Second Half of the Year: We’re Not Done Yet

Summer greetings, Nevada! Thank you so much for subscribing to my quarterly newsletter. As you enjoy the summer months with family, friends and loved ones, I’m dropping in to make sure you’re updated on everything that’s happening in the United States Senate and give you the latest on how I’m working to address the issues that matter most to you.

Can you believe we’re halfway through 2019? While there’s still a lot of work to be done this year, I’m happy to report we’ve made progress here in Washington over the last couple of months. The Senate has passed a historic Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan, a disaster aid package that provides recovery funding to communities devastated by natural disasters, and legislation to fund rape kit processing through the Debbie Smith Act.

While we’ve made some progress, there’s still much to accomplish. Currently, there’s a humanitarian crisis at our nation’s southern border, women’s reproductive health across the country is under attack, and our election security continues to be threatened by foreign actors. As we head into the fall, my priorities remain the same. I’ll continue working to protect and expand your access to affordable health care, address the affordable housing crisis, fight for Nevada’s public lands, and create good-paying jobs for Nevadans.

Sincerely,

Cortez Masto Secures Agreement to Remove Plutonium Secretly Shipped to Nevada

In March, Senator Cortez Masto placed holds on pending Department of Energy nominees in response to news that the Department secretly shipped weapons-grade plutonium to Nevada without the state’s consent.

Senator Cortez Masto released her holds on all pending Department of Energy nominees after securing a written agreement from Secretary of Energy Rick Perry and the Department of Energy that the Department will commence the removal of the weapons-grade plutonium that was secretly shipped to Nevada, beginning in 2021.

Nevadans didn’t create this waste and we shouldn’t be on the hook for storing it in our state against our will. While I thank Secretary Perry for working with me on this issue, make no mistake that we will have additional fights ahead of us. I’ll continue to do all I can to hold the Department of Energy accountable, and ensure we fight against any attempt to ship nuclear waste to our state. – Senator Cortez Masto

Cortez Masto and Rosen Testify in Opposition to Yucca Mountain

Senator Cortez Masto testifies in opposition to the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act

Senator Cortez Masto and Senator Jacky Rosen testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works in opposition to legislation that would restart failed licensing activities at Yucca Mountain. In her testimony, Senator Cortez Masto emphasized that Yucca Mountain is seismically and geologically unfit to store dangerous nuclear waste and highlighted Nevadans’ strong opposition to the project.

Cortez Masto Unveils Immigrant Resource Guide

During an immigration workshop to provide Elko-area residents with information about immigration and naturalization resources, Senator Cortez Masto unveiled a new Immigrant Resource Guide to help Nevadans navigate America’s immigration system, educate them about their rights, and provide important information on how to access immigration, medical, and crisis services in Nevada. The Immigrant Resource Guide is available for download in both English and Spanish.

Download in English or Spanish.

Cortez Masto Introduces Several Key Pieces of Legislation

Here are just a few pieces of legislation Senator Cortez Masto has introduced since the start of spring:

Senator Cortez Masto urges Senate colleagues to reauthorize VAWA and to pass Not Invisible Act 

Senator Cortez Masto introduced the Not Invisible Act of 2019 with Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jon Tester (D-MT) to address the crisis of missing, murdered and trafficked native women by engaging law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners and service providers and improving coordination across federal agencies.

The senator introduced the Healthy MOM Act with Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Tina Smith (D-MN) that would ensure that mothers and their babies have access to the care they need, both before and after birth, by establishing a special enrollment period (SEP) for expectant mothers so they can enroll in or change their health care plan once they become pregnant.
 
The Senator introduced the ACCESS Broadband Act to foster the development and growth of broadband resources for businesses as well as underserved urban and rural communities. Its companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY-20) and Susan Brooks (R-IN-5).

The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act included Senator Cortez Masto’s reforms that prioritize the needs of Nevada’s service members and veterans. The critical reforms will address hazardous conditions in privatized military housing, direct the Department of Defense to cut wasteful spending and address the Air Force pilot shortage.