Congressional Spotlight: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)

Each month The Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA) introduces you to a member of Congress who is a leader on legislative matters important to our TNPA community, with representation from both parties.

What was the moment you realized you were serious about getting into public service?

One of my first jobs in politics was working for Nevada Governor Bob Miller. I managed his office in Las Vegas, doing legal work and working with the state agencies. It was an incredible experience and helped me realize that I love public policy. To me, public service is all about tearing down barriers and finding solutions to really help our communities in Nevada succeed.

Describe your life in six words.

Always fighting for Nevada’s working families.

More About Senator Catherine Cortez Masto

TNPA has had the pleasure to work closely with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada.

Senator Cortez Masto is the first woman from Nevada and the first Latina ever elected to the U.S. Senate. Born and raised in Las Vegas, she has spent her career protecting Nevada families. From 2007 to 2015, as Nevada’s Attorney General, she fought to protect seniors and combat drug crime, took on the Big Banks, and strengthened laws to end sex trafficking and violence against women.

In the Senate, she has taken her fight for working Nevadans to Washington, D.C., by working to protect Nevadans’ access to health care, help hardworking families and homeowners get ahead, and grow Nevada’s innovation and renewable energy economy. She is a member of four U.S. Senate Committees: the Committee on Finance; the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; and the Committee on Indian Affairs.

The Nonprofit Alliance is especially grateful for Senator Cortez Masto’s cosponsorship of the Charitable Act, bipartisan legislation led by Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.). Currently, only 9% of taxpayers itemize their taxes, making them eligible for a tax cut when they make a charitable contribution. This bipartisan legislation that Cortez Masto and her colleagues are pushing would allow all taxpayers to get tax cut when they donate to a good cause, regardless of whether they itemized their taxes. Twenty four senators — including twelve Democrats and twelve Republicans — have signed on to this bill, and having Senator Cortez Masto’s support is crucial.

TNPA looks forward to continuing to work closely with her in the future.