Press Releases
Cortez Masto Joins 25 Senators in Urging Trump Administration to Make Fighting Hate Crimes a Major Priority
Both a recent spike and longer-term trends show increases in discrimination, harassment and violence against members of minority communities Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined a group of 25 Senators in sending a letter to the Trump Administration, urging Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make combating hate crimes a major focus at the Department of Justice and request full funding for the Justice Department's Community Relations Service and Civil Rights … Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Cortez Masto Celebrates Women’s History Month
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today released the following statement to recognize and celebrate Women's History Month: "There is no doubt women are fighting battles that should have been won decades ago. Some of our basic rights are at risk, our access to safe, affordable health care is under attack, and we still are not required to be paid equal to men for equal work. Nevertheless, women are persisting - fighting back and making sure our voices are heard from … Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Cortez Masto Calls on Sessions to Resign Following Reports of His Communication with Russian Officials
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), former Nevada Attorney General, today released the following statement calling for the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions after news reports revealed Sessions failed to disclose during his Senate confirmation hearing his communications with Russian officials in months leading up to the election: "Attorney General Sessions' actions undermine the integrity of the office and the Department that he has been trusted to … Continue Reading
March 01, 2017
Cortez Masto, Murray, Blumenthal Lead Senators in Calling On Mitch McConnell to Drop Republican Efforts to Gut Family Planning Centers
Title X family planning centers provide millions of low-income women and men health care services President Obama reinforced protections in the Title X family planning program before leaving office-LINK In new letter, Senators urge Leader McConnell not to consider House Republican legislation seeking to overturn these protections Health care providers nationwide have opposed efforts to overturn Title X protections Senators: "Family planning services, like those provided at Planned … Continue Reading
March 01, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement Opposing Confirmation of HUD Secretary Nominee Ben Carson
Washington, DC -Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on her upcoming vote against the confirmation of President Trump's Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary nominee, Dr. Ben Carson: "Dr. Carson has said himself that he is not qualified to the lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and I completely agree. I was Nevada's attorney general when the housing crisis hit. With tens of thousands of Nevadans facing foreclosure or … Continue Reading
March 01, 2017
Cortez Masto Joins Resolution Commemorating 75th Anniversary of Japanese American Internment
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a resolution led by her colleague Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) marking the 75th anniversary of the issuance of Executive Order 9066, which led to the internment of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. S.Res.70 affirms that policies that discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion would repeat the mistakes of the internment. "The internment of tens of … Continue Reading
February 28, 2017
Cortez Masto Calls on President Trump to Condemn the Rise of Hate Crimes Across the Country
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today released the following statement in response to a bomb threat at the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada and the rise of hate crimes and hate groups following the election of President Trump: "Last night, a bomb threat was reported at the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada. In the last two months, swastika graffiti were found at three separate Las Vegas locations: at a Mexican consulate, a synagogue, and a … Continue Reading
February 28, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Trump’s Address to Congress
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress: "Tonight's address was business as usual for President Trump: grandiose verbiage and broad proposals and promises completely lacking in substance or direction. Trump failed to offer any real plans on how he hopes to move this country forward. He talked about helping working families, a phrase that has lost all meaning in just 40 days of … Continue Reading
February 27, 2017
Cortez Masto to Host Nevada DREAMer Astrid Silva at Trump’s Address to Congress
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced today that Astrid Silva, a DREAMer and immigration reform advocate from Las Vegas, Nevada, will be her guest at President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. "Astrid's story is one of thousands of young people across the country: an unwavering hope that the only country they know and call home will allow the future they have worked so hard to build for their families," said Senator Cortez Masto. … Continue Reading
February 24, 2017
Cortez Masto Joins Group of 26 Senators in Calling for Full Account of Election Assistance Commission’s Efforts to Address Russian Cybersecurity Threat
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) played a crucial role before the 2016 general election by working with state and local election officials, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to coordinate an appropriate response to cybersecurity threats to our democracy In a letter to EAC Commissioners, Cortez Masto and Senate Democrats expressed deep concern about Russian interference in U.S. elections, and asked the EAC to provide an impartial assessment … Continue Reading
February 23, 2017
