Press Releases
Cortez Masto Demands Greater Community Investment From Federal Home Loan Banks
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced legislation to require the eleven government-sponsored Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) to increase their investments in affordable housing, community development, and small business lending. The FHLB system was created during the Great Depression with the explicit mission of supporting vibrant community economies, affordable housing, and other development projects, but the FHLBanks have not fully invested to meet … Continue Reading
May 20, 2021
Cortez Masto, Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to High-Quality Food on Military Bases
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the quality and nutrition of food provided to service members on U.S. military installations. The Senators introduced this bill after hearing from members of the military and their families about the need to improve the accessibility of healthy and affordable meal options on U.S. bases. "Our service members put their lives on the line to protect our nation and … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Cortez Masto, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Make Pandemic-Driven Expanded Telehealth Access Permanent
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced a bill today with U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) that would make pandemic-driven expanded access to telehealth services permanent. The Telehealth Expansion Act of 2021 would allow first-dollar coverage of virtual care under high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) so that every American has access to telehealth services without the burden of first meeting a deductible. "The pandemic has taken a huge toll on our … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Expand Affordable Housing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today introduced legislation to expand affordable housing in Nevada and across the country by making more funding available to the Housing Trust Fund (HTF), which has a track record of success in building and renovating affordable housing. The Affordable Housing Production Act would redirect Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) funding returned to the Department of the Treasury to the HTF to help secure and preserve affordable … Continue Reading
May 17, 2021
Cortez Masto & Grassley’s Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Mental Health Support for Law Enforcement Officers Passes Judiciary Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) celebrated their bipartisan legislation to protect the privacy of law enforcement officers seeking mental health support passing out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support (COPS) Counseling Act would encourage the adoption of law enforcement peer counseling programs across the country and protect the privacy of federal officers as they seek mental health … Continue Reading
May 14, 2021
Cortez Masto Reintroduces Fairness for Immigrant Families Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) is reintroducing the Fairness for Immigrant Families Act, legislation to address outdated laws complicating our immigration system and crack down on notario fraud. "For too long, political leaders have used immigration as a wedge issue that has blocked us from ever getting anything done," said Senator Cortez Masto. "We need strong border security and a system that treats everyone with dignity, including access to citizenship … Continue Reading
May 13, 2021
Following Push From Cortez Masto, DOJ Releases $40 Million to Nevada Victims & Survivors
Washington, D.C. - After weeks of delays, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto announced that $39.8 million in federal funding will be coming to Nevada from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to support victims of crimes. Cortez Masto secured this funding through recent appropriations bills, but disbursement has been held up since the beginning of April. These federal grants include $7.9 million in Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP) funding to assist with the ongoing Route … Continue Reading
May 12, 2021
Cortez Masto Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize Lake Tahoe Restoration Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to extend the authorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, which has served as the cornerstone for federal funding since the original law passed in 2000, helping deliver millions in federal funding for environmental protection and habitat restoration programs. This legislation is supported by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and … Continue Reading
May 05, 2021
BREAKING: Biden Administration Implements Cortez Masto Legislation To Provide Relief to First Responders
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it would be implementing her bipartisan legislation to ensure ambulance providers and first responders are still paid for treating Medicare patients who are not transported to emergency rooms or similar destinations. Previously, ambulances were put in the difficult position of only receiving payment if they transported patients … Continue Reading
April 30, 2021
Cortez Masto Introduces TRAVEL Act to Boost Nevada’s Tourism Economy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today introduced legislation to strengthen the American economy by promoting infrastructure that fosters travel and tourism. The Transportation Resources Adding Vital Economic Longevity (TRAVEL) Act would make sure that federal, state, and local governments are taking travel and tourism needs into account as part of their transportation plans, helping boost economies like Nevada's that have been hit especially hard due to travel … Continue Reading
April 30, 2021
Cortez Masto and Portman Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Further Combat Chinese Government’s Influence on Technology Standards Setting
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced bipartisan legislation to make sure the United States is positioned to lead international standards-setting, counter the Chinese government's influence and protect American jobs. This legislation would require the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to create a task force that would counter Chinese influence and ensure the United States is leading the emerging technology … Continue Reading
April 29, 2021
Cortez Masto & Rosen Secure Critical Nevada Priorities in Senate-Passed Water Bill
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act passed the Senate on a bipartisan, 89-2 vote. This bipartisan legislation will deliver more than $35 billion nationwide to ensure all Americans have access to clean water by upgrading aging and degraded water infrastructure, including replacing lead pipes. This is an urgent need across Nevada and will help … Continue Reading
April 28, 2021
Cortez Masto Statement on President Biden’s Speech
Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement following President Joe Biden's speech on the eve of his 100th day in office. "Over the past 100 days, our nation has made tremendous progress, coming together to deliver a historic rescue package that is helping bring American communities back from a devastating year. Back at home, I have seen firsthand how the American Rescue Plan is getting shots in arms, students back in the classroom, and … Continue Reading
April 26, 2021
Cortez Masto & Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Upgrade Schools and Public Buildings
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) introduced the Public Buildings Renewal Act, bipartisan legislation that incentivizes private investment to rebuild schools and other public buildings through public-private partnerships. Implementing public-private partnerships to fund repairs in just 20% of all government buildings would create 1.3 million jobs … Continue Reading
April 22, 2021
Cortez Masto, Murkowski Hail Interior & DOJ Announcement on Their Bipartisan Law to Curb Epidemic of Missing, Murdered and Trafficked Native Women
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) released the following statements after the Departments of Interior (DOI) and Justice (DOJ) announced that they would be enacting a joint commission to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, a key component of Cortez Masto's bipartisan Not Invisible Act, which was signed into law last year. "This is a welcome step from the Administration and it will make an enormous difference … Continue Reading
April 22, 2021
Cortez Masto & Toomey Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ensure Survivors of Sexual Assault Can Access Victims’ Benefits
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) re-introduced the Fairness for Rape Kit Backlog Survivors Act to ensure that survivors of sexual assault have access to the same benefits as victims of other crimes. As a result of rape kit backlogs across the country, many survivors of sexual assault are unable to access state crime victim compensation when they need it-when their kits are finally tested and matched. Cortez Masto's bipartisan legislation … Continue Reading
April 22, 2021
Cortez Masto Statement on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act
Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after voting in favor of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which passed the Senate on a bipartisan 94-1 vote. Originally introduced by Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representative Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), this legislation will address the rise of hate crimes and violence targeted at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Cortez Masto signed onto this bill as a cosponsor last month … Continue Reading
April 21, 2021
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Expand & Make Permanent Minority Business Development Agency
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the Minority Business Resiliency Act of 2021. The bill would make permanent and expand the reach of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which was created by Executive Order in 1969. The bill would also place MBDA regional offices in more communities, increase the agency's grant making capacity, and create a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development. "It's critical … Continue Reading
April 21, 2021
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Help Expand Access to Nevada Public Lands
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced two pieces of legislation to help underrepresented communities, educational organizations, and community groups access and enjoy Nevada's public lands for outdoor recreation. "Every Nevadan should have access to our beautiful public lands - it's part of what makes the Silver State so special," said Senator Cortez Masto. "Yet the cumbersome permitting process often prevents small organizations, schools, and … Continue Reading
April 21, 2021
Cortez Masto Meets With Education Secretary Cardona, Urges Robust Support for Student Mental Health
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) met virtually with Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to discuss the mental health needs of Nevada's school children. She recently wrote a letter calling on the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education to launch a coordinated, all-of-government response to help students recover from the severe stress and trauma they experienced during a year of remote school and isolation. "Nevada's students have endured an … Continue Reading
