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Dispatches from Washington: Another week at home for Nevada's congressional delegation

Megan Messerly
Megan Messerly
Congress
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It was another week of August recess at home for Nevada’s congressional delegation, many of whom spent significant time interacting with their constituents, hosting roundtables, visiting various community organizations within their districts and keeping an eye on events across the nation.

Members of the delegation sent out missives on everything from the president’s remarks on the violence last weekend in Charlottesville to the news that the insurance company SilverSummit is stepping in to provide coverage for 8,000 individuals across 14 counties who previously stood to have no options available to them on Nevada’s exchange next year.

The Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives won’t return from their August break until Sept. 4. Until then, here’s a look at what Nevada’s delegates really wanted the public to know this past week.

As always, we kept the actual punctuation and capitalizations found within the news release subject lines.

CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO

Number of press release issued this week: 19

The details: It was a very busy week for Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, whose press team sent out no fewer than 19 press releases. Many of them previewed or recapped six events that she attended this week, from a tour of the Shannon West Homeless Youth Center to an event where she encouraged young Latinas today  get involved in science, technology, engineering, the arts and math.

“A commitment to diversity is a critical element of success in fields like business, technology, the arts, and engineering,” Cortez Masto said in a statement. “We cannot tap the full potential of our workforce unless every student, regardless of race, gender, or background has access to a 21st century education.”

She also participated in a round table on Thursday hosted by the Veterans Guest House, talking about the Veterans Affairs health-care system, support to military members who have experienced sexual trauma and the treatment of women in the military.

“Providing sufficient resources to our veterans so they can thrive in civilian life is one of my top priorities,” she said in a statement. “It is critical that elected officials listen first-hand to the stories of women veterans to know how we can most effectively ensure that they are receiving the support they need and deserve after their selfless service to our country.”

Press release subject lines:

  • 8/13: **MEDIA ADVISORY** TOMORROW: Cortez Masto to Tour Shannon West Homeless Youth Center, Unveil Report on CDBG in Nevada
  • 8/14: **MEDIA ADVISORY** TODAY: Cortez Masto, Harris Join DREAMers & Immigration Leaders to Discuss Defending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program
  • 8/14: **MEDIA ADVISORY** TODAY: Cortez Masto to Tour Shannon West Homeless Youth Center, Unveil Report on CDBG in Nevada
  • 8/14: Cortez Masto Tours Shannon West Homeless Youth Center, Unveils Report on CDBG’s Role in Nevada
  • 8/14: **MEDIA ADVISORY** TOMORROW, TUESDAY, AUGUST 15 AT 5:30 PM PT IN LAS VEGAS Cortez Masto to Participate in “DACA: Five Years Later, What’s Next?” Town Hall
  • 8/15: **MEDIA ADVISORY** TODAY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 15 AT 5:30 PM PT IN LAS VEGAS - Cortez Masto to Participate in “DACA: Five Years Later, What’s Next?” Town Hall
  • 8/15: Cortez Masto Applauds Centene for Entering Rural Nevada Health Insurance Market
  • 8/15: ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16 at 5:00 PM PT in Las Vegas - Cortez Masto to Participate in Event to Introduce Young Latinas to Opportunities in Tech
  • 8/15: On Fifth Anniversary of DACA, Cortez Masto Participates in Dreamer Town Hall
  • 8/16: ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** TODAY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16 at 5:00 PM PT in Las Vegas - Cortez Masto to Participate in Event to Introduce Young Latinas to Opportunities in Tech
  • 8/16: ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** TOMORROW: THURSDAY, AUGUST 17 AT 11:00 AM PT IN RENO - Cortez Masto to Participate in Women Veterans Roundtable
  • 8/16: Cortez Masto: We Must Work to Break Down Barriers to Diversity, Equip Young Latinas to Compete in Tech
  • 8/17: ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** TODAY, THURSDAY, AUGUST 17 AT 11:00 AM PT IN RENO - Cortez Masto to Participate in Women Veterans Roundtable
  • 8/17: Cortez Masto Participates in Women Veterans Roundtable
  • 8/17: ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** TOMORROW, FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 AT 3:00 PM PT IN RENO - Cortez Masto to Participate in Park Lane Development Groundbreaking Ceremony
  • 8/18: ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** TODAY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 AT 3:00 PM PT IN RENO - Cortez Masto to Participate in Park Lane Development Groundbreaking Ceremony
  • 8/19: Cortez Masto Visits Flirtey Drone Delivery Startup
  • 8/19: Cortez Masto, Democratic Colleagues Urge Zinke to Maintain DOI’s Existing 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program
  • 8/19: ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** TUESDAY, AUGUST 22 at 10:00 AM PT in South Lake Tahoe, CA - Cortez Masto to Deliver Remarks at 21st Annual Lake Tahoe Summit

JACKY ROSEN

Number of press release issued this week: 8

The details: Many of Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen’s press releases this week focused broadly on national events, including the violence in Charlottesville last weekend, the president’s response to that violence and the president’s decision to remove White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon from his role. Rosen called the president’s decision on Bannon “a step to restoring honor and dignity to the Executive Branch,” though she said it’s not “a cure-all” and doesn’t “rectify President Trump's egregious behavior and lack of moral leadership surrounding the horrific events that terrorized Charlottesville.”

