Press Releases
Cortez Masto Demands Answers from U.S. Energy Department on Shipment of Plutonium to Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after meeting with officials from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) about the U.S. Department of Energy's decision to ship a half metric ton of plutonium for storage in the State of Nevada without the consent of the Governor, Nevada's congressional delegation and local communities. Senator Cortez Masto questioned the officials about any future plans to ship additional nuclear … Continue Reading
January 31, 2019
Cortez Masto Welcomes Over $14 Million to Stem Homelessness in Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) celebrated the awarding of over $14 million in Continuum of Care (CoC) grants by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to Nevada for local homeless housing and service programs. "The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded over $14 million to critical support agencies and programs in Nevada helping individuals and families struggling with homelessness. Thousands of Nevadans … Continue Reading
January 31, 2019
Cortez Masto, Rosen Send Letter to DOE Secretary Demanding Answers into Sexual Assault Allegations at NNSA Site
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) sent a letter to Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry, urging the Department to launch an investigation into the alleged sexual assault, harassment, and retaliation that took place before, during, and after November 2017 at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), according to a January 25th article in the New York Times. According to the article, a guard at the site, named Jennifer Glover, … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Cortez Masto, Cornyn, Hassan Introduce Legislation to Help Law Enforcement Identify Child Trafficking Victims
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Margaret Wood Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced the Interdiction for the Protection of Child Victims of Exploitation and Human Trafficking Act. This legislation would require the U.S. Attorney General to establish a pilot program to train federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers to recognize and rescue at-risk and exploited children. Congressmen Michael McCaul (R-TX-10) and Henry Cuellar … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on Plutonium Shipment Announcement
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in reaction to the announcement that the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration shipped a half metric ton of plutonium for storage in the State of Nevada for an undetermined amount of time without the consent of the Governor and local communities: "It's unconscionable that the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) went … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Cortez Masto Co-Sponsors Bill Providing $100 Billion to Update Schools in Nevada, Across U.S.
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) in introducing legislation to fund $100 billion in direct grants and school construction bonds over the next decade to repair and modernize schools. The Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2019 reduces the $38 billion annual gap in funding for necessary school repair, renovation and construction. These school infrastructure projects will spur an estimated 1.9 million new jobs, boosting local … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Urge Credit Reporting Agencies to Protect Credit Scores of Federal Workers and Contractors Hurt by the Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and a group of six senators in calling on the three credit reporting agencies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - to protect federal employees and contractors from any damage the Trump shutdown may have done to their credit. "Workers' credit reports and scores should not be ruined for reasons entirely outside of their control. We hope that your companies will take this opportunity to … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Paycheck Fairness Act to Close Gender Wage Gap
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation that would prohibit wage discrimination on the basis of sex. The bill would require employers to demonstrate that pay disparities are not sex-based and prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who discuss or disclose salary information with their co-workers. The bill was introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.). "Equal pay for equal work means giving women the … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Tribal Victim Services
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement on the committee approval of the Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment (SURVIVE) Act. This legislation, cosponsored by Senator Cortez Masto, will improve public safety in tribal communities and secure vital resources for Native American victims of crime. "American Indian and Alaska Native communities face some of the … Continue Reading
January 28, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on Middle East Security Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after voting in support of the motion to proceed to S.1, the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019. "Today I voted in support of the Middle East bills package, which provides important security assistance for Israel and other key partners in the Middle East. At a time when Israel faces threats from Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran, it is particularly important that we maintain … Continue Reading
January 28, 2019
Cortez Masto, Senators Urge OPM to Provide Federal Worker Back Pay as Soon as Possible
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Chris Van Hollen in urging the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to provide back pay for federal workers impacted by the Trump shutdown as soon as possible. "More than 800,000 federal workers have gone without pay because the government shutdown locked them out of their jobs or required them to work without pay. These workers need to know now when they will finally receive their missed paychecks…We ask … Continue Reading
January 28, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Combat Rising Prescription Costs for Taxpayers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored The Right Rebate Act, legislation to protect American taxpayers from drug companies overcharging Medicaid for prescription drugs. This legislation, introduced by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), closes a Medicaid loophole that has permitted pharmaceutical manufacturers to misclassify their drugs, allowing them to grossly overcharge Medicaid for life-saving medicines. The legislation also … Continue Reading
January 28, 2019
Cortez Masto, Murkowski Reintroduce Savanna’s Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to reintroduce Savanna's Act. This legislation combats the epidemic of murdered and missing Native women and girls by improving the federal government's response to addressing the crisis. The bill increases coordination among all levels of law enforcement, improves data collection and information sharing, and empowers tribal governments with the resources they need in cases involving … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Prohibit Trump Administration from Including Citizenship Question in 2020 Census
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Every Person Counts Act of 2019, led by Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), to combat the Trump Administration's efforts to include a question on citizenship in the 2020 U.S. Census. This legislation would explicitly prohibit the Census Bureau from asking questions about citizenship or immigration status. "The Trump Administration's effort to add a political question on citizenship to the 2020 Census is nothing more than … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on Bipartisan Agreement to End Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after President Trump announced that he would support an agreement to end the partial government shutdown. "Congress must act immediately to end this senseless shutdown and ensure federal workers in Nevada and across the country receive their paychecks as quickly as possible. Once the government is reopened, the Senate can hold a debate on the most effective way to secure our borders. I stand … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Ensure Backpay for Low-Wage Federal Contractors
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and 26 other Democratic Senators in introducing the Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Contractor Employees Act, which would provide backpay for federal contractor and subcontractor employees who are working through or have been laid off during the government shutdown. "Thousands of federal contractor and subcontractors across the country are currently furloughed or being forced to work without … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Cortez Masto: President Trump Offers False Choice Between Border Wall & Ending Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to keep the government shutdown going. "Today, Senate Democrats offered a proposal to reopen the government and provide relief to federal employees in Nevada, and throughout the country, who've been furloughed or forced to work without pay for weeks. This bill received unanimous support in the Senate just one month ago. By voting down this bipartisan measure, Senate … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act, legislation introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) to allow federal employees with Thrift Savings Plans (TSP) to withdraw funds from their TSP retirement savings and investment plan during a government shutdown without penalty. "Nevada is home to over 3,400 federal workers who currently aren't receiving a paycheck and are wondering how they'll be able to pay bills and put … Continue Reading
January 23, 2019
Cortez Masto, Rosen Call on DHS and DOT to Outline Strategies for Airport Security Given TSA Shortages During Government Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao requesting an immediate response from the Trump administration concerning the dire impacts of the government shutdown on aviation operations. On January 10th, thirty-four groups representing the aviation and travel industries wrote a letter to the President and Congress … Continue Reading
January 22, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Dreamers’ Private Data
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation introduced by Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) to safeguard the private data of young immigrants enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act of 2019 would protect the confidentiality of information such as addresses and telephone numbers submitted as part of an application for deferred action to ensure applicants are not unfairly targeted … Continue Reading
