The focus this week in Washington was first health care, then tax reform.

But Nevada’s congressional delegation has been up to a lot more than just focusing on those two topics, from Republican Sen. Dean Heller introducing legislation to establish an investment tax credit for energy storage to his opponent, Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen, sponsoring a bill to protect the nation’s electrical grid. Republican and Democratic members of the congressional delegation also urged Congress to reauthorize funding for the Children’s Health Insurance program, which covers roughly 27,000 children in Nevada.

Democrats zeroed in on a couple of key topics — urging Congress to take up a vote on the DREAM Act and criticizing the so-called Graham-Cassidy proposal to block grant federal Obamacare dollars and send them to the states. Heller, meanwhile, touted a number of pieces of legislation that were moving forward in Congress, including an investor-focused bill headed to the president’s desk and legislation to address the nation’s rape kit backlog that passed committee.

Here’s a rundown of the congressional delegation’s activities this past week, as told through their media releases. As always, we kept the actual punctuation and capitalizations within the news release subject lines.

CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO

Number of press releases issued this week: 18

The details: There was no shortage of press releases from Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s office this week, which sent out nearly three missives a day to reporters. Like her Democratic colleagues, Cortez Masto touched on protections for DACA recipients, urging the extension of the renewal deadline in the wake of the recent storms, and urged Congress to bring the DREAM Act up for a vote.

Cortez Masto also delivered the weekly Democratic address, calling on the Trump Administration to provide additional funding for search, rescue and recovery operations in Puerto Rico.

“Senate Democrats are standing with the people of Puerto Rico. Republicans in Congress must act now to deliver on the Trump administration’s request for additional funding for search, rescue, and recovery operations,” Cortez Masto said.
The Democratic senator also co-sponsored bipartisan legislation aimed at improving safety within tribal communities and helping Native American victims of crime.

Cortez Masto also said that she was reviewing the president’s tax reform proposal and that she could not “support legislation that would be a windfall for the wealthiest Americans and special interests, increases the deficit, and refuses to make the necessary investments in the future of our working families.”

Press release subject lines:

• 9/25: Cortez Masto, Colleagues Call for Extension of DACA Renewal Deadline in Wake of Storms
• 9/25: Cortez Masto: Graham-Cassidy Takes Nevada Backwards
• 9/26: Cortez Masto: Puerto Ricans and U.S. Virgin Islanders Deserve the Full Support of Our Government
• 9/26: Cortez Masto Congratulates Nevada State College for Earning U.S. Department of Education Grant / Cortez Masto felicita a Nevada State College por ganar subvención del Departamento de Educación de EE.UU.
• 9/26: ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** TOMORROW, September 27th at 10:30 A.M. ET / 7:30 A.M. PT: Cortez Masto, Senate Democrats to Address Importance of Protecting Consumers
• 9/27: ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** TODAY at 10:30 A.M. ET / 7:30 A.M. PT: Cortez Masto, Senate Democrats to Address Importance of Protecting Consumers
• 9/27: **MEDIA ADVISORY ** Today at 3:30 P.M. ET/ 12:30 P.M. PT - Cortez Masto, Durbin, DREAMer & First Responder Jesús Contreras, Call on Congressional Republicans to Bring DREAM Act for a Vote
• 9/27: VIDEO: Cortez Masto, Senate Democrats Address Importance of Protecting Consumers
• 9/27: Cortez Masto on Trump’s Tax Proposal
• 9/28: Cortez Masto Applauds Nearly $15 Million in Federal Grant Funds for Magnet Schools in Clark County
• 9/28: Cortez Masto, Colleagues to Trump: We Must Do More for Puerto Rico and USVIs
• 9/28: VIDEO: Cortez Masto Urges Coordination Among Local, State, and Federal Authorities to Crack Down on Human Trafficking in Indian Country
• 9/28: Cortez Masto Cosponsors Bipartisan SURVIVE Act for Tribal Victim Services
• 9/28: Cortez Masto, Colleagues: DeVos’ Decision to Revoke Sexual Assault Guidance “Shows a Clear Lack of Concern” for Survivors
• 9/28: Cortez Masto Announces More than $580,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant for Northern Nevada
• 9/29: Cortez Masto Delivers Weekly Democratic Address
• 9/30: Cortez Masto Applauds Federal Grant for UNLV GEAR UP Program
• 9/30: Cortez Masto Applauds Senate Passage of MAIN STREET Cybersecurity Act

DEAN HELLER

Number of press releases issued this week: 11

The details: Health care was Republican Sen. Dean Heller’s focus early this week as the bill he was co-sponsoring to take Affordable Care Act dollars and turn them into a block grant to send to the states was heard in the Senate Finance Committee. In a press release, Heller’s office highlighted the remarks he made to the committee about how the legislation would give Nevada both the money and flexibility needed to best ensure health coverage for its residents.

