Press Releases
Cortez Masto Statement on Trump Nominee to Chair the Federal Reserve
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), a member of the Senate Banking and Housing Committee, released the following statement on President Trump's pick to become the next Chair of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell: "It is imperative that the next Chair of the Federal Reserve be equipped with the qualifications, experience, and temperament necessary to enact policies that will safeguard the health and stability of our country's economy. I look forward to reviewing … Continue Reading
November 02, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Latina Equal Pay Day
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in recognition of Latina Equal Pay Day: "Latinas have to work 306 extra days to earn what their male colleagues make in a year - more days than any other female minority group. On Latina Equal Pay Day, we are reminded that as long as the wage gap exists, women face unfair barriers to success and have lesser chances of achieving economic security. As a Latina, it is my duty to use my seat at the … Continue Reading
November 01, 2017
Cortez Masto Joins Group of Western Senators in Urging Trump, Senate Leaders to Prioritize Western Disaster Response in Next Aid Package
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and a group of ten other Western senators in strongly urging President Donald Trump and Senate leaders to include funding for wildfire disaster response in the next disaster aid package. The letters to the President and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer were also signed by Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein … Continue Reading
November 01, 2017
Cortez Masto Applauds EPA Environmental Improvement Grant for Nevada Tribal Lands
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) for awarding a $4.59 million grant to 15 Nevada tribes for environmental programs, drinking water, wastewater systems, water pollution reduction, and wetland protection: "In order to have healthy communities, we must have safe, clean water. Fortunately, the EPA's latest grant to Nevada's tribal communities empowers communities to protect and … Continue Reading
November 01, 2017
Cortez Masto: Get Covered!
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement marking the beginning of Open Enrollment period to encourage Nevadans to participate and sign up for health care coverage: "The Affordable Care Act has covered hundreds of thousands of Nevadans and expanded access to quality, affordable health care for families in our state. Today marks the beginning of the open enrollment period when Nevadans go online to review their coverage options and … Continue Reading
November 01, 2017
Cortez Masto Celebrates Native American Heritage Month
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement commemorating Native American Heritage Month: "November marks the month-long celebration of the immense cultural, artistic, and intellectual contributions that Native Americans have made to our communities and to the State of Nevada. Native American Heritage Month serves as an important reminder that we are bound by a sacred promise-the trust relationship-to respect and protect the sovereignty of … Continue Reading
October 31, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on Nevada Day
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement commemorating the 153rd anniversary of the State of Nevada's admission into the Union: "'Home means Nevada.' Those words, enshrined in our state song, remind us what the Silver State means to every person who calls Nevada home. Many of us were born and raised in Nevada, but many more of us come from other states, even other countries. Regardless of where we are from, Nevada is our home and we are … Continue Reading
October 31, 2017
Cortez Masto: GOP Congress Has One Priority, Ripping Off America’s Middle Class & Working Families
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in reaction to the latest news reports on congressional Republicans' tax bill negotiations: "Republicans in Congress have one priority: ripping off America's middle class and working families. Rather than transparently writing a bill that puts economic growth and American's financial security first, the current Republican tax proposal targets Nevada families. The latest Republican proposals would … Continue Reading
October 27, 2017
Cortez Masto, Western Senators Urge Extension of Greater Sage-grouse Comment Period
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and five other Western senators in sending a letter to Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke urging him to extend the comment period for changes to the Greater Sage-grouse conservation plans. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) also signed the letter. Earlier this month, the Trump administration … Continue Reading
October 26, 2017
Cortez Masto Urges Congress to Re-Authorize CHIP
"If Congress continues to do nothing, those nine million children won't be able to go to a doctor for their annual check-up. Nine million children won't be able to afford their prescriptions. The parents of those nine million children will have to wait until their child's headache, or infection, or sore throat becomes an emergency before taking them to the hospital." "Allowing funding for CHIP to expire, allowing state governments to go bankrupt, allowing rural hospitals and our community … Continue Reading
October 26, 2017
Cortez Masto, Flake Introduce Bipartisan Upward Mobility Enhancement Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) introduced the Upward Mobility Enhancement Act to give tax breaks to students whose employers are providing educational assistance benefits to help cover the cost of their pursuit of higher education. By eliminating a tax penalty that discourages employees from taking advantage of those benefits, this bill would offer employers a tool to attract and retain a skilled workforce. "Education costs have … Continue Reading
October 25, 2017
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Background Check Expansion Act to Reduce Gun Violence
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and 28 of her Senate colleagues, including U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), introduced the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to the sale or transfer of all firearms by private sellers, with certain reasonable exceptions. Under current law, unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a … Continue Reading
October 25, 2017
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Protect DACA Information
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), Bob Menéndez (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) led a letter along with nearly three dozen of their colleagues to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security demanding clarity on the Trump Administration's position on the use of personal information collected from individuals as part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) … Continue Reading
October 25, 2017
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Create Public Health Care Option
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored a bicameral legislation led by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) to create a Medicaid-based public health care option on the insurance marketplace, which will provide Americans with a new high-quality, low-cost choice when purchasing health insurance. "By building on the success of Medicaid expansion in Nevada, the State Public Option Act will allow all … Continue Reading
October 24, 2017
Cortez Masto: Senate Republicans Sent Clear Message, It’s Ok to Deceive and Cheat Americans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to nullify the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) forced arbitration rule. The CFPB's rule bans companies from denying Americans their day in court by forcing them into mandatory arbitration. "Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect consumers from the predatory … Continue Reading
October 24, 2017
Legislation Cosponsored by Cortez Masto to Reduce Rape Kit Backlog Passes Senate
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the passage of the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting (SAFER) Act. The SAFER Act would reduce the nationwide rape kit backlog by reauthorizing, strengthening and extending the Sexual Assault Forensic Reporting program. "Untested rape kits that could bring justice to victims of sexual assault should not be left sitting in dusty shelves across the nation," said Cortez Masto. "The … Continue Reading
October 20, 2017
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Demand DHS Answers for Reported Violations of Sensitive Locations Policy
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a group of 20 senators in writing Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke to seek answers about the Department's apparent violations of policies regarding immigration enforcement at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and religious institutions. In September, National Public Radio reported that the parents of a two-month-old baby were apprehended at a hospital while seeking lifesaving medical care for … Continue Reading
October 20, 2017
Cortez Masto, Senate Colleagues: Reports Indicate Actual Death Count in Puerto Rico May Be 10x Greater
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senate colleagues in signing a letter urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure the accuracy of the official fatality count in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. "We urge you to provide all necessary resources to confirm that storm-related deaths are being counted correctly, to ensure that there is sufficient cooperation with local authorities to obtain accurate information, to verify that … Continue Reading
October 20, 2017
Cortez Masto, Wicker Introduce SPEED Act
Bipartisan Measure Would Streamline Permitting Process to Expedite Broadband Rollout Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) introduced today the "Streamlining Permitting to Enable Efficient Deployment of Broadband Infrastructure Act of 2017" (SPEED Act). The measure would accelerate the deployment of new broadband infrastructure to both rural and urban areas by streamlining the permitting process for telecommunications equipment that is … Continue Reading
October 19, 2017
Cortez Masto, Senate, House Democrats Push to Block Trump Administration’s Roll Back of Birth Control Mandate
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined today 34 Senate and House Democrats in introducing the Protect Access to Birth Control Act, legislation to rescind the Trump Administration's interim final rules issued on October 6th that allow companies to interfere in their employees' health care choices and force women to pay more for an essential part of their health care. If enacted, the Protect Access to Birth Control Act would ensure President Donald Trump's rules … Continue Reading
