Press Releases
Cortez Masto Meets With Partners to Protect the Ruby Mountains
Elko, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today met with local conservation groups, small businesses, tribal and community leaders committed to protecting Nevada's Ruby Mountains from gas and oil drilling and highlighted the legislation that she introduced in the Senate, the Ruby Mountains Protection Act. "I'm proud to stand with Nevadans who recognize that the Ruby Mountains are one of our irreplaceable national treasures. Nevadans rely on our public lands not only for the … Continue Reading
August 26, 2019
Cortez Masto, Democrats Condemn Proposal to Create Duplicative, Lower-Quality Unregistered Apprenticeships
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined 45 Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter to Acting Secretary Patrick Pizzella to oppose the Labor Department's recent proposal to undermine the highly effective and widely supported registered apprenticeship program. The proposed rule would create duplicative, unnecessary and lower-quality "industry-recognized apprenticeship programs" (IRAPs), that would not provide the same crucial benefits and protections as … Continue Reading
August 23, 2019
Cortez Masto Hosts Health Care Roundtable with Nevadans
Reno, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) met with Nevadans - including health care advocates, cancer survivors and patients with a variety of chronic illnesses - who shared their firsthand experiences with the Affordable Care Act. The roundtable included discussions of the Senator's efforts to protect pre-existing conditions safeguards, reduce the price of prescription drugs, and other health care related priorities she is focused on in the Senate. "Today, I heard so many … Continue Reading
August 23, 2019
Cortez Masto Hosts Roundtable on Conservation
Las Vegas, Nev. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a roundtable with leaders from conservation groups active in Nevada and across the nation. During the roundtable, the senator discussed her efforts in the Senate to protect the Ruby Mountains from oil and gas drilling, promote clean energy, and encourage recreation on Nevada's public lands. "Many Nevadans depend on our land for their livelihood, which is why we need to value and conserve the state's natural … Continue Reading
August 22, 2019
Cortez Masto and Rosen Applaud Over $5 Million for Improving Rural Broadband
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for awarding $5,400,558 to maintain, improve, and expand rural broadband in 675 locations throughout the state of Nevada. "Nevada's rural communities deserve this kind of federal support to improve broadband quality and increase access. Without it, Nevadans are unable to access key services like online banking and … Continue Reading
August 22, 2019
Cortez Masto Delivers Remarks at Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada Clean Energy and Transportation Summit
"At a time when we're staring down climate change-one of the biggest challenges humanity has ever faced-we can't afford to sideline such rich, carbon-free resources." "We can ask people in our factories to be flexible and fast in responding to changing times-but only if we provide the kind of jobs that in turn let them build stable and successful lives." "We have terrific challenges in front of us, but we also have solutions that people barely dreamed of a century ago. And Nevada is to me … Continue Reading
August 21, 2019
Cortez Masto Applauds Over $2.7 Million for Affordable Housing and Community Development in Nevada
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for awarding grants totaling over $2.7 million for community development and affordable housing in Las Vegas and Sparks. "As one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, Nevada continues to experience an affordable housing crisis. These grants provide crucial support for Nevadans struggling to maintain a safe and secure home. … Continue Reading
August 20, 2019
Cortez Masto at Lake Tahoe Summit: Climate Change Innovation Is Up to Us
"It's up to us, working in close collaboration-the way we have right here in Tahoe for more than two decades-to come up with innovative approaches to climate." "There is a heroic role for each and every one of us to play in the millennia-old story of Tahoe, to make the lake and its communities more resilient to climate change." "So let all of us use today as an occasion to challenge ourselves to think a little longer, work a little harder, dream a little bigger about this lake." South … Continue Reading
August 20, 2019
Cortez Masto Demands Fix to System Error Preventing Nevada TPS Recipients from Renewing Driver’s Licenses
Reno, Nev.- U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) urging them to fix an issue preventing TPS holders in Nevada from renewing or receiving their driver's licenses. Currently, the USCIS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) System is erroneously showing the administration's original TPS cancellation date, despite the fact that the deadline has been … Continue Reading
August 19, 2019
Cortez Masto Hosts Nevada Wildfire Summit, Encourages Increased Cooperation and Coordination
"Events like the Sugarloaf Fire, the Martin Fire, and other emergencies have burned more than 2 million acres in our state in the last two years alone…So people in Nevada are demanding that government at every level do more to prevent and respond to fire-and rightfully so." "I firmly believe that what we do here in Nevada can become a model across the West to increase cooperation and coordination, not just for wildfires but for other issues as well." "There's so much we can do if we … Continue Reading
