Press Releases
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Resolution to Defend the Affordable Care Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a resolution led by Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) that would authorize Senate Legal Counsel to intervene in the Texas v. United States lawsuit and defend the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), on behalf of the U.S. Senate. "When I talk to Nevadans across the state, the number one issue I hear about is health care. Nearly 150,000 insured Nevadans would lose coverage as a result of the most recent … Continue Reading
January 14, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Ensure Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Receive Pay During Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Pay Our Coast Guard Act, bipartisan legislation led by Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) to ensure continued funding for the U.S. Coast Guard during this and future government shutdowns. The legislation would pay Coast Guard members, including reservists, civilian employees and contractors in the case of a lapse in government funding. "Nevada is home to hundreds of Coast Guard active duty servicemembers, military … Continue Reading
January 14, 2019
Cortez Masto: Trump Shutdown Threatens Wildfire Preparedness
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a letter led by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) sounding the alarm about the growing impact of the government shutdown on wildfire preparedness. Typically, federal agencies use the winter months to hire and train firefighters in advance of the upcoming fire season, and to perform fire prevention work-like tree removal and controlled burns-that are more difficult or dangerous to carry out during active fire seasons. Training … Continue Reading
January 14, 2019
Cortez Masto Introduces Bill to Address Rising Costs of Prescription Drugs, Allow Medicare to Negotiate Drug Prices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced the Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Drug Prices Act, which would allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to negotiate drug prices under the Medicare prescription drug benefit. "Skyrocketing prescription drug costs are restricting Nevada's seniors from accessing and affording their medicine. This legislation allows the largest purchaser of prescription medications, … Continue Reading
January 11, 2019
Cortez Masto Meets with Federal Workers Impacted by Trump Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) hosted a roundtable with 25 furloughed federal workers in the State of Nevada to hear their stories about how the Trump shutdown is impacting them and their families after federal workers faced their first pay period without a paycheck. The Senator also held a press availability with some of those impacted workers following the roundtable. Senator Cortez Masto spoke with employees of the United States Coast Guard, Bureau of … Continue Reading
January 10, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on Passage of Government Employee Fair Treatment Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, legislation guaranteeing back pay for federal workers impacted by the Trump shutdown. "Federal workers did not sign up to be pawns in the President's political game. They signed up to serve the American people, and they deserve the security of a steady paycheck. I was proud to cosponsor this bill to ensure federal workers aren't … Continue Reading
January 10, 2019
Cortez Masto Calls on President Trump to End Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today called on President Trump to reopen shuttered government agencies and reinstate 800,000 furloughed federal workers, over 3,000 of which are Nevadans wondering when they'll receive their next paycheck. In a speech on the Senate floor, the senator also highlighted the impact of the Trump shutdown on federal workers and families in Nevada. Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery. Senator Cortez Masto's remarks are … Continue Reading
January 09, 2019
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Federal Workers and Their Families from Losing Their Homes, Falling Behind in Paying Bills During Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act, legislation led by Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). The new legislation would protect federal workers and their families from foreclosures, evictions, and loan defaults during a government shutdown. "Hard working federal employees in Nevada, and across the country, are already making sacrifices as they fight to provide for their families, pay their bills, and keep a roof over their … Continue Reading
January 08, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on Trump Border Wall Speech
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in response to President Trump's televised address. "Much like the TV dramas that typically air during prime time, the President's speech was fiction. The House and Senate have already worked in a bipartisan manner to reopen the government and secure our southern border; it's President Trump who won't take 'yes' for an answer. Instead of holding federal workers in Nevada and across the country … Continue Reading
January 08, 2019
Cortez Masto: President Trump & Leader McConnell Continue to Hold America Hostage
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after voting against the motion to proceed to vote on a package of Middle East policy bills in the United States Senate. "On Friday, thousands of federal workers in Nevada and across the country will miss their first paycheck if President Trump and Leader McConnell continue to hold our country hostage. The President is asking already struggling Nevadans to sacrifice even more as they fight to … Continue Reading
January 08, 2019
Cortez Masto, Senators Reintroduce Background Check Expansion Act to Reduce Gun Violence
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and 39 other senators in reintroducing the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks on all gun sales. Under current law, unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a firearm. 97% of Americans support comprehensive background checks. Research indicates that as many as a quarter of all gun sales in the United … Continue Reading
January 07, 2019
Cortez Masto Calls on DHS and CBP to Reform Child Detention Protocols Following Deaths of Migrant Children
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan urging them to work with Congress to make changes to its detention protocols in order to prioritize the wellbeing and safety of migrant children. Following the deaths of 8-year-old Felipe Alonzo-Gomez and 7-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin, Cortez Masto calls on the agencies to perform a full … Continue Reading
January 04, 2019
Cortez Masto Announces Over $600,000 for Nevada Preschools
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded the State of Nevada over $600,000 to develop and support high-quality preschool programs in high-need communities. "We know that a quality preschool experience prepares young children for success in kindergarten and beyond. Yet, too many children in Nevada aren't receiving the resources they need to learn and thrive. This critical funding … Continue Reading
January 04, 2019
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Call for DHS to Reexamine Arbitrary Detention and Deportation of Southeast Asian Refugees
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and 12 of her colleagues in urging Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to reexamine her Department's "arbitrary detention and deportation" of many long-term U.S. residents from Southeast Asia, including those who fled war and genocide. The Senators noted with particular concern that the Trump Administration's targeting of Vietnamese refugees who … Continue Reading
January 03, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on House Vote to End Trump Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after House Democrats passed six bipartisan bills to fully reopen government agencies shuttered by President Trump and fund the Department of Homeland Security through February 8th. "Leader McConnell must stop allowing President Trump to take our government hostage. These bipartisan bills would reopen shuttered agencies, providing certainty to government workers and Nevadans who rely on these … Continue Reading
January 03, 2019
Cortez Masto, Colleagues Lead Effort to Examine and Address Disproportionate Student Debt Burden Among Borrowers of Color
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a letter led by Senator Doug Jones (D-Ala.) to nearly 100 key stakeholders nationwide to solicit feedback that can help improve federal policies for student borrowers of color and make access to higher education more equitable. Stakeholders receiving the letter include experts in education policy and leaders in business, advocacy, academia, civil rights, consumer protection, and women's issues. "Students of color are more … Continue Reading
January 03, 2019
Cortez Masto Requests Response from VA on Mishandling of Suicide Prevention Efforts
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a letter led by Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) requesting a response from Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie on a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report which found that the VA mishandled suicide prevention efforts. The GAO report stated that the VA's efforts to reduce the high suicide rate among veterans lacked leadership and millions of funding budgeted for outreach went unspent. "This week, the … Continue Reading
January 03, 2019
Cortez Masto Welcomes Senator Jacky Rosen
Former Nevada Senator Richard Bryan and Senator Cortez Masto welcome Senator Jacky Rosen at her swearing in. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued the following statement welcoming Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and congratulating the Senator on her swearing in. "In the span of two years Nevada has made history, electing it's first and second female Senators, a majority female legislature and Nevada Supreme Court. I'm thrilled to welcome Jacky to the Senate and … Continue Reading
January 02, 2019
Cortez Masto Statement on Confirmation of Nicholas Trutanich as U.S. Attorney for Nevada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Nicholas Trutanich to be U.S. Attorney for the State of Nevada. "Nicholas Trutanich is a public servant who has served Nevada well. I believe he will continue that good work on behalf of the Silver State as our next U.S. Attorney. I look forward to working with him and I will continue to do all I can to ensure that this Administration nominates dedicated public servants … Continue Reading
January 02, 2019
