Press Releases
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Allow Voters to Register to Vote on Election Day
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Same Day Registration Act, legislation introduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to require states to provide same day registration at polling places on the day of a Federal election, making voting easier for all Americans. "The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy, and Congress should be doing everything it can to remove hurdles and make voting as accessible as possible. This bill prevents citizens … Continue Reading
March 05, 2019
Cortez Masto, Titus, Rosen, Horsford and Lee Introduce Bill to Stop Any Attempt to Revive Yucca Mountain
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Representative Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01), along with Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Representative Steven Horsford (D-Nev.-04), and Representative Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03) introduced the Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act in the United States Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation ensures Nevadans have a voice in any plan to store nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, and provides a voice to all states who are … Continue Reading
March 04, 2019
Cortez Masto Demands Answers About Allegations of Sexual Abuse at Shelters for Immigrant Children
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today requested a briefing from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Inspector General regarding reports that HHS has received more than 4,500 complaints of sexual abuse against unaccompanied minors in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and its contracted shelters. "There must be an enforceable zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse and misconduct for all shelters housing children," Senator Cortez … Continue Reading
March 04, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Counter Voter Suppression
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 led by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). This legislation would restore and modernize Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and provide the federal government with other critical tools to combat what has become a full-fledged assault on Americans' right to vote. "Over the years, we've seen the critical protections so many Americans fought for as part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 … Continue Reading
March 01, 2019
Cortez Masto, Rosen Applaud Grant for Heart and Vascular Diseases Research Awarded to UNR
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) celebrated the Department of Health and Human Services' National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute awarding over $400,000 to the University of Nevada Reno for heart and vascular diseases research. The research investigates the impact of sarcomere acetylation, which helps regulate cardiac contractions, to develop better therapies for patients with heart failure. "Heart disease is the leading cause of death … Continue Reading
March 01, 2019
Cortez Masto Hails Women’s 2018 Accomplishments as Women’s History Month Begins
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in celebration of Women's History Month: "The year 2018 was a watershed for women in America. From coast to coast, women - including many women of color - decided to run for office in unprecedented numbers and shattered expectations as they won nail-biting races at local, state and federal levels. Since the swearing-in of the 116th Congress, women are securing critical positions of power in … Continue Reading
February 28, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Consumers and Employees from Forced Arbitration
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today cosponsored legislation to reduce the prevalence of forced arbitration agreements and restore justice through the court system. The Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act, introduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), protects workers and customers from forced arbitration, which often hurts Americans' ability to challenge practices like predatory lending, wage theft and discrimination. "Forced arbitration is … Continue Reading
February 28, 2019
Cortez Masto Introduces DATA Privacy Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today introduced the Digital Accountability and Transparency to Advance (DATA) Privacy Act. The DATA Privacy Act strengthens data privacy protections for American consumers while also ensuring corporations are focusing on implementing new data security standards and essential privacy protections. This legislation also increases research into technologies that protect Americans' privacy and shields small businesses from unnecessary … Continue Reading
February 28, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Prevent Identity-Based Detentions
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today cosponsored the Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act, a bill to prevent unlawful detentions based on protected characteristics like race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. Sponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), the bill aims to prevent unjust internments like those of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II. "The Korematsu-Takai … Continue Reading
February 27, 2019
Cortez Masto: Andrew Wheeler Will Undermine Americans’ Health & Environment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the nomination of Andrew Wheeler as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "Andrew Wheeler is a former coal lobbyist who has repeatedly demonstrated that he is willing to undermine Americans' health and the conservation of our environment in favor of big polluters. We are facing a climate crisis, and we need leaders who will protect the health and wellbeing of families in … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Cortez Masto, Harris, Merkley Reintroduce Bill to Reunify and Protect Immigrant Families
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today joined Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in reintroducing the Reunite Every Unaccompanied Newborn Infant, Toddler and Other Children Expeditiously (REUNITE) Act. This bill establishes a permanent system of coordination between agencies and non-governmental organizations to expedite the reunification of separated immigrant families and promote humane alternatives for asylum-seeking immigrant … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
VIDEO: Cortez Masto Presses Pharmaceutical Executives to Detail Plans to Lower Prescription Drug Costs
Washington, D.C. - At today's Senate Finance Committee hearing on drug pricing, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) questioned executives from seven pharmaceutical companies on whether they're playing by the rules and ensuring fairness for taxpayers, prioritizing investments in the research and development of new medicines, and on what steps they are taking to lower prescription drug prices and improve health outcomes for all patients, no matter their income level. Cortez Masto … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bill to Expand Access to Child Care and Preschool Programs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today cosponsored the Child Care for Working Families Act, legislation introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) that promotes affordable child care and high-quality preschool programs for working families. "Nevada's working families should never have to make the impossible choice between being able to afford reliable child care and going to work to provide for their families. I'm proud to be working with Senator Murray and my … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Cortez Masto: FHFA Nominee Calabria Would Put Homeownership Out of Reach for Thousands of Nevadans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after voting at a meeting of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs against advancing the nomination of Mark Calabria as Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director. "As the regulator of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks, the next FHFA Director will play a critical role in how we meet Nevada's housing needs and ensure access to financing that makes … Continue Reading
February 25, 2019
Cortez Masto, Cornyn Introduce Legislation Supporting Teachers of English Learners
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced the Reaching English Learners Act to tackle the shortage of teachers certified to teach English learners (ELs) in the United States. The bill creates a competitive grant program for institutions of higher education to partner with high-need school districts to provide support and incentives for schools and colleges to create and develop programs that improve training for future EL … Continue Reading
February 25, 2019
Cortez Masto: American Women Deserve to Make Health Care Choices in Consultation with Doctor, Not Government
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after voting against legislation that would restrict women's reproductive choice and criminalize doctors who provide essential care. "Senate Republican leaders brought a bill to the floor that does nothing short of attacking a woman's protected right to make her own reproductive health decisions. This bill is an assault on women and relies on lies that run contrary to medical evidence and simple … Continue Reading
February 23, 2019
Cortez Masto Attends College Readiness Workshop Hosted by Washoe County School District
Reno, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today attended and spoke at the kick-off of the Washoe County School District Parent University's Chart the Course event. The all-day workshop provides middle and high school students and their families with information on how to plan for college and achieve other educational and career goals. "I'm so proud to join with WCSD Parent University as they host such a useful and informative event to help prepare middle school and high school … Continue Reading
February 22, 2019
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
