Press Releases
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
Volume 1, Issue 4 - Happy New Year, Nevada!
December 31, 2018
Cortez Masto Highlights Legislative Achievements in 115th Congress
Washington, D.C. - During the 115th Congress, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) passed critical legislation to improve the lives of Nevadans, including legislation to address the unique economic needs of Nevada's rural communities, build new public health infrastructure to promote effective Alzheimer's interventions, and study the link between domestic violence and traumatic brain injury to better treat survivors. Additionally, the senator secured over $468 million in funding for … Continue Reading
December 23, 2018
Cortez Masto: Americans Deserve Better Than Uncertainty & Disruption of Trump Shutdown
Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement on the continued partial government shutdown triggered by President Trump. On Saturday, Senator Cortez Masto announced that she will donate her salary to a Nevada charity for every day of the Trump shutdown. "Across Nevada, families are coming together to celebrate the holidays. Americans deserve better than the uncertainty and disruption of the Trump shutdown. They deserve a government that puts … Continue Reading
December 22, 2018
Cortez Masto Statement on Trump Shutdown
Senator will donate Senate salary for entirety of Trump shutdown Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after President Trump triggered a partial shutdown of the federal government. The Senator announced that she would donate her salary to a Nevada charity for every day of the Trump shutdown. "I remain committed to continuing to work with my colleagues to keep the federal government open. Sadly, President Trump has brought our country … Continue Reading
December 19, 2018
Cortez Masto Applauds Final Passage of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the United States House of Representatives passed the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, bipartisan legislation that she introduced with Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) to create a modern public health infrastructure for the prevention, treatment, and care of Alzheimer's and related cognitive … Continue Reading
December 19, 2018
Cortez Masto Urges President Trump to Condemn Texas v. U.S. Decision
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined a letter led by Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) calling on President Trump to condemn the recent decision in Texas v. United States which declared the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional. If the decision stands, 20 million Americans will be left without the health insurance they rely on. The 133 million Americans and 1.2 million Nevadans with a pre-existing condition will be at risk of losing their access to health … Continue Reading
December 19, 2018
Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Improve Veterans’ Access to Dental Care
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cosponsored the Veterans Dental Care Eligibility Expansion and Enhancement Act of 2018, legislation that would establish a pilot program on the expansion of dental services and treatment to all veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. During a visit to Reno earlier this year, Senator Cortez Masto met with volunteers from the Adopt a Vet Dental Program, which helps provide Northern Nevada's veterans with free dental care, … Continue Reading
December 19, 2018
Cortez Masto Applauds Senate Passage of Criminal Justice Reform Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after the Senate passed the First Step Act, bipartisan legislation to reform the criminal justice system: "I saw firsthand in Nevada that our state is stronger when we give law enforcement the flexibility to render sentences that fit the crimes committed and provide opportunities to support those incarcerated to rejoin society. This legislation will help rehabilitate nonviolent offenders so that … Continue Reading
