Press Releases
Cortez Masto Supports Bill to Boost Affordable Housing for Foster Youth, Prevent Homelessness During COVID-19 Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - In light of recent reports that foster youth aging out of system during the coronavirus pandemic are at an increased risk for homelessness, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation to help provide stable housing options for foster care youth transitioning to adulthood. Introduced by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act of 2019 would provide Family Unification Program … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Cortez Masto Fights for Women’s Reproductive Health Care
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined 34 colleagues in cosponsoring the Protect Access to Birth Control Act, which would make rules to ensure employers or schools cannot deny health care coverage, including birth control, to employees due to a religious or moral reasoning. "It's outrageous that women's access to reproductive health care has been under constant fire by the Trump administration since day one. The recent Supreme Court decision is yet another … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Extend Census Bureau Deadlines and Provide Resources to Ensure Accuracy of 2020 Census
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) in legislation to address the significant challenges facing the Census Bureau as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fair and Accurate Census Act would provide requested extensions of statutory deadlines and appropriate $400 million for the Census Bureau to address the impacts of the coronavirus on the 2020 Census. "It is vital for local, state and tribal governments that the Census … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Cortez Masto Announces $1.5 Million for Health Centers in Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $1,510,708 to health centers to support vulnerable Nevadans. "I'm pleased to see these funds go to health centers in Las Vegas that are working hard to deliver care to underserved communities, reducing health disparities among communities of color, protecting vulnerable Nevadans, and providing comprehensive care. Health centers are vital in providing … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities in Communities of Color
Washington, DC. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in introducing the COVID-19 Health Disparities Action Act of 2020, legislation that would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop an action plan to address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 among communities of color. The bill would also provide grants to ensure that contact tracing efforts are culturally competent and support the … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Improve State Unemployment Insurance Systems
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Worker First Act, introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to help states improve their unemployment insurance systems. The Worker First Act would authorize $10 billion to be distributed among states that take steps to ensure worker safety, as well as expand and modernize their unemployment insurance systems. "Nevada has suffered the highest unemployment rate in the country as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Cortez Masto Calls on Administration for Answers on Discriminatory Mortgage Lending
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) led 16 other Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), pressing the agency for information on how it pursues violations of civil rights laws by financial institutions. The senators cited press reports that show the OCC undermined its examiners' efforts to investigate and pursue violations of fair housing and fair lending laws. The report … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Cortez Masto: Judy Shelton’s Nomination to the Federal Reserve Board Threatens Our Economy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today released the following statement after voting 'no' on the nomination of Dr. Judy Shelton to the Federal Reserve Board at an Executive Session of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. "During one of the most profound economic crises in our history, we need a steady, independent nominee for the Federal Reserve Board. Judy Shelton holds views far outside the economic … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Child Care Stabilization Fund Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined the Child Care is Essential Act, legislation led by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), to create a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund within the existing Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program. As businesses continue to adjust to a new normal and working families need child care, many providers across the country remain shut down or are operating with significantly reduced capacity. Child care providers … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Cortez Masto Announces More Than $2 Million for Head Start Programs in Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which has awarded $2,743,118 to the University of Nevada, Reno for Early Head Start programs. "I'm so glad to see these awards go to help pregnant women and families with small children in Nevada. They need extra care and resources at this difficult time. I'll continue to work to make sure that the youngest Nevadans get a strong and healthy start … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges Administration to Enforce Federal Housing Eviction Bans During Coronavirus Pandemic
Washington, DC. - As the coronavirus pandemic continues to put many Americans in danger of falling behind on monthly rent payments, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Doug Jones (D-Ala.) in a letter urging the Trump Administration to enforce bans on housing evictions for the duration of the crisis. In a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and … Continue Reading
July 20, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds $3 Million for Disease Prevention in Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded $3,164,658 to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services for disease control and prevention programs. "The coronavirus pandemic shows exactly why it's so important for Nevada to have the ability to monitor for disease, investigate it when it occurs, and take steps to prevent it in the future. These federal funds … Continue Reading
July 20, 2020
Cortez Masto Supports Legislation to Aid Nevada’s Libraries During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Library Stabilization Fund Act introduced by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), in an effort to help libraries nationwide respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and continue providing communities with needed services, resources, technology, and broadband access. This legislation would provide $2 billion in federal funding for public libraries nationwide through the Institute of Museum and Library Services … Continue Reading
July 20, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds $18 Million in FEMA Funding for PPE
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $18,418,095 to the Nevada Division of Emergency Management for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "With these funds for PPE, Nevada can keep health care workers safe and do more to protect seniors, people with compromised immune systems, … Continue Reading
July 20, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen, Press Trump Administration to Reverse Move Undermining COVID-19 Hospital Data Collection and Reporting
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and 43 of their colleagues in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, urging the Trump Administration to reverse recent changes requiring hospitals to report data to a new system set up by the Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, this data was sent to the National Healthcare Safety Network … Continue Reading
July 18, 2020
Cortez Masto Statement on the Passing of Civil Rights Leader Congressman John Lewis
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the passing of Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.-05). Congressman Lewis served in the United States House of Representatives for 30 years and was a leader in the civil rights movement, organizing the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Congressman Lewis was also an original Freedom Rider in 1961, a principal speaker at the March on Washington in 1963 and one of the many peaceful protestors … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Cortez Masto: GAO Report Shows Administration’s Negligence Toward Migrant Children’s Health
Las Vegas, Nev. - Following the deaths of migrant children in the custody of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a letter led by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) requesting the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine the facility conditions for children who are detained by CBP. The GAO report found CBP does not follow its own guidelines for medical care for migrant children and ignored the recommendations from … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Cortez Masto Hosts Discussion with Northern Nevada’s Special Events Industry Leaders Navigating the Coronavirus Pandemic
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) met with Northern Nevada professionals in the special events industry to discuss the ramifications COVID-19 has had on their companies and organizations. During the video call, the Senator acknowledged the importance of the special events sector to Northern Nevada's economy and the specific challenges many Northern Nevada non-profit organizations have faced accessing federal aid. She also discussed the work she is doing in the … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Cortez Masto Hosts Briefing on the Importance of Broadband to Nevadans During Coronavirus Pandemic
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a virtual briefing on the importance of fast, reliable internet connectivity in Nevada, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. During the conversation, panelists discussed real examples of broadband challenges and opportunities in online education and telehealth, and community members described their experiences with broadband projects throughout the state of Nevada. "Like Americans all over the … Continue Reading
July 15, 2020
Cortez Masto Meets with Nevada Director of COVID-19 Response, Discusses Nevada’s Needs in Next Relief Package
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) met with Caleb Cage, Nevada Director of COVID-19 Response, to discuss the work the Silver State is doing in coordination with local, tribal and federal entities to combat coronavirus. They also discussed the specific support that Nevada needs from Congress in the next coronavirus relief package. "I'm proud of Nevada's coordinated and comprehensive coronavirus response and all the state is doing to save lives, protect our most … Continue Reading