U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after voting to pass bipartisan government funding legislation to provide critical support for hardworking families, veterans, and Tribes across Nevada. “I fought to ensure this package brings in critical funding for Nevada that supports our local law enforcement, protects our veterans’ benefits, and delivers urgently needed middle class housing for our state,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “The programs supported by this legislation help Nevada families, businesses, and Tribes every day, and I’m glad to see it headed to the President’s desk.” This bipartisan government funding package includes $147 million for 76 community projects across the state. It supports federal programs to protect veterans’ benefits, increase our middle class housing supply, invest in energy infrastructure and airline safety, and fund vital nutrition assistance for Nevada families. Cortez Masto secured increased funding for the Indian Community Development Block Grant program, which supports housing and infrastructure improvements on Tribal land, and she led efforts to improve Tribal access to transportation infrastructure programs. The bill includes millions for Senator Cortez Masto’s Visit America Act, which promotes the U.S. travel and tourism industry, and it will help implement her ACCESS Broadband Act, which ensures Nevadans have easier access to federal broadband programs. The package includes no new funding to restart the failed Yucca Mountain project. The legislation also funds vital programs Cortez Masto fought for to keep Nevada communities safe, including full funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program—the leading source of criminal justice funding for local police officers. The Violence Against Women Act the Senator helped reauthorize in 2022 is funded at the highest level ever to support victims of domestic violence. The bipartisan legislation protects Nevada water resources, including through funding to implement the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act the Senator has championed. The Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program Cortez Masto supported in the Inflation Reduction Act will receive full funding to help Tribal communities take advantage of new clean-energy opportunities. The bill also includes an extension of the pay increase for federal firefighters Cortez Masto fought to secure, and she’ll continue working to make this pay raise permanent.The Senator also delivered $5.5 million to help combat Mormon crickets in Nevada and across the West. This is the first of two expected packages to fund the entire federal government and avert a harmful government shutdown. The second bill is expected to pass in the coming weeks.
Rosen Stands Up for Nevada Ranchers & Cattlemen, Pushes to Block Harmful Biden Administration Effort
U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) is joining a bipartisan effort to stand up to the Biden Administration and block an effort to allow beef imports from Paraguay over concerns it would hurt Nevada’s ranchers and cattlemen. In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a rule allowing the importation of beef from Paraguay. Nevada ranchers and cattlemen oppose this effort over concerns that Paraguay has a history of foot and mouth disease, which infects cattle and is highly contagious. The bipartisan group of Senators have filed a Congressional Review Act resolution to block this rule and protect domestic producers. “Nevadans sent me to the U.S. Senate to be an independent voice for them and to always put our state first,” said Senator Rosen. “The Biden Administration’s ill-advised attempt to allow beef imports from Paraguay will hurt Nevada’s ranchers and cattlemen, and that’s why I’m proud to be part of a bipartisan effort to block this misguided effort.” “The importation of Paraguayan beef into the U.S. comes with numerous red flags including the potential risk of introducing Foot and Mouth Disease,” said Martin Paris, Executive Director of Nevada Cattlemen’s Association. “The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association greatly appreciates Senator Rosen’s efforts to uphold the highest of food safety standards and ensure the continued health of our domestic cattle herd.” “Nevada’s cattle sector is extremely important for our state, representing roughly 2/3rds of the total agricultural sales,” said Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President of the Nevada Farm Bureau. “It is extremely important to protect cattle health by preventing imports of very risky foreign sources.” Senator Rosen has been a strong advocate for Nevada’s ranchers and cattlemen. Last month, Rosen sent a bipartisan letter calling on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry to address long-term drought in the upcoming Farm Bill out of concern for its negative effects on farmers and ranchers in Nevada. Last year, she broke with the Biden Administration to block proposed regulations of U.S. waterways that would have hurt Nevada’s farmers and ranchers. Senator Rosen was also named a “Friend of the Farm Bureau” for being a consistent supporter of Nevada’s farming and ranching communities.