“At the end of the day, President Trump bears full responsibility for promoting the white nationalism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia that have all been exposed and openly tolerated on the campaign trail and since day one of this administration,” Rosen said.

She also put out a press release touting her support for “ongoing bipartisan efforts in Congress to reach a bipartisan solution to protect DREAMers” and another applauding SilverSummit’s decision to step in to cover 14 counties that previously had no insurance options on the Nevada exchange for the 2018 plan year.

Press release subject lines:

  • 8/13: ROSEN STATEMENT ON VIOLENCE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
  • 8/15: ROSEN COMMEMORATES FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF DACA, CALLS FOR BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO PROTECT DREAMERS
  • 8/15: ROSEN STATEMENT ON TRUMP DOUBLING DOWN ON INITIAL EQUIVOCATING RESPONSE TO CHARLOTTESVILLE VIOLENCE
  • 8/15: ROSEN STATEMENT ON CENTENE’S DECISION TO ENTER HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET IN RURAL NEVADA
  • 8/16: TOMORROW: CONGRESSWOMAN JACKY ROSEN TO HOST ROUNDTABLE, TOUR MMC CORPORATION’S LAS VEGAS FACILITY
  • 8/17: TODAY: CONGRESSWOMAN JACKY ROSEN TO HOST ROUNDTABLE, TOUR MMC CORPORATION’S LAS VEGAS FACILITY
  • 8/18: ROSEN STATEMENT ON REMOVAL OF STEPHEN BANNON FROM THE WHITE HOUSE
  • 8/18: ROSEN JOINS RESOLUTION TO CENSURE PRESIDENT TRUMP OVER CHARLOTTESVILLE REMARKS

DEAN HELLER

Number of press release issued this week: 4

The details: Two of Republican Sen. Dean Heller’s press releases this week focused on veterans and military bills that he helped sponsor being signed into law by the president. A Heller-sponsored bill allocating additional funding to the VA Choice Program, which allows veterans to see a private physician, was signed into law by the president on Friday. A second bill focused on veterans education benefits and including several provisions backed by Heller was also signed into law this week.

“Our legislation bolsters G.I. Bill benefits for reservists, Purple Heart recipients, and eliminates the arbitrary 15-year limit, giving our nation’s warriors and their dependents the flexibility to further their education when the time is right for them,” Heller said in a statement.

He also applauded SilverSummit’s decision to offer health insurance plans on the Nevada exchange in 14 previously bare counties, saying he was “proud to work with Governor Sandoval to make sure that people living in all of Nevada’s 17 counties have the option to purchase coverage on the exchange next year.”

Press release subject lines:

  • 8/12: President Signs Heller Bill to Continue VA Choice Program for Nevada Veterans
  • 8/14: Heller Visits Reno VA Hospital
  • 8/15: Heller Applauds Centene’s Pledge to Offer Health Plans in Nevada’s Bare Counties
  • 8/16: Heller-Backed “Forever G.I. Bill” Signed Into Law

RUBEN KIHUEN

Number of press release issued this week: 3

The details: Still home for the August recess, freshman Democratic Rep. Ruben Kihuen attended a few events back home in the district this week, including some his staff highlighted through their press releases. The congressman attended a back-to-school event at Matt Kelly Elementary School on Monday, the subject of two press releases, and announced a press conference on the shortage of physicians in Nevada scheduled for this coming Monday. None of the press releases this week included direct statements from the congressman.

Press release subject lines:

  • 8/12: REP. RUBEN J. KIHUEN TO JOIN NEVADA YOUTH NETWORK ON THEIR RED CARPET IN WELCOMING MATT KELLY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL
  • 8/14: TODAY: REP. RUBEN J. KIHUEN TO JOIN NEVADA YOUTH NETWORK ON THEIR RED CARPET IN WELCOMING MATT KELLY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL
  • 8/18: REP. RUBEN J. KIHUEN TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS IN SOUTHERN NEVADA

DINA TITUS

Number of press release issued this week: 2

The details: It was a fairly quiet week for Democratic Rep. Dina Titus, whose only press release this week announced a $472,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to UNLV to develop computer science principles classes for students with disabilities.

“A disability should never prevent any child from succeeding in school and in life,” Titus said. “This grant money will lay the foundation for new jobs and opportunities for all students and show that everyone in classrooms can make valuable contributions. It’s not just the right thing for our children – it’s the right thing for our economy.”

Titus also stopped by the Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada’s Wednesday meeting, where she declined to specify whether she plans to run for U.S. Senate in 2018.

Press release subject lines:

  • 8/17: Rep. Titus Announces $472k Grant to Help Students with Disabilities
  • 8/19: Titus Statement on Bannon’s Departure

MARK AMODEI

Number of press release issued this week: 0

The details: Another silent week for Republican Rep. Mark Amodei, whose office didn’t put out any press releases. He has also continued to not communicate what he is up to via his social media accounts.

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