Press Releases
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
April 20, 2021
Cortez Masto Statement on Derek Chauvin Trial
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement following the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial. "This was the right decision. George Floyd should still be alive today. Though the pain experienced by Mr. Floyd's family, Minneapolis, and all of America cannot be erased, this is a step toward justice. Black Lives Matter. Our work is far from done. We must continue working together to create a stronger, more inclusive justice system that protects … Continue Reading
April 20, 2021
Cortez Masto Visits White House, Calls for Focus on Jobs & Economic Recovery for Nevada’s Latino Community
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after her visit with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to the White House, where she advocated for additional support to help Hispanic-Americans get back to work and to boost Hispanic-owned small businesses. During the meeting, Senator Cortez Masto specifically called for President Biden to create an interagency American Jobs Plan equity task force to ensure federal resources go to communities with … Continue Reading
April 14, 2021
Cortez Masto Leads Legislation to Curb Harmful Practices in the Franchise Sector, Protect Small Business Owners
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) re-introduced legislation to protect entrepreneurs from bad actors in the franchise industry who use deceptive financial information to sell underperforming or unprofitable businesses. The SBA Franchise Loan Transparency Act, cosponsored by Senators Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), would require that a prospective franchise owner receive accurate … Continue Reading
April 13, 2021
Cortez Masto Releases Alarming New Report Detailing Harmful Practices in Franchise Sector, Calls For Transparency and Oversight
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released a report on a slew of troubling practices affecting businesses operating as franchises that have squeezed investors and entrepreneurs for decades, causing countless Americans to go into bankruptcy while boosting the bottom line of multi-national corporations. Senator Cortez Masto's white paper is the first major Congressional report on the harm deceptive franchise practices have caused franchise owners across the country. … Continue Reading
April 10, 2021
Newsletter - A busy couple of weeks in Nevada
April 08, 2021
Cortez Masto Statement on the Implementation of COBRA Benefits She Secured in American Rescue Plan
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the Department of Labor (DoL) implemented the COBRA benefits she secured in the American Rescue Plan. Cortez Masto's provisions mean that laid off and furloughed workers in the Silver State and across the country can keep their health insurance plans if they are laid off or furloughed due to the pandemic. The DoL guidance includes answers to Frequently Asked Questions for workers wondering … Continue Reading
April 06, 2021
Cortez Masto Urges Biden Administration to Address COVID-19 Student Mental Health & Suicide Crisis
Las Vegas, Nev. - In response to widespread challenges in students' mental and behavioral health during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the spike in student suicides, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) is calling on the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education to launch a coordinated, all-of-government response. In a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Cortez Masto highlights the severe stress and trauma experienced by … Continue Reading
April 05, 2021
Cortez Masto Secures More Than $6 Million to Address Nevada’s Affordable Housing Crisis
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced that the state of Nevada will receive $6,754,852 in Housing Trust Fund (HTF) grants, more than double what the state usually receives. These grants are a direct result of Cortez Masto's advocacy during the previous administration, which tried to cut funding for this vital program. With HTF funding, Nevada will be able to build, rehabilitate, and maintain affordable housing for extremely low- and very low-income … Continue Reading
April 02, 2021
ICYMI: Cortez Masto vows to oppose potential Biden FDA pick
In Case You Missed It, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) is vowing to lead opposition to President Biden's potential nominee for commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Cortez Masto is fervently opposed to acting commissioner Janet Woodcock because of her history overseeing the approval of powerful and addictive opioid drugs. "We cannot have an FDA administrator who oversaw the approval of dangerous drugs without sufficient … Continue Reading
March 29, 2021
Cortez Masto Announces $155 Million in Funding to Support Public Transportation, Help Nevadans Get to Vaccine Sites
Las Vegas, Nev. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that $155,465,085 that she helped secure as part of the American Rescue Plan will be delivered to Nevada to support the state's public transportation systems as the state continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cortez Masto has consistently led efforts in the Senate calling for robust investments to help Nevada's public transportation systems during the pandemic, which will now bolster public transit while … Continue Reading
March 26, 2021
Cortez Masto & Rosen Announce New Members of Bipartisan Judicial Commissions
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced the members of two bipartisan judicial commissions to interview and recommend candidates for Nevada's federal judicial vacancies. The commissions include diverse and bipartisan representatives from the legal community across Nevada. "We're dedicated to ensuring that the voices of Nevadans are reflected in the federal judicial nomination process, and our two bipartisan judicial … Continue Reading
March 26, 2021
Cortez Masto Urges VA to Combat Vaccine Misinformation, Encourages Veterans to Get Vaccinated
Washington, D.C. - In light of recent reports on veterans' concerns about the safety and efficacy of the coronavirus vaccine, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) is calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take an active role in combating vaccine-related misinformation and to encourage our veterans to get vaccinated. A recent poll by the Blue Star Families found that almost half of veteran families surveyed do not expect to receive a vaccine, with 75 percent of those … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Cortez Masto Hosts Job Fair to Help Nevadans Get Back to Work
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) co-hosted Nevada's Virtual Job Fair to help get people in the Silver State back to work. The Senator hosted the event with Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03), Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill, Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones, Nevada DETR's JobConnect, and Workforce Connections' One-Stop Career Centers to connect furloughed and unemployed Nevadans with more than 50 employers. Nevadans attending the job fair had … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
NEW: Cortez Masto Announces $25 Million to Expand Vaccine Access in Nevada’s Underserved Communities
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will award a total of $25,172,750 in funding to support 8 community health centers across Nevada to expand access to vaccines in underserved communities. "The key to recovering from this pandemic is getting shots into people's arms, and this significant investment will help ensure that underserved communities across Nevada have equal access to these … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Cortez Masto: More Help Is On the Way for Nevada’s Small Businesses
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after voting to extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to May 31, 2021, which was originally set to expire at the end of the month: "The Paycheck Protection Program has been a lifeline helping businesses stay afloat throughout the pandemic, and with many borrowers still awaiting loan approvals, this extension will be crucial in helping our businesses keep their employees on the … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Cortez Masto, Menendez Introduce Bicameral Resolution Recognizing the Heritage, Culture, and Contributions of Latinas
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) introduced a resolution to celebrate and honor the contributions of Latinas in the United States. The Senators' resolution, introduced during National Women's History Month, honors the heritage, culture and contributions of Latinas in a variety of fields while acknowledging the pervasive barriers that prevent their full recognition as equal members of society. Representative Lou Correa (D-Calif.) … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