Congresswoman Lee Makes Laughlin, Vegas Wash Her Top Requests in Bipartisan Water Resources Development Act
Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced that funding for Laughlin’s water system and the Las Vegas Wash program were her top requests for the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. Congresswoman Lee made these requests, which also included prioritizing water supply and conservation projects under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment during a hearing yesterday on this traditionally biennial, bipartisan legislation. “No one knows better than a Nevadan just how precious our water resources are — particularly in Laughlin, where an aging and inadequate water system is creating a severe local crisis. That’s why securing water infrastructure investments across southern Nevada, including in Laughlin, is my top request for the bipartisan 2024 Water Resources Development Act,” said Colorado River Caucus Vice-Chair Susie Lee. “We also need to protect and enhance resources for the Las Vegas Wash. That’s why I’ve requested that my bill to expand and increase investments in the Las Vegas Wash be included in WRDA legislation. I will never stop fighting for federal resources and bipartisan solutions to tackle drought in Nevada.” Sitting at the southern tip of Nevada, Laughlin is struggling with water infrastructure no longer sufficient to meet its needs, especially in the event of an emergency. The town’s water treatment and delivery system is the only such system managed by the Las Vegas Valley Water District that lacks a secondary water source and lags in water storage capacity. To meet this crisis, which comes as southern Nevada continues to contend with the effects of the Western megadrought, Congresswoman Lee requested assistance to update Laughlin’s water system. This includes requesting assistance for the construction of a new groundwater well. Just last week, Lee met with local officials on the ground and heard more about their concerns. Congresswoman Lee’s second request was for her bill to expand and increase investments in the Las Vegas Wash. The legislation would raise the funding cap of the Las Vegas Wash program to reflect the critical role that this drainage channel plays for the Las Vegas Valley watershed. The Wash carries more than 200 million gallons of water to Lake Mead every day and allows southern Nevada to recycle nearly every drop of water it uses indoors. Raising the cap on the federally supported Las Vegas Wash program would help ensure that projects to protect and restore the channel receive necessary funding. Lee recently announced a $20 million investment in the Las Vegas Wash, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which she helped negotiate and pass. You can read more about WRDA here.
NEW: AFTER CORTEZ MASTO’S URGING, ADMIN NEGOTIATES PAUSE ON RETALIATORY TARIFFS ON WHISKEY AND SPIRITS
Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) applauded the Biden administration for heeding her call to protect the millions of U.S. jobs that rely on American whiskey and spirits producers. Earlier this month, Cortez Masto led a bipartisan group of Senators urging the administration to take urgent action in response to the European Union (EU)’s to implement a 50% tariff on American whiskey imports on January 1, 2024, and today the EU announced they would pause these retaliatory tariffs for 15 months in response to U.S. pressure. “There are more than 19,000 Nevadans whose jobs depend on the American spirits industry, and I’m pleased to see the Administration taking action to protect them from these harsh new tariffs on our exports,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I will continue to advocate to protect this vital industry, which helps drive our economy in Nevada and across the country.” Retaliatory tariffs by the EU have cost domestic sprits distillers and winemakers billions of dollars since 2018, and the U.S. needs a permanent solution to safeguard over 1.7 million production, distribution, and hospitality jobs that rely on the industry. The spirits industry supports over 19,000 jobs and over $1.6 billion in economic activity in the state of Nevada alone. The senators’ bipartisan letter urges U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to negotiate a deal to permanently remove retaliatory tariffs on all American-made sprits and wines.
Rosen Secures $3 Billion for Historic High-Speed Rail in Las Vegas
Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) announced that, after months of pushing the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Biden Administration, she secured $3 billion to begin construction of the Brightline West high-speed rail system in Las Vegas. This funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Senator Rosen played a leading role to write and pass. This project will connect Las Vegas and Southern California, which will help bolster Southern Nevada’s tourism economy and reduce congestion on the Interstate-15 corridor. Brightline West estimates it will remove 3 million cars from I-15 annually, reducing more than 400,000 tons of carbon emissions each year, and creating 35,000 good-paying, union jobs. For months, Senator Rosen led the efforts in Congress to make this project a reality. Earlier this year, Senator Rosen sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to stand ready to receive the Nevada Department of Transportation’s application for funding to build Brightline West. After this application was submitted, she led a bipartisan group of colleagues in voicing their strong support of the project. In August, she led a press conference in Las Vegas with Brightline CEO Michael Reininger, Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft, Nevada Department of Transportation Director Tracy Larkin Thomason, President and CEO of the Vegas Chamber Mary Beth Sewald, and President of the Transportation Trades Department for the AFL-CIO Greg Regan to call on DOT to approve the application to build Brightline West and provide the funding. In March, she applauded the news that the Southern Nevada Building Trades had reached an agreement with Brightline to ensure this high-speed rail system would be constructed with union labor. Throughout the process, Senator Rosen has been in regular contact with Administration officials and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, urging them to approve this funding for the Brightline West project. “This historic high-speed rail project will be a game changer for Nevada’s tourism economy and transportation. It’ll bring more visitors to our state, reduce traffic on the I-15, create thousands of good paying jobs, and decrease carbon emissions, all while relying on local union labor,” said Senator Rosen. “For decades, Nevadans have heard about the benefits of high-speed rail, and I’m proud to have led the charge for months to push the U.S. Department of Transportation to secure critical funding to make this a reality. I’ll always fight to support Nevada’s tourism economy and create good-paying, union jobs.” Senator Rosen, chair of the Senate subcommittee overseeing tourism, has been a champion for Nevada’s travel and tourism economy. Earlier this year, she hosted a field hearing in Las Vegas that examined ways to attract large sporting and entertainment events to the U.S., with a focus on Las Vegas’ experience, and the impacts that sporting and live entertainment events have on the local economy. Last year, Senator Rosen passed the bipartisan Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act to boost the travel and tourism industry.
