Press Releases
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
July 02, 2020
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