Cortez Masto, LCV’s Chispa Nevada and the Nevada Conservation League Defend State’s Public Health and Clean Energy Economy
Las Vegas, NV - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), LCV's Chispa Nevada and the Nevada Conservation League held a roundtable and press conference to discuss the future of Nevada's environmental safeguards, public health, and clean energy economy following the confirmation of former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator. "Scott Pruitt's confirmation as EPA administrator is not a mandate to gut the agency tasked with protecting … Continue Reading
February 23, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on President Trump’s Rescission of Guidelines Protecting Transgender Students
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement today on President Trump's rescission of guidelines that protect transgender students: "All Americans deserve to be granted equal protections and rights under the law - and this is especially true for our young children and students. President Trump's rescission of guidelines that help schools and communities protect LGBTQ students reverses hard-fought progress in the fight for equality. I will … Continue Reading
February 22, 2017
Cortez Masto Tours Northern Nevada HOPES Community Health Center, Highlights Importance of Affordable Care Act
Reno, NV - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) visited Northern Nevada HOPES Community Health Center, where she discussed with the center's staff their concerns about Congressional Republicans' plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and how this would negatively impact their ability to provide affordable services to Northern Nevada's women and families. "HOPES has been essential to Nevadans who rely on their services and we must ensure that it continues to get the support it … Continue Reading
February 21, 2017
Cortez Masto Co-Sponsors Legislation to Make Voting Easier for All Americans
The Same Day Registration Act would require states to allow people to register to vote on election day Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Democratic Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to make voting easier for all Americans. The Same Day Registration Act would require states to allow people to register to vote on election day. "Voting is one of the most fundamental rights we have as Americans, and it is absolutely necessary to make the exercise of … Continue Reading
February 21, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on New DHS Mass Deportation Guidelines
Reno, NV - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in response to recent Department of Homeland Security memoranda detailing the implementation of Donald Trump's mass deportation executive orders. "Enacting policies based on hatred and fear is no way to govern. We should be focusing our limited resources on those who have violent criminal records and finding thoughtful solutions to fix our broken immigration system instead of tearing hardworking … Continue Reading
February 17, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Opposition to Trump’s EPA Administrator Nominee Scott Pruitt, Need to Extend Senate Debate on Nomination
"With the impending release of as many as 3,000 emails on this matter, it is only right that we delay Mr. Pruitt's confirmation vote until we have had time to thoroughly review this information. It is our job as U.S. Senators to ensure nominees are adequately vetted and failure to do so is a disservice to Americans." Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today released the following statement outlining her opposition to Scott Pruitt's nomination to serve as the next … Continue Reading
February 17, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Reports of a Trump Administration National Guard Deportation Force
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on reports on a draft memorandum issued by the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kelly that directs Immigration and Customs Enforcement to engage with Governors to deploy National Guard troops to deport undocumented immigrants, specifically naming 11 states, including Nevada. "Regardless of the White House's response, this document is an absolutely accurate description of the disturbing … Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Cortez Masto Leads Group of 20 Senate Democrats to Introduce Legislation Rescinding Trump’s Massive Deportation Executive Order
Bill would rescind Trump's Executive Order that targets law-abiding undocumented immigrants for deportation Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a group of 20 Democratic Senators to introduce legislation to rescind President Trump's Executive Order on Interior Enforcement, which directs the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize the deportation of a vast majority of undocumented immigrants living and contributing to U.S. communities. Cortez Masto … Continue Reading
February 15, 2017
Cortez Masto Announces Commerce Subcommittee Assignments for 115th Congress
Cortez Masto will join the Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet Subcommittee and the Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security Subcommittee Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced she will be joining two subcommittees as a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. In the 115th Congress, Cortez Masto will serve on the Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, … Continue Reading
February 15, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Opposition to Trump’s OMB Director Nominee Rep. Mick Mulvaney
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today released the following statement opposing Rep. Mick Mulvaney’s nomination to be the next Office of Management and Budget Director: “Rep. Mulvaney’s misguided beliefs on government spending runs counter to the Office of Management and Budget’s role of responsibly overseeing the government’s fiscal policy. He is well known for spending his congressional career strongly opposing federal spending, disregarding the catastrophic … Continue Reading