The legislation, a draft of which was strongly opposed by Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval, will not move forward after three Republican senators came out in opposition to the bill and congressional leadership has now moved on to tackle tax reform.

But the rest of the week was equally as busy for Heller, who backed bills to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program, reduce the costs of insurance premiums and establish an investment tax credit for energy storage. The energy tax incentive bill, which he is co-sponsoring with Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich from New Mexico, aims to establish investment tax credits for both business and home use of energy storage.

“In a state with immense renewable energy potential, like Nevada, utilizing energy storage technologies is critical to the affordability, efficiency, and reliability of our electrical grid,” Heller said. “The bipartisan Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act will help attract investment to Nevada and allow our constituents to see real savings in their monthly bills.”

Additionally, a bill Heller introduced to allow broker-dealers to publish public research reports on Exchange Traded Funds, which millions of households invest in, passed the House and headed to the president’s desk on Wednesday.

“Making this research readily available for consumers and investors in Nevada will go a long way to helping people better understand the benefits and risks before investing their hard-earned money,” Heller said.

Press release subject lines:

• 9/25: Heller Statement on Confirmation of William J. Emanuel to the National Labor Relations Board
• 9/25: In Case You Missed It: Heller Says Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson Gives Nevada More Flexibility
• 9/26: Heller Backs Bipartisan Bill to Extend CHIP Program
• 9/26: Heller Makes the Case Against Yucca Mountain to U.S. House of Representatives
• 9/27: Heller Statement on Unified Framework to Fix Our Broken Tax System
• 9/27: Heller Cosponsors Bill to Curb Obamacare’s Skyrocketing Premiums in Nevada
• 9/27: In Case You Missed It: Heller Drives Need to Reduce Nevada’s High Veteran Suicide Rate
• 9/27: U.S. House Passes Heller Bill to Help Nevada Investors
• 9/28: Heller Congratulates Three Nevada Schools on Recognition as National Blue Ribbon Schools
• 9/28: Heller-Backed Bill to Fight Nationwide Rape Kit Backlog Passes Committee
• 9/29: Heller, Heinrich Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish Investment Tax Credit For Energy Storage

JACKY ROSEN

Number of press releases issued this week: 9

The details: Like many of her Democratic colleagues, Rep. Jacky Rosen urged Congress to reauthorize funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, demanded a vote on the bipartisan DREAM Act and noted Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell’s decision not to move forward with a vote on the Graham-Cassidy health-care proposal.

“The failure of this rushed, secretive and partisan health-care plan is a direct result of the millions of Americans who have been standing up and speaking out for access to affordable health care, ” said Rosen, who is challenging another of the bill’s sponsors, Republican Sen. Dean Heller, for his U.S. Senate seat in 2018. “This bill would have slashed Medicaid funding for our state, defunded Planned Parenthood, and gutted protections for pre-existing conditions.”

She also highlighted several grants awarded to Nevada institutions, including $2.7 million to Nevada State College, $1.8 million in two new federal Housing and Urban Development grants to the city of Henderson and $19.5 million to improve Nevada’s water infrastructure.

Rosen also introduced a bill with bipartisan support this week to protect the nation’s electrical grid from cyberattacks. She introduced the legislation alongside Republican Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois.

