Press Releases
Cortez Masto Announces Over $53 Million in Additional HHS Grants Awarded to Healthcare Providers in Nevada Impacted by COVID-19
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced a total of $53,270,816 in grant funding awarded to health care providers in Nevada by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The new funding provides $47,480,089 for safety net hospitals that serve vulnerable populations and $5,790,727 for specialty providers in small metropolitan areas and urban hospitals with rural Medicare … Continue Reading
July 14, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges Mnuchin and Powell to Provide Greater Financial Assistance to State and Local Governments
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in a letter to Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell and Department of Treasury (Treasury) Secretary Steve Mnuchin urging that they provide greater financial assistance to state and local governments in the current economic downturn. The letter notes the importance of aggressive Fed and Treasury efforts to help cash-strapped state and local … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Cortez Masto Hosts Call with Nevada LGBTQ Leaders, Urges Trump Administration to Rescind Anti-LGBTQ Policies
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a phone conversation with LGBTQ leaders from across Nevada to discuss their ongoing efforts to advocate for Nevada's LGBTQ community and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on LGBTQ individuals. During the call, the Senator also highlighted her letters urging the Trump Administration to rescind their anti-LGBTQ policies in light of the Supreme Court's recent affirmation that federal civil rights protections apply to gay, … Continue Reading
July 09, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges Fix for Provision Blocking Nevada from Receiving Over $3 Million to Help Address Economic Impacts of COVID-19
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a bipartisan letter led by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) expressing serious concern with a "maximum allotment" provision that is significantly limiting the amount of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act relief funds that can be awarded to smaller states through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program, including over $3.6 million in CSGB funding for Nevada. In … Continue Reading
July 09, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges ICE and DHS to Immediately Withdraw New Guidance that Threatens International Students
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined 95 Senate and House colleagues in a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urging the agencies to withdraw new guidance issued by ICE that imperils the status of international students who would be studying online at U.S. universities this coming academic year. The guidance threatens international students with deportation if they do not comply with the … Continue Reading
July 09, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges Administration to Combat Drone Incursions in Wildfire Response
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Steve Dickson, U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen and Bureau of Land Management Deputy Director William Perry Pendley requesting an update on interagency efforts to inform the public about the dangers of flying drones near active wildfires. Drone incursions in the airspace surrounding wildfires can cause aerial firefighting tools to be grounded, limiting the … Continue Reading
July 09, 2020
Cortez Masto Introduces New Bill to Help More Small Businesses Access SBA Loans
Las Vegas, Nevada - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) in introducing new legislation that will help more small businesses access flexible Small Business Administration (SBA) funding to cover their operational costs and stay open.The legislation will make key updates to the economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) program, including cutting the interest rate to 1 percent, raising the cap on maximum loan amounts, adding a new EIDL advance for hard … Continue Reading
July 08, 2020
Cortez Masto Statement on SCOTUS Ruling Allowing Employers to Opt Out of ACA’s No-Cost Birth Control Requirement
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump Administration's efforts to expand the number of employers who can refuse to provide free birth control for their workers despite the Affordable Care Act mandate. "Since his first day in office, President Trump has been intent on gutting women's health care and reproductive freedoms. I'm disappointed that today's decision allows the Administration … Continue Reading
July 08, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Resolution to Protect the Post Office
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in cosponsoring a resolution outlining the importance of the U.S. Postal Service and urging increased funding in the next COVID-19 relief package to help the key agency offset losses incurred due to the pandemic. The resolution also makes clear that the USPS should not be forced to reduce its services, close post office facilities, or excessively raise rates. "The U.S. Postal Service is a … Continue Reading
July 08, 2020
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Support Homeowners, Renters Struggling Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) in introducing the Coronavirus Housing Counseling Improvement Act, legislation that would expand access to critical information, assistance programs and services for millions of families struggling to remain in their homes because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout. Specifically, this legislation would provide $700 million for NeighborWorks to support housing counseling services … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds $400,000 Grant to the Western Nevada Development District for Economic Recovery
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce has awarded $400,000 to the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic and drive economic development planning going forward. "Nevada has been one of the hardest-hit states in the nation in terms of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our citizens and small business owners," said … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Cortez Masto Raises Concerns About Tribes Being Denied Access to Critical Federal COVID-19 Data
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) in a letter calling on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to clarify their policies and practices regarding Tribal epidemiology centers' (TECs) access to disease surveillance data, … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Cortez Masto Introduces Comprehensive Legislation to Support Child Welfare Agencies During COVID-19
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in introducing the Child Welfare Emergency Assistance Act, comprehensive legislation to provide flexible, emergency aid for key child welfare programs working to support young people and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senators' legislation will help ensure child welfare agencies and organizations are equipped with resources to … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Cortez Masto Leads Call for VA to Ensure Employees Receive Hazard Pay For Their Work on the Front Lines of the Coronavirus Pandemic
Las Vegas, Nev. - In response to outreach from Nevada constituents, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and 17 Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requesting more information on VA hazard and retention pay policies for clinical employees involved in the COVID-19 response. VA employees deserve hazard pay for their dangerous work during the coronavirus pandemic, and this letter encourages the VA to consider … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Cortez Masto Statement on Passing of Irwin Molasky
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement today on the passing of Irwin Molasky. "Irwin Molasky's towering contributions to my hometown of Las Vegas are only eclipsed by the fantastic structures he developed over five decades. Irwin was a good man, friend to so many and a risk taker who saw a good bet in Las Vegas when he moved here in 1951. Las Vegas is the place it is today in no small part because of his vision. Paul and I will miss him … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Cortez Masto to Trump Administration: Don’t Rip Away Health Care for Millions During Public Health Crisis
Las Vegas, Nev. - As the Trump Administration moves full-steam ahead to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in introducing a resolution with 45 colleagues putting in the official Senate record their condemnation of the Administration's "reckless" effort to rip coverage away from hardworking Americans. The resolution also demands that the Department of Justice (DOJ) defend the existing law in court and halt its … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds Over $1.7 Million in Telehealth Grants for Nevada
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Federal Communications Commission for awarding $1,757,091 in grant funding through the Wireline Competition Bureau to four organizations in Nevada. The funds will support the organizations' telehealth capabilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "As the Silver State continues to maintain social distancing practices, telehealth is more important than ever to ensuring we stem the spread of the virus. This funding … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Reduce Student Loan Payments
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in introducing legislation to allow eligible student borrowers to refinance their federal loans and ease their debt burdens. The Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act would let borrowers locked in to high interest rates from the past take advantage of the historically low rates current new borrowers are eligible for. "Nevadans carry tremendous student loan debt-an … Continue Reading
July 03, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds Over $18 Million In Airport Infrastructure Grants For Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Department of Transportation for awarding $18,633,926 in grant funding under the Airport Improvement Program to five Nevada airports. The funds will go toward infrastructure improvements. "This funding will go a long way to ensuring airports-which are vital to the health of our communities and our economy-are able to make the infrastructure improvements and investments they need to support the Silver State's … Continue Reading
July 03, 2020
Cortez Masto Calls on Treasury, IRS to Send Missed COVID Relief Payments to Non-filers with Dependents
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and fellow Democratic Senate Finance Committee members in a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig calling on them to immediately distribute further supplemental economic impact payments to those who are in need rather than make them wait until tax time next year. "[Economic Impact Payment] recipients … Continue Reading
