Press Releases
Cortez Masto Statement on House Bill to Revive Yucca Mountain
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, released the following statement on H.R. 3053, a bill that was approved this morning by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and would allow for the revival of Yucca Mountain to move forward: "Any proposed nuclear repository site or storage facility should require the consent of the host state before it can advance. It is unjust and unfair to force Nevadans to … Continue Reading
June 27, 2017
Cortez Masto Urges Senate Armed Forces Committee to Apply Combat-to-Dwell Policy to RPA Community
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Senate Committee on Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) urging them to work with the Air Force to implement a combat-to-dwell policy for members of the remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) community as soon as possible. Senator Cortez Masto applauded the U.S. Air Force for working toward developing a permanent policy, but urged the committee and the Air Force to take … Continue Reading
June 27, 2017
Cortez Masto, Senate Democrats Blast Secretary DeVos for Harmful Actions on Civil Rights Protections, Enforcement
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and 34 Senators today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos citing major concerns with steps the Department has taken under her leadership to diminish civil rights enforcement for students across the country. The Senators highlight a number of alarming actions taken by Secretary DeVos, including hosting events with anti-LGBTQ hate groups, proposing to slash the budget of the Office for Civil Rights … Continue Reading
June 26, 2017
Cortez Masto Applauds Federal Grants for State-Wide Airport Study, Gabbs Airport Runway Rehabilitation
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for awarding $239,063 to the State of Nevada to conduct a state system plan study and $225,000 to Gabbs Airport in Nye County for runway rehabilitation: "Investing in our airport infrastructure is essential to maintaining Nevada's connectivity to the rest of the country and the world," said Senator Cortez Masto. "I am grateful that DOT understands this and I thank them for … Continue Reading
June 26, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on CBO Score of Senate Republican Trumpcare Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the newly released CBO score of the Senate Republicans' Trumpcare bill: "Another day, another appalling CBO score as Republicans continue their despicable mission to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This sham of a bill does a serious disservice to Nevadans who rely on the ACA for life-saving care and this report proves that. I stand with the 400,000 Nevadans who are at risk of losing their … Continue Reading
June 26, 2017
Cortez Masto Denounces Trumpcare’s Disproportionate Impact on Latino Community
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement denouncing the Senate and House versions of Trumpcare's disproportionate impact on the Latino community: "Although Trumpcare could have a significant impact on all hardworking Nevadans, there are communities that will be disproportionately affected, such as Nevada's Latino community. Trumpcare would undo noteworthy gains in healthcare coverage among Latino Nevadans. From 2013 to 2015 under the … Continue Reading
June 23, 2017
Cortez Masto Applauds Federal Grant for LVMPD to Counter Terrorist Recruitment and Radicalization
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for awarding $500,000 in funding through the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Grant Program to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) for deterring terrorist recruitment and radicalization. "As a world-renowned destination, public safety in the Las Vegas metropolitan area is of utmost importance for residents and tourists alike," said Senator Cortez Masto. "I … Continue Reading
June 23, 2017
Cortez Masto Seeks to Expand Important Tax Credit to Put Money Back in Pockets of Workers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation that would help expand two anti-poverty tax credits that help put money back in the pockets of hardworking Nevadans and their families. The Working Families Tax Relief Act expands access to and the value of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC), and ensures that no worker can be taxed into poverty by the federal tax system. "It is appalling that hardworking Nevadans face the real … Continue Reading
June 22, 2017
Cortez Masto Rips Energy Secretary Rick Perry for Breaking Promise to Nevada
Washington, D.C. - During today's Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) blasted Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who recently suggested that the government has a 'moral obligation' to revive the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. Perry's statement is ill-conceived and a complete reversal of the position he expressed in January that decisions concerning nuclear waste siting should be left to the states. Cortez Masto said, "When you were … Continue Reading
June 22, 2017
Cortez Masto Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Advance Development of Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) today introduced bipartisan legislation designed to advance the development of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and build on the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) efforts to safely integrate them into the National Airspace System. The Safe Drone Act of 2017 will ensure that the United States keeps pace in the development and implementation of unmanned … Continue Reading
