Press Releases
Cortez Masto, Rosen Reiterate Demand for No Yucca Mountain Funding in Letter to Colleagues
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water (E&W) Development to reiterate their annual request that zero funds be appropriated to support licensing activities at the proposed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository site in any Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 funding measures. "The … Continue Reading
November 05, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds Grants for Maternal and Child Health in Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $422,635 in grants to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services for maternal and child services in the Silver State. "Especially during the coronavirus pandemic, pregnant women, mothers, and children need all the support they can get in Nevada. I'm happy to see these funds go to support health for mothers and children, and I'll keep … Continue Reading
November 04, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds Over $3 Million in Grants for Broadband and Infrastructure Improvements
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded two grants worth a total of $3,075,000 to Nevada. One grant worth $2.7 million will connect Elko County residents with high speed broadband and the second grant of $775,000 will help the Ely Shoshone Tribe build a road, sidewalk, curb, and gutter to improve access between housing and tribal facilities. "Having access to reliable internet and safe ways to reach … Continue Reading
October 30, 2020
Cortez Masto Raises Alarm Over Administration’s Inability to Fully Implement Provisions Under President Trump’s Executive Order to Expand Critical Mental Health Resources to Veterans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in urging Secretary Wilkie of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve veterans' access to mental health care by following through on authorities under President Donald Trump's Executive Order (EO) 13822 to increase veterans' access to mental health care. "More than 6,000 veterans die by suicide annually, and each loss of life is immeasurable," wrote the senators. "Congress … Continue Reading
October 30, 2020
Cortez Masto Celebrates 156th Nevada Day
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement commemorating the observed 156th anniversary of the State of Nevada's admission to the Union: "Today marks the 156th anniversary of Nevada's admission to the Union, and while this year's celebrations looks a little different, we can still celebrate our beautiful state and its rich history with our neighbors, family, and friends. Hardworking Nevadans have stepped up this year to keep our … Continue Reading
October 29, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen Applaud $4.5 Million for Rural Water Infrastructure in Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) today announced that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $4,577,528 to rural communities in Nevada to fund water and waste infrastructure improvements. "We're glad to see these funds go to rural communities to modernize water systems, improve health outcomes, increase resilience, and promote economic development," said the Senators. "Updating these systems will help thousands in … Continue Reading
October 28, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges DeVos to Help 8.2 Million Federal Student Loan Borrowers Access Relief
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and 32 of her Senate colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos calling for swift action to support federal student loan borrowers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by using the available relief under the CARES Act and administrative extension. In the letter, the senators call on Secretary DeVos to immediately reach out to borrowers … Continue Reading
October 27, 2020
Cortez Masto Demands Explanation of Justice Department’s Sudden Change to Election Non-Interference Policy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in a letter to Corey R. Amundson, Chief of the Department of Justice's Public Integrity Section, requesting an immediate explanation of the Department's recent decision to weaken its longstanding policy of non-interference with elections, which ensures that election fraud investigations do not affect an upcoming election. "It is deeply troubling that the Department has chosen to weaken … Continue Reading
October 27, 2020
Cortez Masto Unveils Tax Cut to Provide Critical Relief to Working Families in Nevada
Washington, D.C. - As the nation continues to recover from the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today introduced legislation to put more money in the pockets of hardworking families in Nevada and across the country. The Rebuild Americans' Income to Strengthen and Empower (RAISE) Working Families Act would create a new $500 refundable tax credit for individuals and $1,000 refundable tax credit for joint filers to boost … Continue Reading
October 26, 2020
Cortez Masto: ACA Brought Lifesaving Innovation to Washoe County, Repealing the Law Could Take Us Backward
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement highlighting the innovative programs the Affordable Care Act has brought to the State of Nevada, including the REMSA Community Health Programs, which created new cost efficient options to help ensure those seeking emergency assistance through 9-1-1 receive the best. This program has been so successful that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has created a national program based on … Continue Reading
October 26, 2020
