Press Releases
Cortez Masto Questions Official on Revitalizing Nevada’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - During this week's Senate Finance Committee Hearing, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) questioned U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer about revitalizing the tourism and hospitality industry in Nevada that has been so hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also discussed the importance of Senator Bob Casey's (D-Pa.) and her efforts to craft legislation that would help protect and strengthen women's and worker's rights in the United States and around the … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
Cortez Masto Observes Juneteenth 2020
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement commemorating Juneteenth. Senator Cortez Masto has cosponsored a resolution recognizing June 19th, 2020 as Juneteenth Independence Day in observance of June 19, 1865, the date on which news of the end of slavery reached the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. "This year, as we mark Juneteenth, we are reminded that the promise of freedom and liberation for African-Americans remains elusive, and … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Cortez Masto Introduces Bill to Safeguard American Research
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Senator Robert Portman (R-Ohio) in introducing the bipartisan Safeguarding American Innovation Act to strengthen the security and integrity of United States scientific and research enterprise. As foreign governments, including China, increase their attempts to obtain U.S. intellectual property, including through talent-recruitment programs, the legislation would expand the toolkit to respond to this threat. … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Cortez Masto Statement on SCOTUS Ruling in DACA Case
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled against the Trump Administration's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. You may also find her video reaction here. "DACA empowered undocumented youth to come out of the shadows and contribute to our communities in immeasurable ways - from serving in our military to being on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Today's ruling … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Encourage Whistleblowers to Report Consumer Abuse & Fraud to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced legislation to create a program for whistleblowers that would encourage reporting of consumer fraud and abuse to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The bill would allow the CFPB to award compensation to whistleblowers from the Civil … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Cortez Masto Celebrates Passage of Bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today celebrated the Senate passage of the Great American Outdoors Act to permanently and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide funding for deferred maintenance projects on public lands. The legislation funds the LWCF at the fully authorized annual amount of $900 million and makes $1.9 billion available each year for five years for deferred maintenance projects within the National Parks Service, the … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Cortez Masto Calls for Vote on Equality Act Following SCOTUS Ruling
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and 39 of their colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell calling on him to bring the Equality Act to the Senate floor for a vote. "Although nearly two-thirds of LGBTQIA+ Americans report … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen, Titus, Lee & Horsford Send Letter to Trump Against Resumption of Explosive Nuclear Testing in Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Nevada Representatives Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03) and Steven Horsford (D-Nev.-04) sent a letter to President Trump expressing opposition to efforts to resume explosive nuclear testing at the Nevada National Security Site. Senator Cortez Masto and the Nevada Democratic delegation have all engaged the administration, including the Administrator of the National Nuclear Security … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Cortez Masto Announces Findings of Study on Traumatic Brain Injury in Survivors of Domestic Violence
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) completed and released a study she requested with Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on the connection between intimate partner violence and traumatic brain injury. "Traumatic brain injury can be dangerous and debilitating, and far too often-especially in survivors of domestic violence-it goes undiagnosed. This study is an important step forward in helping domestic violence … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds $50 Million in DOT Funding for Improvements to I-15 in Las Vegas
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded $50 million in grant funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to upgrade the Interstate 15 (I-15) and Tropicana Avenue Interchange in Las Vegas, Nevada. This funding will be used to reconstruct the existing interchange in order to improve vehicle capacity and add carpool lanes. Senator Cortez Masto sent USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao a letter in … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Cortez Masto Statement on SCOTUS Ruling on Title VII Protections for LGBTQ Workers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act applies to LGBTQ workers, thereby barring employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. "Today's ruling reaffirms what we know to be true: In America, no one should be denied dignity in the workplace because of who they are or who they love. While I'm pleased by the Court's decision to correct a … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen, Call For Expanded Access To Affordable Health Care In Any Upcoming Covid-19 Relief Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), joined U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and 33 of their Senate colleagues in urging House and Senate leaders to include strong provisions to expand access to quality and affordable health care coverage in any upcoming COVID-19 relief bill. In their letter, the Senators called for a bipartisan effort to increase the federal … Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Cortez Masto Questions Officials on Wildfire Management Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, Celebrates Release of Funding for UNR ALERTWildfire Program
Washington, D.C. - During the Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on wildfire management amid the COVID-19 pandemic this week, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) questioned USDA Forest Service and U.S. Department of the Interior officials about how they plan to prioritize emergency wildfire responders when coronavirus vaccines become available. The senator also discussed Nevada's innovative use of fire camera networks to detect wildfires. During the hearing, the Senator … Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Cortez Masto Discusses Support for Latino Small Businesses Across Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) spoke to members of the Latin Chamber of Commerce yesterday to highlight her efforts on behalf of Latino business owners across Nevada and highlighted a webinar she hosted today providing resources to minority owned small businesses to help them navigate their way through the coronavirus pandemic. The Senator hosted her Spanish-language Small Business Webinar with Small Business Administration Deputy District Director Saul Ramos … Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds More Than $60 Million for Nevada Coronavirus Care
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $60,907,584 from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) for hospitals in Nevada treating Medicaid patients that represent those most in need during the coronavirus pandemic, including low-income communities and communities of color. These funds will go to safety net hospitals that serve a disproportionate number of patients who receive Medicaid or that provide … Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Cortez Masto, Rosen, Colleagues Reiterate Call for Investigation into Racially Discriminatory and Violent Policing at Minneapolis Police Department
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and 21 Senate colleagues joined a letter sent by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to Attorney General Barr following up on their previous letter requesting that the Department of Justice open an investigation into patterns and practices of racially discriminatory and violent policing in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). The Senators asked for an explanation from Attorney General Barr on why he did not … Continue Reading
June 10, 2020
Cortez Masto Applauds $1.2 Million for Flu Preparedness
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $1,279,710 to the state of Nevada to prepare for the coming influenza season. Flu and COVID-19 both strain the health care system, but because a vaccine is available for the flu, increasing preparations for flu season will help hospitals and providers cope with the coronavirus pandemic as well. "I'm glad to see these funds get to Nevada so we can … Continue Reading
June 10, 2020
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Call for Additional Funding for Public Health Education
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) in a letter urging the Senate to include an additional $20 million in funding for the Regional Public Health Training Centers (PHTC) program in any forthcoming coronavirus legislation. The PHTC Programs support public health education in Nevada and across the country. "These critical (PHTC) programs … Continue Reading
June 09, 2020
Cortez Masto Calls on HUD to Do More for Americans Suffering From Economic Downturn
Washington, D.C. - In today's Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) pushed Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson to outline what HUD is doing to help African American, Latino, and low-income Americans who are disproportionately suffering due to the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Citing recent data on how the pandemic is increasing disparities in housing by race and income, Senator Cortez … Continue Reading
June 09, 2020
Cortez Masto Urges Administration to Improve Gig Workers’ Access to Unemployment Benefits
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a letter with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and eight fellow Senators to the Department of Labor (DOL), asking the Department to clarify how states can best ensure gig and other misclassified workers are getting the unemployment benefits they deserve as quickly as possible. In Nevada and across the country, millions of people employed in the "gig economy" have been improperly classified by their employers as independent … Continue Reading
