the same education, retirement and … Continue Reading
March 20, 2018
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Anti-Bullying Legislation
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to combat bullying in schools, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Safe Schools Improvement Act, legislation that works to ensure that no child is afraid to go to school because of unchecked bullying and harassment. A Department of Education study found that 1 in 5 children between the ages of 12 and 18 will be impacted by bullying. "I am proud to cosponsor this legislation because it will help us prevent bullying and make our children … Continue Reading
March 19, 2018
Cortez Masto Statement on Trump’s Opioid Plan
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on President Trump's proposed opioid plan: "I hope President Trump's opioid plan is not another empty promise meant to distract from his continued impotence in helping millions of Americans and their families who are suffering from this epidemic. "There is no evidence that threatening suspected drug traffickers with the death penalty will do anything to alleviate the conditions that are causing … Continue Reading
March 19, 2018
Cortez Masto Applauds AmeriCorps VISTA Grant to Nevada Homeless Alliance
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding AmeriCorps for awarding a VISTA program grant of $62,358 to the Nevada Homeless Alliance. "Nearly 24,900 people will experience homelessness in Southern Nevada this year. Organizations like the Nevada Homeless Alliance provide crucial support to those in need. It is vital we invest in non-profits that are on the front lines fighting to help end homelessness and improve access to the … Continue Reading
March 19, 2018
Cortez Masto Calls for Transparency on Yucca Mountain Licensing Expenditures
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Energy Secretary Rick Perry requesting information on the Department's activities and expenditures associated with any Yucca Mountain licensing proceedings. Due to the Trump administration's proposal to include $120 million to restart the Yucca Mountain licensing process and their dismissal of the Blue Ribbon Commission's final report in 2012 that recommended consent-based siting, Cortez Masto raised concerns over … Continue Reading
March 19, 2018
Cortez Masto on President Trump’s Continued Effort to Sow Fear in American Communities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after President Trump broke apart another American family: "President Trump continued his assault on communities in Nevada by forcing a father from his kids, a husband from his wife, and a hardworking man from his community. David Chavez-Macias lived in our country for over thirty years and built a life and a family in Nevada that is embraced and supported in our community. David also suffers from … Continue Reading
March 17, 2018
Cortez Masto Attends Red Flag Exercise at Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) attended yesterday a Red Flag Exercise, the premier air-to-air and air-to-ground combat exercise series conducted by the U.S. Air Force, at Nellis Air Force Base. The Red Flag exercises are an opportunity for airmen and women from all branches of the U.S. military to train on the largest open training range in the country, ensure they can defend our nation at a moment's notice and return home safely. Many of the Red … Continue Reading
March 16, 2018
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Call for Top DeVos Adviser’s Recusal from Decisions on For-Profit Colleges Owned by Former Employer
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos requesting information on whether her Senior Counselor Robert Eitel plans to recuse himself from matters related to the proposed merger of Ashford University and the University of the Rockies - two for-profit colleges owned by … Continue Reading
March 16, 2018
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Call for CFPB to Investigate Citigroup’s CARD Act Violations
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, led her colleagues in sending a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau expressing concerns about Citigroup's failure to comply with the Credit Card Accountability and Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009. Citigroup recently reported that it failed to comply with the Credit Card Accountability and Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 and properly reduce … Continue Reading
March 15, 2018
Cortez Masto Announces USDA Rural Development Grant to the City of Yerington
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development agency for awarding a grant of $581,000 to the Yerington Paiute Tribe and the City of Yerington for water infrastructure improvements. "The health and wellbeing of Nevada's rural communities depend on access to safe, clean water. I thank the USDA for awarding additional funds to the City of Yerington to update their aging water … Continue Reading
March 15, 2018
Cortez Masto Calls on Key Senate Committee to Take Action on Legislation to Fund Gun Violence Research at CDC
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) in calling on leaders of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee to immediately act on legislation to fund gun violence prevention research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the letter, the senators point to the overwhelming support from the medical and public health communities for recognizing gun violence as a public health crisis. Just today, … Continue Reading
March 15, 2018
Cortez Masto, Kennedy File Legislation to Protect Animals on Airplanes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced the Welfare of Our Furry Friends Act (WOOFF) today to explicitly prohibit airlines from putting animals in danger by placing them in overhead baggage compartments. This bill directs the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to create regulations to prohibit the storing of a live animal in any overhead compartment of any flight in air transportation and establish civil fines for … Continue Reading
March 14, 2018
Cortez Masto Votes Against the Wall Street Reform Roll Back Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after voting in opposition to S.2155, the Wall Street Reform Roll Back bill: "I am deeply worried about the devastating repercussions this bill would have on American families. By stripping away important regulations to hold banks accountable, we are risking another financial crisis that is rooted in unfair lending practices. We risk a repeat of the housing crisis that robbed Nevadans of their … Continue Reading
March 14, 2018
Cortez Masto Urges Cabinet Secretaries to Support Nevada Infrastructure Investments
Washington, D.C. - During a U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on infrastructure with five of President Trump's cabinet secretaries, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) urged Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Labor Secretary Alex Acosta to support Nevada's growing need for infrastructure investments, specifically funding for Interstate 11, investing … Continue Reading