Rep. Titus Announces Critical Funding for Southern Nevada Through EDA’s Build to Scale Program
Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, announced $ 1.1 million for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) through the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Build to Scale Program to drive growth and development in Southern Nevada. The Build to Scale program, part of the EDA’s commitment to strengthening regional economies, empowers startups and entrepreneurs through the Venture and Capital Challenges offering new sources of early-stage capital. Earlier this year, Congresswoman Titus advocated with the Economic Development Administration in support of applications submitted by UNLV for projects, including the “Accelerate Electric Nevada” and the “Scarlet Venture Fund” which will play vital roles in driving innovation in Nevada’s alternative energy sector and offer support, mentorship, and funding for startups. “As the Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee that oversees the Economic Development Administration, I am proud to have advocated for UNLV’s projects to expand access to early-stage funding for innovative clean energy companies and open opportunities for cutting-edge entrepreneurs. These projects align with our vision to diversify Nevada’s economy, combat the climate crisis, bolster workforce development, and promote economic growth,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus. “EDA is proud to partner with this year’s ‘Build to Scale’ grantees as they fuel regional innovation hubs and technology-based economic development strategies throughout the U.S.,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “Investing in scalable startups and expanding access to entrepreneurial capital will yield good-paying jobs, economic resiliency, and equitable growth in communities throughout America.”
Cortez Masto Highlights Support for Nevada’s Growing Battery Manufacturing and Recycling Industry
Today at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) highlighted her work to support Nevada’s battery manufacturing and recycling industry and the good-paying jobs it creates. “Nevada is leading the nation in battery manufacturing and recycling,” said Cortez Masto. “We have the capacity to support the entire supply chain right in my home state. For example, Nevada has enough lithium to supply the world for 85 years. And in the last [eight] years, we’ve seen the clean transportation and battery industry create more than 7,400 new jobs in Nevada and deliver $13 billion of investment.” The Senator highlighted Nevada companies benefiting from her legislation and creating thousands of jobs, including American Battery Technology, Redwoods Materials, and others. Under Secretary Crane agreed, calling Nevada “a critical part in the critical mineral supply for batteries.” He also assured Cortez Masto the Department will remain invested in the battery supply chain and will continue to invest in emerging manufacturing industries in Nevada and across the country. Senator Cortez Masto has consistently worked to create good-paying clean energy jobs across Nevada. Since the start of her Innovation State Initiative, Senator Cortez Masto has been a proponent of renewable and sustainable energy, passing bipartisan legislation to promote Nevada’s mining and emerging battery industries and set up a sustainable critical mineral supply chain, and leading efforts in the Senate to create good-paying solar energy jobs. She wrote the battery manufacturing and recycling program that is funding numerous projects in Nevada. Last year, she helped cut through red tape to ensure Fulcrum BioEnergy’s new Sierra BioFuels Plant in Storey County could launch operations, protecting more than 100 permanent jobs.
