Press Releases
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Support Firefighters Who Contract COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Senator Joe Manchin (D- W.Va.) in cosponsoring legislation to protect federal firefighters in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 as a Presumptive Disease in Wildland Firefighters Act would make it easier for firefighters to obtain workman's compensation coverage in the case of infection due to their work. "As this year's wildfire season intensifies, we need to make sure to protect federal … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Cortez Masto Sends Letter Urging Administration to Support the Creation of a National Veterans Cemetery in Elko
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) urging them to support her legislation to create a National Veterans Cemetery in Elko, Nevada. In addition to authoring a bill this past March, Senator Cortez Masto recently filed identical legislation as an amendment to the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) advocating for the transfer of federal land to be used as a … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Invest in Minority-Owned Businesses
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) today introduced the Minority Business Resiliency Act. The bill would make the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which was created by Executive Order in 1969, permanent and expand the reach of the agency by creating regional MBDA offices, strengthening its grant making capacity, and increasing its coordination with other federal … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Cortez Masto Supports Making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which would designate June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day, an official federal holiday. "Recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday is long overdue. As Americans, we need to acknowledge and reflect upon our country's legacy of slavery, but also celebrate Black Americans and the innumerable contributions they have made and continue to make to shape our nation. … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen Announce Over $7 Million in HHS Grants to Support Nevada Coronavirus Response
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced a total of $7,152,467 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help Nevada public health departments combat coronavirus. The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services was awarded $6,918,548 in Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) funding to help Nevada health departments strengthen their abilities to respond to COVID-19, and the Shoshone-Paiute … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen, Coons Introduce Legislation to Require Congressional Approval for Any Nuclear Testing in Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) in introducing legislation to ensure no president can unilaterally decide to resume explosive nuclear testing by establishing a congressional approval process for any future nuclear testing in Nevada, and across the country. The No Nuclear Testing Without Approval Act will ensure Congress is involved should there be an effort by any Administration to resume explosive … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Cortez Masto Delivers Floor Speech on Housing Assistance During Coronavirus Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) spoke today on the Senate floor on the importance of federal housing assistance as the Senate works to address the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Senator Cortez Masto called for the Senate to provide additional assistance to keep Americans in their homes during this challenging time. Senator Cortez Masto's remarks are available in VIDEO FORMAT. Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery: I'm here today to support my … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Cortez Masto Fights Against Federal Agencies Sharing Citizenship Data for Political Purposes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation to nullify the Trump administration's Executive Order (EO 13880) that requires Federal agencies to share citizenship data with the Department of Commerce for political purposes. "President Trump's attempt to add a question on citizenship to the 2020 Census was rightly struck down by the Supreme Court. But he and his administration are still attacking immigrants and trying to turn the census into a … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Cortez Masto Pushes Administration to Make Paycheck Protection Program Work Better for Nevada’s Seasonal Businesses
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and seven colleagues in a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza urging them to readjust regulatory requirements so that seasonal employers can access the full amount of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they qualify. The Senators asked the Treasury Department and the SBA to immediately issue … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Cortez Masto Co-Leads Bill to Patch Gaps in Internet Access and Literacy in Nevada Through Investment and Transparency
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in cosponsoring legislation to address the significant broadband gaps in the U.S. by providing a robust investment in infrastructure, training and oversight. The Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act would invest $100 billion in broadband across the nation. "As the coronavirus pandemic has made more apparent than ever, in the 21st century, every family in the country needs … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges IRS to Implement Tools to Help Domestic Violence Survivors Access Coronavirus Relief Payments
Washington, D.C. - During this week's Senate Finance Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) questioned Charles Rettig, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), about the steps the IRS is taking to ensure domestic violence survivors are receiving their Economic Impact Payments (EIPs). On June 19, the Senator led a letter with 35 Senate colleagues to Commissioner Rettig and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin urging them to take action to help survivors of … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Strengthen Medicaid for States Hit Hard During Economic Downturn
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in introducing legislation that would automatically bolster the health care safety net during times of fiscal crisis, thereby protecting health care coverage for the most vulnerable Americans. The Coronavirus Medicaid Response Act would create automatic triggers that increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), or the share of Medicaid costs borne by the federal government, … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds Over $27 Million in PILT Payments to Nevada Counties
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced that the Department of the Interior (DOI) had awarded $27,868,890 under the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program to rural counties in Nevada for Fiscal Year 2020. "Nevada's rural counties rely on the Department of the Interior's PILT program to help their local governments fund public safety, housing, transportation, and public lands maintenance projects. As our communities face unprecedented challenges in the … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen, Horsford and Lee Applaud $264,000 Grant for Minority Business Development Center at College of Southern Nevada
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Representatives Steven Horsford (D-Nev.-04) and Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03) applauded the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency's grant award of $264,000 to the College of Southern Nevada to fund the expansion and continuation of the successful Nevada Grow program. This program, funded originally as a pilot by the State of Nevada and the Nevada System of Higher Education, … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Cortez Masto Delivers Floor Speech on the Urgency of Passing Additional COVID-19 Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) spoke on the Senate floor tonight about Nevada's urgent need for more legislation to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Senator Cortez Masto called on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to begin bipartisan negotiations on new legislation to address the twin public health and economic crises faced by communities across the country. Senator Cortez Masto's remarks are available in VIDEO FORMAT. Below are her remarks as … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Cortez Masto Hosts Call with Nevada Chambers of Commerce to Discuss Ways to Continue Supporting Nevada Businesses During COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a phone conversation with the executive directors of Nevada's Chambers of Commerce to discuss Nevada businesses' ongoing needs in response to the coronavirus pandemic. During the call, the Senator discussed her work in the Senate to advocate for the passage of additional COVID-19 relief legislation that includes funding for small businesses and local governments to help support local economies in their efforts to safely … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Cortez Masto Calls for HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention Funding in Next COVID-19 Response Package
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in calling on Senate leadership to include federal funding for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and housing programs in the next COVID-19 pandemic response package to continue providing life-saving services to people living with and at risk of HIV and AIDS. "This additional support for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and housing programs is critical for ensuring that we can respond to two … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Cortez Masto, Klobuchar, Colleagues Call for Additional Funding for Tourism, Economic Development Projects
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), co-chairs of the Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus, led 14 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to Congressional leadership calling for additional funding for the Economic Development Administration (EDA)'s programs in future coronavirus economic recovery legislation. The EDA's programs help drive locally organized economic development projects, develop new industries, build vital infrastructure, and … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Cortez Masto Celebrates the Supreme Court’s DACA Decision with Nevada Immigrant Groups
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a Facebook Live video conference with members of the Nevada Immigrant Coalition's UndocuCouncil to discuss the Supreme Court's recent ruling that blocks President Trump's attempt to end protections for Dreamers. The Senator spoke about the importance of the Supreme Court's DACA decision and discussed how she's fighting in the Senate to provide permanent relief for Dreamers. "President Trump has been attacking Dreamers … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Cortez Masto Pushes for Study to Investigate Cancers Among Military Aviators
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Military Aviators Cancer Incident Study Act, which would require the Department of Defense (DoD) to determine whether the military aviators community has a higher incidence of cancers compared to the general population, and if so, to determine potential carcinogens and other variables that may be associated with higher rates of cancer. The bill would direct resources to look across active duty and veteran aviators … Continue Reading
