Press Releases
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
August 01, 2019
Cortez Masto Joins Bill to Expand Electric Vehicle and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Tax Credits
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Debbie Stabenow's (D-Mich.) Driving America Forward Act, bipartisan legislation to expand the electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell tax credits. Under current law, consumers may receive a tax credit of up to $7,500 if they purchase an eligible electric vehicle. However, the tax credits begin to phase out permanently once automakers sell over 200,000 units. The Driving America Forward Act raises the cap and allows … Continue Reading
August 01, 2019
Cortez Masto, Fischer Introduce Legislation to Authorize New Quarter Series Honoring Women’s History
Washington, D.C. - Ahead of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced legislation authorizing a series of quarters to be minted in honor of women's history and suffrage. Using the 50 States Quarters Program as a model, the Women's History and Nineteenth Amendment Centennial Quarter Dollar Coin Program Act would create a new series of commemorative circulating coins which highlight women … Continue Reading
August 01, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on Senate Passage of Two-Year Bipartisan Budget Agreement
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement after the United States Senate passed the bipartisan budget agreement by a vote of 67-28. The budget agreement funds vital domestic programs that keep Nevadans healthy, provides increased funding for national defense and raises the federal debt ceiling so the full-faith and credit of the United States is protected. "I voted in favor of today's bipartisan budget agreement because the fiscal … Continue Reading
July 31, 2019
Cortez Masto, Boozman Introduce Bill to Improve Women Veterans’ Access to Care
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the Servicewomen's Health Transition Training Act of 2019 to help women transitioning from active duty to civilian life learn about the VA services available to them. "Servicewomen face unique challenges as they transition from active duty, and many are unaware of the women-centered benefits and services - including mental health assistance, maternity care, cancer screenings and casework … Continue Reading
July 31, 2019
Cortez Masto, Senate Democrats Unveil Plan to Protect Pre-Existing Conditions, Preserve Health Care for Millions
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined all of her Senate Democratic colleagues to unveil a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would combat the Trump administration's latest efforts to erode pre-existing condition protections for millions of Americans and enable providers to offer junk plans that cost more and cover less. "Junk plans are yet another attempt by the Trump administration to take away health care from thousands of Nevadans. They … Continue Reading
July 31, 2019
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Protect Prospective Franchise Owners from Predatory Practices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced legislation to protect entrepreneurs from bad actors in the franchise industry who use deceptive financial information to sell underperforming or unprofitable businesses. The SBA Franchise Loan Disclosure Act would require that any prospective franchise owner seeking a loan backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) receive accurate historical revenue and store closure information from the franchise corporation … Continue Reading
July 31, 2019
Cortez Masto Joins Letter Raising Concerns About Trump Administration’s Incoherent Policies for Central America
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a letter led by U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to reiterate concern about the Trump administration's lack of a coherent strategy to address the root causes forcing people to flee El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras for the United States. As the administration continues restricting access to the U.S. asylum system and tries to choke off migration from the Northern Triangle, the actions … Continue Reading
July 30, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Constitutional Amendment to Reverse Citizens United, Get Big Money out of Public Elections
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Tom Udall and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and colleagues in the Senate and House of Representatives, to reintroduce the Democracy for All Amendment, a constitutional amendment to get big money out of politics. This amendment would reverse a series of bad court decisions that have allowed corporations and private interests to funnel unlimited amounts of money into public elections and would restore power to the … Continue Reading
July 25, 2019
Cortez Masto Introduces Bill to Protect Children When Parents Detained By Immigration Authorities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in introducing legislation that would protect the safety and well-being of children who might be left alone and vulnerable after their parents are arrested or detained by U.S. immigration authorities in communities across the country. "As the Trump Administration steps up its efforts to separate families, we must ensure children aren't left to fend for themselves or care for younger … Continue Reading