Cortez Masto Hosts Las Vegas High School Mariachi Joya at the U.S. Senate
Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) celebrated the close of Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting Las Vegas High School Mariachi Joya at the U.S. Senate and presenting them with a Congressional Record Statement honoring their cultural contributions to the U.S. The ensemble played for Senator Cortez Masto, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Nevadans in the United States Senate, before touring the U.S. Capitol. “My grandfather used to play the guitar for me and my sister when we were little, and I know musical ensembles like Mariachi Joya are so important to families across our state and the country. That’s why I’m proud to bring these students to our nation’s capital to highlight our Latino community and our impact on this country,” said Senator Cortez Masto. Composed of 20 young Latino artists playing the guitarron, violins, and trumpets, Mariachi Joya is known as America’s premiere mariachi youth ensemble. It has been recognized by the Grammy Awards and performed virtually for the President’s Inauguration. They are part of a growing Mariachi student program in Southern Nevada, where the first high school mariachi program started in 2002 with only 250 students and expanded to 7,000 students today. “We’re so grateful to Senator Cortez Masto for opening the halls of Congress to our young students and allowing them to showcase their talent,” said Stephen Blanco, Las Vegas High School Mariachi Joya Director. “Mariachi music is a longstanding tradition in our Latino community, and it helps our young students build key skills to follow their dreams. The kind of support the Senator provides makes a great difference in their lives.” A third generation Nevadan, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto is the first and only Latina in the U.S. Senate. She is leading the charge in Congress to build the National Museum of the American Latino, which would recognize and commemorate the history and achievements of Latinos in the U.S.
Cortez Masto y Rosen anuncian más de $31 millones en nuevos fondos para las fuerzas del orden público y servicios a las víctimas en Nevada
Las senadoras Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) y Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) anunciaron más de $31 millones en nuevos fondos federales para que los departamentos de policía, los tribunales, las organizaciones sin fines de lucro y las tribus de Nevada apoyen programas de seguridad pública y servicios a las víctimas. Cortez Masto y Rosen han votado consistentemente para financiar estos programas, y la lista completa de fondos del Departamento de Justicia (DOJ) obtenidos por las senadores está disponible AQUÍ. “Para mantener seguras a las familias de Nevada, debemos asegurarnos de que nuestras autoridades locales tengan los fondos y el apoyo que necesitan para combatir el crimen, hacer responsables a los perpetradores y apoyar a las víctimas”, dijo la senadora Cortez Masto. “Siempre apoyaré a nuestra policía y apoyaré su trabajo para mantener seguras a nuestras comunidades”. “Los agentes del orden son los héroes que mantienen segura a Nevada”, dijo la senadora Rosen. “Me enorgullece ver que estos fondos llegan a Nevada para mantener seguras a las familias, las pequeñas empresas y las comunidades trabajadoras. Siempre trabajaré de manera bipartidista para apoyar los programas de seguridad pública y servicios a las víctimas”. Las senadoras Cortez Masto y Rosen han sido firmes defensoras en el Senado de nuestros agentes de policía. Cortez Masto lidera el trabajo bipartidista anual para asegurar fondos para el programa de subvenciones Byrne JAG, la principal fuente de financiación de la justicia penal en el país. Sus proyectos de ley bipartidistas para combatir la crisis del suicidio policial y proporcionar recursos de salud mental a los agentes de policía han sido promulgados por presidentes de ambos partidos, y está luchando para combatir la actividad ilegal de drogas y proporcionar más fondos a los pequeños departamentos de policía.
Rosen Pushes for Crack Down on Fraudulent Business Impersonation
Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen signed a letter led by Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV-03) calling on Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan to adopt a rule to crack down on business impersonation fraud and enact new protections for small businesses in the wake of a concerning uptick in this type of fraud. Business impersonation fraud causes significant economic losses in Nevada and across the country. The letter highlights the damage already caused by business and government impersonators—estimated at $2.6 billion in economic losses in 2022 alone, for a nearly 50-percent increase over 2021. Particularly for cities like Las Vegas, which has been the top trade show destination, rampant impersonation fraud threatens the success of trade show venues and the many small businesses that rely on them. According to the Consumer Technology Association, which owns and produces the annual Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas, their customers reported at least 70 incidents of fraud via email solicitations alone in 2021, 2022, and the month leading up to CES 2023. “Too many businesses in Nevada and other states across the country have felt the economic and reputational damage impersonation fraud can cause,” wrote the Members. “The proliferation of impersonation fraud has proven especially damaging to the face-to-face business events industry, as impersonators have more and more regularly sought financial gain by advertising for fake exhibitions, trade shows, and other business events. This targeted fraud threatens to put a damper on an industry that has long been a driving force for economic growth—for event organizers, host venues, and surrounding communities.” “In order to protect this critical industry that’s under great threat, as well as to support associated small businesses and consumers in Las Vegas and beyond, there can be no delay at the FTC in rolling out a strong rule to stem this economic damage,” they continued. “We encourage you to act with all due haste to adopt and implement a finalized rule and to lead the Commission in moving swiftly to combat impersonation fraud and to provide relief to small business owners nationally.” The full letter can be found here.