June 22, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Senate Republican Bill to Repeal the Affordable Care Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the newly released Senate Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act: "Leave it to Senate Republicans to come up with a more atrocious, callous version of the House Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act and strip healthcare from millions of Americans - and hundreds of thousands of Nevadans. Because of the ACA, nearly 400,000 Nevadans have gained access to quality care; … Continue Reading
June 22, 2017
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Strengthen Consumer Protections for Active Duty Servicemembers, Their Families
Washington, D.C. - This week, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation to strengthen consumer protections for servicemembers and their families. The Military Consumer Enforcement Act, sponsored by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), would authorize the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Office of Servicemember Affairs to oversee enforcement of financial protections outlined in the Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Congress … Continue Reading
June 21, 2017
Cortez Masto and Senate Dems Hear Testimony Regarding Impact of Trumpcare on Rural Nevada
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and her colleagues in the Senate Democratic caucus held a hearing to examine the potential impact of Trumpcare on rural communities. The senators heard testimony from healthcare providers, patients, and advocates from across the country concerned that the Republican healthcare bill would undermine the health of people in rural communities and lead to the closure of rural health clinics. The witnesses also drew attention to … Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Urge Administration to Press Egyptian President on Human Rights, Anti-NGO Law
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) yesterday urged President Trump to press Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the worsening human rights situation and restrictions on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Egypt. "A strong U.S.-Egypt relationship is … Continue Reading
June 19, 2017
Cortez Masto Joins Democratic Colleagues on Senate Floor Calling Out Republicans for Secretive, Undemocratic Healthcare Process
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined her Democratic colleagues on the Senate floor to call out Senate Republicans for their secretive and undemocratic process for their American Health Care Act (AHCA). Republicans have refused to hold a hearing or debate on the legislation, which would repeal the Affordable Care Act, and cause millions of Americans - including children, veterans, and seniors - to lose affordable, quality healthcare. On the floor, … Continue Reading
June 19, 2017
Cortez Masto Commemorates Juneteenth
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement commemorating Juneteenth: "Juneteenth marks a pivotal point in American history: the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans on U.S. soil. The painful role slavery played in our history cannot be forgotten, and we must ensure we learn from errors in the past so that they are never repeated again. On Juneteenth, we take the time to remember the day that barbaric practice ended in our … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Cortez Masto Cosponsors the “No Hearing, No Vote Act”
Senate Dems Announce "No Hearing, No Vote Act" to Prevent the Senate from Considering Any Reconciliation Bill, Like Trumpcare, Unless It Was Reported Out By at Least one of the Instructed Senate Committees & Had At Least One Hearing on Every Major Reported Provision in The Bill Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation introduced by Senate Democrats that would hold Senate Republicans' feet to the fire and require that any legislation going … Continue Reading
June 15, 2017
Cortez Masto Applauds U.S.-China Deal on Beef Exports, Touts Importance to Nevada Ranchers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the Department of Agriculture's announcement on the U.S. and China's final agreement to open up the Chinese market to U.S. beef exports. In April, Cortez Masto signed a bipartisan letter urging the President to prioritize reaching an agreement with China in advance of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "As the second largest importer of beef, the Chinese market will create … Continue Reading
June 15, 2017
Cortez Masto Commemorates 5th Anniversary of DACA
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement commemorating the 5th anniversary of former President Barack Obama's announcement of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: "President Obama's implementation of the DACA program has opened countless doors for young undocumented immigrants. Thanks to this program, thousands of young men and women who used to live in the shadows are now doctors, engineers, activists, professional … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Cortez Masto Condemns Department of Education’s Refusal to Implement Pro-Student Policy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement condemning Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's decision to no longer implement the Obama-era "borrower defense" and Gainful Employment rules set to take effect next month. The rules would have protected at least 3,000 students from predatory for-profit colleges: "I am deeply disappointed that the Department of Education has decided to ignore the needs of thousands of Nevadans and delay the … Continue Reading