Cortez Masto Delivers Floor Speech on Threat of Barrett Nomination to Nevadans’ Health Care, Urgent Need to Act on Comprehensive, Bipartisan Coronavirus Relief Now
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) spoke on the Senate floor today on the threat that Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination poses to health care protections for Nevadans and all Americans, as well as the urgent need for a bipartisan, comprehensive COVID-19 relief package. Senator Cortez Masto's remarks are available in VIDEO FORMAT. Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery: I rise today to … Continue Reading
October 23, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds Over $4 Million for 16 Tribes in Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) celebrated the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarding over $4,000,000 to 16 tribes across Nevada. The funding will support investments in environmental protection and infrastructure improvement programs. "Tribal nations in Nevada are working hard to protect their health, conserve their natural resources and improve their infrastructure. I'm grateful to see the Environmental Protection Agency assist their efforts, and I … Continue Reading
October 23, 2020
Cortez Masto Joins Colleagues in Opposition to Administration’s Attempt to Misclassify Workers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and a group of her Senate colleagues in a letter urging U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Eugene Scalia to rescind a proposed rule regarding classification of workers as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The rule proposes a misguided test to determine if a worker is an employee under the FLSA, failing to address misclassification of workers as independent … Continue Reading
October 23, 2020
Cortez Masto Highlights What Nevadans Are Saying About Her Northern Nevada Rural Land Management, Conservation, and Military Readiness Act
Washington, D.C. - Recently, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released a draft of the Northern Nevada Rural Land Management, Conservation, and Military Readiness Act, which includes land management bills for Churchill, Pershing, Douglas and Lander counties and an alternative proposal for the expansion of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon. This proposal was crafted through consistent engagement and collaboration between conservation groups, outdoor recreation industries, farmers, … Continue Reading
October 23, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges Administration to Make LIHEAP Funds Available to Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) swiftly and at the highest level possible under the current continuing resolution. "As the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance during … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
Cortez Masto, Roberts Introduce Bipartisan Telehealth Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) introduced bipartisan legislation, titled Ensuring Parity in Medicare Advantage for Audio-Only Telehealth Act of 2020. This legislation would require that certain audio-only telehealth diagnoses be included in Medicare Advantage risk adjustment. It also requires Medicare Advantage plans to reimburse providers for audio-only telehealth visits as if they were in-person visits during the COVID-19 emergency … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen, Feinstein, and Harris Urge Air Force to Upgrade Nevada Air National Guard Aircraft Fleet to Help Fight Wildfires
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) wrote a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett urging her to reconsider the Nevada Air National Guard Base in Reno as a candidate for eight C-130J aircraft, which would help improve the Guard's firefighting abilities in Nevada, California, and other states in the region. The Senators first asked Secretary Barrett to consider the Nevada … Continue Reading
October 16, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds Grant Funding for Broadband Projects in Elko and Humboldt Counties
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) announcement that it is investing $43.2 million in grants and loans to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas across the country. Over $12.8 million dollars of this funding will go to deploy fiber-to-the-premises network to connect rural farms and businesses to high-speed broadband across Idaho, Oregon and Nevada, including in Humboldt and … Continue Reading
October 16, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds Grant Funding for Broadband Projects in Elko and Humboldt Counties
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) announcement that it is investing $43.2 million in grants and loans to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas across the country. Over $12.8 million dollars of this funding will go to deploy fiber-to-the-premises network to connect rural farms and businesses to high-speed broadband across Idaho, Oregon and Nevada, including in Humboldt and … Continue Reading
October 15, 2020
Cortez Masto Supports Expanding Tribal Broadband
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) in a bill to expand the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC's) 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window. The Extending Broadband Tribal Priority Act of 2020 will allow Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian organizations the time they need to apply for spectrum licenses for unassigned spectrum over their own lands-a critical step to expanding … Continue Reading
