Press Releases
Cortez Masto Applauds Chicanos Por La Causa for Grand Opening of Affordable Workforce Housing Development
Dayton, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Chicanos Por La Causa for the grand opening of ten newly constructed homes as part of a 200-unit affordable workforce housing development location in Dayton. The Senator also presented keys to new homeowners as part of a ceremony at the event. These new affordable workforce housing units include townhouses, senior housing and multi-family housing units. "Today is such a special day because it marks something so important … Continue Reading
February 21, 2019
Cortez Masto, Senators Condemn DeVos’ Inaction to Relieve Student Debt, Punish Colleges’ Predatory Practices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Democratic colleagues in requesting Education Secretary Betsy DeVos immediately address a severe backlog of federal student loan discharge requests. The Obama-era "borrower defense" rule was recently renewed to help students get debt relief and to punish predatory institutions, but 139,000 unprocessed claims remain. The Department of Education's inaction is delaying protection for … Continue Reading
February 19, 2019
Cortez Masto Announces Legislative Director & Chief Counsel Joleen Rivera
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced Joleen Rivera as Legislative Director and Chief Counsel. Rivera previously served in Senator Cortez Masto's office as Legislative Counsel handling the Senator's immigration, civil rights, human trafficking, and labor portfolios. "During my first two years in office, Joleen has been a critical member of my team as we've fought to protect Dreamers in Nevada, and across the country, worked to ensure families under … Continue Reading
February 19, 2019
Cortez Masto Meets with Dedicated Staff and Volunteers at Re-Opening of Southern Nevada Rape Crisis Center
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) visited the new, larger Rape Crisis Center in Las Vegas for a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate its expansion of client services. During her visit, the Senator spoke with staff and volunteers who support survivors of sexual violence through a 24-hour crisis hotline and hospital response program, as well as provide counseling and advocacy to help victims heal and seek support. "From my time as Attorney General, I've fought to … Continue Reading
February 17, 2019
Cortez Masto Speaks at the Chinese New Year Celebration in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, N.V. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) attended the 25th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration at the Las Vegas Chinatown Plaza to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Pig. The celebration highlighted the importance of the Asian American community in Nevada, and welcomed a new year filled with good fortune and new beginnings. "Growing up in Las Vegas, I've seen firsthand how the Asian American community has strengthened our state and contributed to our community. … Continue Reading
February 16, 2019
Cortez Masto Attends Springs Preserve Black History Month Festival
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) attended the 10th annual Black History Month Festival at Springs Preserve. The festival honors Black History Month by inviting community members to celebrate the contributions of African Americans to Nevada's history and culture with music, food and dance. "It was an honor to join my fellow Nevadans in celebrating Black History Month at the annual Springs Preserve festival. This special event is an opportunity for all Nevadans to … Continue Reading
February 15, 2019
Cortez Masto on Passage of Justice for Victims of Lynching Act in the Senate
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act passed the Senate yesterday and continued to the House of Representatives. The legislation, which Senator Cortez Masto cosponsored, would make lynching a federal crime. "For far too long the United States Congress has failed to say clearly that lynching is a crime and to recognize it as a despicable act of terror against African-Americans and other … Continue Reading
February 15, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on President Trump’s National Emergency Declaration
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after President Trump declared a national emergency to redirect $6.5 billion in taxpayer money in an attempt to build his expensive and ineffective border wall without congressional approval. "Let us be clear, this national emergency is one of the President's own making. I'm disappointed that President Trump has chosen to disregard bipartisan negotiations by Congress that funded $1.375 billion … Continue Reading
February 15, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Ensure Federal Workers Impacted by Government Shutdown Obtain Security Clearances
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation to prevent the denial or revocation of security clearances for workers whose financial status deteriorated during the government shutdown. Introduced by Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act of 2019 prohibits factoring short-term financial issues as grounds for denial of security clearances. "Federal workers in Nevada and across the country are reeling from the … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Renew Effort to Pass Landmark Legislation to Support Women Veterans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Democratic Senate colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Deborah Sampson Act to support women veterans. "Women are the fastest growing veteran population, yet they still face unique challenges when transitioning out of the military, accessing medical care from the VA and receiving support services," said Senator Cortez Masto. "The Deborah Sampson Act, named after a … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on Border Security Deal
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the Senate passed a bipartisan agreement to fund border security and in response to reports that President Trump is planning to declare a national emergency and redirect critical funds to build his ineffective and expensive border wall. "I'm disappointed that the President is considering turning his back on this bipartisan agreement by declaring a national emergency of his own making. This … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on Barr Confirmation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after she voted against the confirmation of William Barr as U.S. Attorney General. "An essential quality for an Attorney General is the ability to remain independent and impartial. Mr. Barr's decision to write an unsolicited memo criticizing the Mueller investigation, in what appears to be an effort to curry favor with this President, shows he cannot be the guarantor of justice. And his concerning … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Create Public Health Care Option
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce the State Public Option Act to create a Medicaid-based public health care option to strengthen the Affordable Care Act by providing Americans with a new high-quality, low-cost choice when purchasing health insurance. Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. "Every American … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Cortez Masto, Senate Democrats Demand Answers About CFPB Decision to Eliminate Payday Lending Protections
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in opposing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) new attempt to gut its own payday protection rule. "Repealing this rule provides a green light to the payday lending industry to prey on vulnerable American consumers," wrote the senators in a letter to Trump-appointed CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger. "In drafting these devastating changes to … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Cortez Masto, Rubio Introduce Bill to Combat Chinese Government Interference Globally
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced the Countering the Chinese Government and Communist Party's Influence Operations Act, bipartisan legislation that aims to combat the Chinese government's foreign interference in the United States and elsewhere globally. "Our democratic processes are increasingly under attack from authoritarian governments. We must fully understand those threats to effectively combat them. This … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Prevent Misuse of Inaugural Committee Funds
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the Inaugural Committee Transparency Act of 2019, legislation to increase oversight and public disclosure of how presidential inaugural committees spend the millions of dollars they raise and to help prevent the misuse of committee funds. "The public has a right to know how inaugural committees are spending the millions of dollars they receive from big corporations and dark money donors. Presidential inaugural … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Cortez Masto, Rosen Applaud Grants Awarded to Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding news of a Department of Transportation (DOT) grant totaling over $115,000 awarded by the Federal Transit Administration to the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of Fallon, Nevada. "This Department of Transportation grant will give the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe funding for tribal public transit services, providing access to work, health care, and other … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Cortez Masto, Wyden, Murray Introduce Bill to Protect Government Contractors During Shutdowns
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today introduced the Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act of 2019, which ensures that federal contractors affected by a government shutdown can withdraw funds from their retirement savings without being penalized. "The last government shutdown lasted 35 days and brought stress and uncertainty to … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Suicide Crisis in Native Communities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and 13 Senate colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Native American Suicide Prevention Act. This legislation would help address the alarming suicide rate in Native communities by requiring collaboration among states and tribal nations in the design and implementation of statewide suicide intervention and prevention strategies. Representatives Raúl M. … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Cortez Masto, Democratic Senators Request Information on Shutdown’s Impacts on Wildfires and Hazardous Fuels
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Jeffrey Merkley (D-Ore.) and eight others on a letter requesting details from the U.S. Forest Service on the impacts of the recent government shutdown on wildfire and hazardous fuels management. "We write regarding the recent government shutdown and the impact it had on the United States Forest Service, specifically the Service's hazardous fuels work and … Continue Reading