Press release subject lines:

• 9/25: ROSEN APPLAUDS FEDERAL HUD GRANTS AWARDED TO CITY OF HENDERSON
• 9/25: ROSEN URGES CONGRESS TO REAUTHORIZE CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FUNDING BEFORE UPCOMING DEADLINE
• 9/25: ROSEN SIGNS DISCHARGE PETITION, DEMANDS VOTE ON BIPARTISAN DREAM ACT
• 9/26: ROSEN STATEMENT ON FAILURE OF REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE PLAN IN THE SENATE
• 9/26: ROSEN APPLAUDS $2.7 MILLION GRANT TO NEVADA STATE COLLEGE
• 9/28: ROSEN INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO HELP SECURE THE ELECTRIC GRID AND PROTECT MILITARY READINESS
• 9/28: ROSEN APPLAUDS $19.5 MILLION EPA GRANT TO IMPROVE NEVADA’S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
• 9/29: ROSEN URGES CONGRESS TO REAUTHORIZE PERKINS STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM, CO-SPONSORS BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO EXTEND PROGRAM
• 9/29: ICYMI -- The Hill: Bill would require Pentagon to assess security risks to electric grid

DINA TITUS

Number of press releases issued this week: 7

The details: Other than Heller, Democratic Rep. Dina Titus was the only member of Nevada’s congressional delegation to focus on Yucca Mountain this week. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing on Tuesday to discuss nuclear waste policy management and Yucca.

Titus said in a statement that the hearing demonstrated that Republicans know “little” about the Yucca Mountain site and what she described as the “will” of Nevadans. She mentioned the environmental and geologic concerns at the site and said that lawmakers paid little attention to the bill supported by the congressional delegation urging Congress to adopt a consent-based siting process for a long term nuclear waste storage site.

“We cannot let Republicans ignore the aquifers and faults below the Yucca Mountain site along with the flora, fauna, and cultural relics aboveground,” Titus said in a statement. “They must not blatantly disregard the transportation of nuclear waste next to the Las Vegas Strip and through 329 congressional districts across the country. Nor should they subject the U.S. Treasury to a project that is estimated to cost at least $95 billion and will likely increase over time.”

Other press releases highlighted a $1.79 million grant to the Clark County School District and a $3 million grant to North Las Vegas’s sewer project. She also criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, who resigned on Friday, as an “abject failure” and pondered whether he was really “fiscally conservative” in his decision to use pricy charter planes instead of taking commercial flights to travel across the country.

Press release subject lines:

• 9/25: House Oversight to Hold Hearing on Nuclear Waste Management
• 9/25: Titus Statement on Failed Short-Term FAA Extension
• 9/26: Titus Announces $1.79 Million Grant to CCSD
• 9/26: Titus Statement on Yucca Hearing in House Oversight
• 9/26: Titus Statement on GOP’s Latest Attack on Children and Pregnant Women
• 9/26: TITUS ANNOUNCES $3 MILLION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR NORTH LAS VEGAS SEWER PROJECT
• 9/29: Titus Statement on Price Resignation

RUBEN KIHUEN

Number of press releases issued this week: 4

The details: Democratic Rep. Ruben Kihuen had no love this week for the Graham-Cassidy proposal, which he said would be a “fiasco for Nevada” in a press release. Kihuen, the first formerly undocumented member of Congress, also joined fellow House Democrats in calling for an immediate vote on the DREAM Act to protect DACA recipients and give them legal status.

With a funding cliff looming for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and so-called federally qualified health centers, Kihuen also called on Congress to pass legislation funding both programs.

“Believe it or not, Congress can multitask, and it is time for the political games to stop,” Kihuen said in a statement. “We must act now in order to prevent the disruption in health-care coverage and services for thousands of Nevada children and millions of American families.”

Press release subject lines:

• 9/25: REP. KIHUEN SLAMS LATEST PARTISAN EFFORT TO REPEAL AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
• 9/26: REP. KIHUEN ANNOUNCES $549K DEVELOPING HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM GRANT FOR NEVADA STATE COLLEGE
• 9/26: ICYMI: REP. KIHUEN SIGNS DREAM ACT DISCHARGE PETITION
• 9/27: REP. KIHUEN DEMANDS REPUBLICANS STOP HEALTH CARE GAMES & PASS CHIP, HEALTH CENTER FUNDING

MARK AMODEI

Number of press releases issued this week: 0

The details: No press releases again this week for Republican Rep. Mark Amodei. But the Northern Nevada congressman did make an appearance on Wayne Allyn Root’s talk show to discuss health-care efforts in Congress, which he publicized through Twitter.