August 14, 2019
Cortez Masto Leads Letter to HHS Demanding Answers on How Agency is Combating Health Care Fraud
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma demanding more information about efforts by CMS to address fraud, waste and abuse in the health care system. Recent articles have indicated that CMS has systematically failed to stem fraud, even when the fraud is properly flagged by individuals with knowledge of the circumstances. The … Continue Reading
August 08, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Olympic Athletes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today cosponsored legislation that would reform the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee in response to findings of systemic abuse. Introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), the Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2019 would help improve oversight at the United States Olympic Committee so that athletes are better protected against sexual abuse and intimidation. "Our nation's … Continue Reading
August 07, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Expand Broadband Access by Improving Data and Mapping
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation to improve broadband data maps and increase broadband access in rural areas. Introduced by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), the Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act would improve the accuracy of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) broadband availability maps by improving the process by … Continue Reading
August 07, 2019
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Urge Secretary DeVos To Fulfill Her Responsibility And Help Students Impacted By Sudden Closures of For-Profit Colleges
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and 29 other Senators sent a letter to Secretary Betsy DeVos urging the Department of Education to fulfill its duty in providing assistance to the 32,000 students impacted by the recent and sudden closures of three for-profit college chains - Education Corporation of America, Vatterott Educational Centers, and Dream Center Education Holdings. The recent closures included Brightwood … Continue Reading
August 07, 2019
Cortez Masto Joins New Push to Repeal Military Widow’s Tax and Support Military Families
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) in a new effort to ensure that the Military Widow's Tax Elimination Act of 2019 will be included in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The senators sent a bipartisan letter, co-signed by 64 of their Senate colleagues, calling on the chairmen and ranking members of both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to ensure the … Continue Reading
August 06, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Amend the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to cosponsor the What You Can Do For Your Country Act to encourage more students to enter public service by expanding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program and allowing more Americans to qualify for the program. The Act would close loopholes that mean that less than 1 percent of all public servants who apply receive forgiveness. "Young Nevadans interested in serving their fellow … Continue Reading
August 06, 2019
Cortez Masto, Rosen Announce USDA Rural Development Grant for Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development agency for awarding a grant of $1,283,000 to the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe for important water treatment and infrastructure improvements. "Water is our most valuable natural resource, and the conservation and effective delivery of clean water is of vital importance, especially for tribal … Continue Reading
August 06, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Improve Access to Health Care Services for Sexual Assault Survivors
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today cosponsored legislation that improves guidance to states and hospitals providing sexual assault services and treatment to survivors. Introduced by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the Survivors' Access to Supportive Care Act (SASCA) develops national standards of care for survivors and expands access to qualified examiner services. "Survivors of sexual assault deserve every resource and support … Continue Reading
August 05, 2019
Cortez Masto at Border: President Trump’s Family Separations and Attacks on Asylum Seekers are a National Disgrace
Las Vegas, Nev. - This weekend, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) visited the southern border, met with immigrant and refugee rights advocates and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents, participated in a line tour, and visited the Nogales-DeConcini Port of Entry. During the Senator's visit to Southern Arizona, she toured the Southwest Key Estrella shelter, where unaccompanied children are currently being held, and the Casa Alitas shelter, which helps migrants connect with … Continue Reading
August 02, 2019
Cortez Masto Calls on Veterans Affairs to Resume Labor Negotiations
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a letter led by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to urge the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie to abandon the Department's current destructive approach to ongoing negotiations with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Despite the VA and AFGE's history of engaging in good-faith negotiations that equally benefit employees, veterans and the Department, the current negotiating tactics … Continue Reading
