In an exclusive interview with 2 News Nevada, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto spoke on the challenges she's facing in D.C., as well as local economic impacts Nevadans should be aware of.
One of the big changes the senator discussed is the impacts the Big Beautiful Bill will bring to our community, including cuts to people's health care.
"They're not going to have access to health insurance, they're not going to have access to Medicaid, they're not going to have access to the affordable care act," said Masto. "It's going to devastate our health care community."
Masto says this could cause a ripple effect by creating higher prices for people that don't rely on Medicaid in their premiums.
She says during this tough time, Nevadans need to work together to address all these issues.
For example, she mentions the Tahoe Summit. There were nonprofit organizations, community members, and federal, state, and local agencies all at the event to address the environmental issues at Lake Tahoe.
She says this same energy needs to be brought to all Nevada issues,
"That collaboration partnership should exist at all levels throughout the state of Nevada for all things that Nevadans and people want, an opportunity to have a good life," she said.
She says while work is being done in a bipartisan way in D.C., it's still been challenging as the Trump Administration continues to delay grants for the state and cut funds for essential resources like forest services.
"Fire seasons are longer and hotter, and this administration is cutting those positions and taking away some of the essential funding we need to fight these fires," she said. "So now utilize that thought of, it's not just happening to the Forest Service. It's happening to so many agencies at the federal level that is having an impact on Nevada."
Masto says she's had great legislation signed by both President Donald Trump during his first term and by former President Joe Biden during his term.
However, she says there's been a big change under President Trump's current administration.
The senator says now there's more damage being done with cuts to health care, food assistance, and tax codes which she claims benefit billionaires over the middle class.
"You go around the state, you can see there's still high costs. Grocery costs, there's still energy costs, there's housing costs that we need to address. This administration is not addressing those issues. I'd prefer that's where they focus their time because that's what I'm fighting to address," said Masto.
As far as her next steps, says she's prioritizing lowering costs for families.
Masto tells us her housing bill just passed out of a senate committee which is meant to help build more affordable housing.
