Press Releases
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill To Empower Tribal Communities to Prosecute Domestic Violence, Protect Native Children
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation today to close gaps in tribal jurisdiction that fail to shield Native children and Tribal law enforcement officers from violent offenders. Introduced by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Ranking Member Tom Udall (D-N.M.), the Native Youth and Tribal Officer Protection Act restores tribal jurisdiction over crimes against children and strengthens existing laws to ensure that tribes can prosecute domestic … Continue Reading
June 28, 2019
Cortez Masto Joins Over 100 Colleagues in Introducing the LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and 99 Members of Congress to introduce the LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act. The bill would require federal surveys to include data collection on sexual orientation and gender identity on a voluntary basis, which would ensure lawmakers and agencies have robust information to adequately address LGBTQ issues. "Fifty years since the Stonewall Riots, our policy … Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislative Package to Promote Cleaner Vehicles, Fight Climate Change
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today introduced four bills in the United States Senate: The Green Spaces, Green Vehicles Act; The Electric Transportation Commission and National Strategy Act; The Clean Fuel Infrastructure Act; and The Greener Transportation for Communities Act. These bills are designed to promote the use of cleaner transportation options throughout America, encourage the construction of electric charging and hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure on … Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Stop Trump Administration Proposal to End Protections for Homeless Transgender People
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and nine other senators in introducing new legislation to block a proposed rule at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that would strip away protections for homeless transgender people. The bill, the Ensuring Equal Access to Shelter Act, is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Robert … Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Cortez Masto: It's Past Time to Move On from the Same Old Playbook on Yucca Mountain
Washington, D.C. - At today's hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) decried the lack of a consent-based and comprehensive approach to nuclear waste storage in America. As part of the discussion, she highlighted her concerns with the Nuclear Waste Administration Act¸ which fails to give Nevada the opportunity to consent to nuclear waste storage, a right all other states would receive. She also questioned Ms. Maria … Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Cortez Masto Secures Privatized Military Housing Reform, Prioritizes Needs of Nevada Service Members in 2020 NDAA
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the Senate passage of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, which includes reforms Senator Cortez Masto introduced to improve the management of privatized military housing installations, prioritize the needs of Nevada's service members stationed at Fallon Naval Air Station and Nellis and Creech Air Force bases, and cut wasteful Department of Defense spending. "I'm proud to fight for … Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on SCOTUS Ruling in Census Case
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in Department of Commerce v. New York, sending the case back to lower court and requiring the Administration to provide more information to justify its decision to add a political question on citizenship to the 2020 Census. "Today's decision is a clear sign that the Supreme Court recognizes this administration tried to lie its way through our judicial system in order … Continue Reading
June 26, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Strengthen Rights of Public Sector Workers to Join Unions, Bargain Collectively
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Democratic colleagues in introducing bicameral legislation that will guarantee the right of public employees to organize, act concertedly and bargain collectively in states that currently do not afford these basic protections. The Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act is a response to the absence of a federal law protecting the freedom of public sector workers to join a union and … Continue Reading
June 26, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bicameral Legislation to Promote Title IX, Gender Equity in Education
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) to introduce bicameral legislation to provide more resources, training, and technical assistance to address discrimination in education throughout the United States. The Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act (GEEA) would provide these resources through the Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, more commonly … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Cortez Masto Applauds Almost $4 Million in HHS Grants for Children in Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for awarding $3,984,933 to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, to be spent on immunization and vaccines for children. "Our children's health will always be one of my highest priorities. These grants will go towards protecting Nevada's children from life-threatening diseases while preventing outbreaks of illnesses that can threaten newborns, seniors and … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Cortez Masto Applauds Over $10 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 $11,626,361 in grants under the Airport Improvement Program to five Nevada airports. The funds will go toward infrastructure improvements. "Nevada depends on its airports to connect people to our world-class tourist sites and drive commerce with our innovative businesses. Major hubs like McCarran International Airport and smaller rural airports alike run more smoothly when … Continue Reading
June 24, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Expand Affordable Health Coverage for Families
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in introducing the Family Coverage Act, which would fix a glitch in the health care system and ensure all spouses and children are able to get covered. Due to a glitch in current law, if a mother or father has health insurance through their employer, but their employer does not offer affordable coverage for the spouse and/or kids, these family … Continue Reading
June 21, 2019
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Warn That ACA and Medicaid Attacks Will Undermine Efforts to Lower Drug Costs
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and 14 Senate colleagues in a letter calling on President Trump to cease efforts to slash, sabotage and undermine the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid if he is serious about addressing the price of prescription drugs to individuals and families. "The actions by your Administration to sabotage, slash and undermine Medicaid and the Affordable Care … Continue Reading
June 21, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Make Bankruptcy Relief Available for Student Loan Borrowers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today cosponsored a bicameral bill that would give Americans overwhelmed by student loan debt the option of obtaining meaningful bankruptcy relief. Introduced by Senators Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the Student Borrower Bankruptcy Relief Act of 2019 would eliminate the section of the bankruptcy code that makes private and federal student loans nondischargeable, allowing these loans to be treated like … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Cortez Masto, Wyden Introduce Geothermal Energy Opportunities (GEO) Act
At today's Energy and Natural Resources hearing, Senator Cortez Masto hailed the use of geothermal energy and discussed the benefits of the GEO Act. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today introduced the Geothermal Energy Opportunities (GEO) Act with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The GEO Act promotes the growth of geothermal energy by developing stronger public-private partnerships, reducing barriers to leasing public land for geothermal energy use where certain … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Cortez Masto Introduces Bill to Guarantee Dreamers Access to Home Loans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Senate colleagues in introducing the Homeownership for Dreamers Act, which clarifies that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients - also known as Dreamers - cannot be denied mortgage loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) solely because of their immigration status. "For many young … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Cortez Masto, Burr, Sinema, Gardner & Rep. DeSaulnier Introduce Moving FIRST Act to Promote Innovation in America’s Transportation Systems
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) today introduced the Moving and Fostering Innovation to Revolutionize Smarter Transportation (Moving FIRST) Act. The Moving FIRST Act creates a competitive grant program for large and medium-sized cities as well as rural communities to seek federal grants for the creation of efficient, creative and innovative transportation projects. A companion bill is … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Cortez Masto Applauds Over $27 Million in 2019 PILT Payments for Nevada’s Rural Counties
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement today highlighting the Department of the Interior's announcement that 17 counties in Nevada will receive $27,250,038 in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payments. These funds - an increase of $250,000 from 2018 - will be used by local governments to manage the federal lands in their jurisdictions and invest in economic and community development projects. "The Department of the Interior's PILT … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Cortez Masto, Gillibrand, Markey, Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Require Alternatives to Immigrant Detention
Washington, D.C. - In response to unprecedented levels of immigrants being detained around the country and startling reports of neglect and mistreatment at immigrant detention centers, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today introduced legislation to create a presumption in favor of the use of alternatives to detention for asylum seekers, migrant children and families, and other vulnerable groups. … Continue Reading
June 19, 2019
Cortez Masto Urges Senate Leaders to Prioritize Clean Energy Tax Credits to Boost U.S. Solar Industry
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) led a letter with nineteen Democratic senators to Senate Leaders Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Finance leaders Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) requesting continued investments in the Investment Tax Credit and residential renewable energy tax credit, specifically citing its importance to the growth of the U.S. solar industry. In their letter, the senators urged Senate leaders to … Continue Reading
