This week’s “Dispatches from Washington” isn’t really from Washington, since Nevada’s congressional delegation is home in Nevada for their August recess.

Nevertheless, the delegation remained busy this week pushing out news releases on what they were up to over the recess period, from visiting Basin and Range National Monument to hosting roundtable discussions with restaurant leaders. They also touted legislation they had sponsored or recently passed, including several veterans bills sponsored by Republican Sen. Dean Heller.

The Senate and the House of Representatives aren’t slated to return 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 releases issued this week: 10

The details: Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto has had a busy recess, and her press releases showed that. She went on a tour of the Public Education Foundation’s Teacher Exchange, toured the Crossroads Housing Program and visited Basin and Range National Monument.

“With its stunning desert landscapes filled with Joshua trees, wild desert animals and rock art created by Native Americans over thousands of years, Basin and Range exemplifies our rich archaeological history and cultural heritage,” Cortez Masto said in a statement of her visit. “It is a place Nevadans are fortunate to experience and explore, to give us a glimpse of our nation’s past and to appreciate the stark beauty of our public lands.”

She also criticized Anthem’s decision to leave the Nevada health exchange as “unscrupulous conduct” that “demonstrates that they will seek any opportunity to put profits over the health and well-being of the thousands of Nevadans who rely on them.”

Press release subject lines:

• 8/7: Cortez Masto Highlights Drug Enforcement Administration Proposal to Reduce Opioid Production Quotas
• 8/7: Cortez Masto on Anthem’s Decision to Leave Nevada Health Care Market
• 8/8: Cortez Masto Visits Basin and Range, Calls on Secretary Zinke to Protect National Monuments
• 8/8: **MEDIA ADVISORY** TOMORROW: Cortez Masto to Tour Public Education Foundation’s Teacher Exchange in Las Vegas
• 8/9: **MEDIA ADVISORY** TODAY: Cortez Masto to Tour Public Education Foundation’s Teacher Exchange in Las Vegas
• 8/10: Cortez Masto to DHS: At Time of Increased Global Threat, Ensuring Nevada has Needed Resources is Top Priority
• 8/10: **MEDIA ADVISORY** TOMORROW, FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 AT 11:00 AM PT Cortez Masto to Tour Crossroads Housing Program, Host Roundtable on Opioid Crisis
• **MEDIA ADVISORY** TODAY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 AT 11:00 AM PT Cortez Masto to Tour Crossroads Housing Program, Host Roundtable on Opioid Crisis
• 8/11: Cortez Masto Hosts Roundtable on Opioid Crisis, Touts Importance of Medicaid in Fighting the Epidemic
• 8/11: **MEDIA ADVISORY** MONDAY: Cortez Masto, Harris Join DREAMers & Immigration Leaders to Discuss Defending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program

DINA TITUS

Number of press releases issued this week: 5

The details: Two of Democratic Rep. Dina Titus’s releases this week focused on an annual Immigration Fraud and Prevention Fair hosted by the congresswoman. At the event, Titus and other speakers explained how scammers can pose as legal experts to exploit immigrants for money and personal information.

Titus also applauded the passage of a bill to change the way that appeals on disability claims for service-related injuries are processed and decried the announcement that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved $110,000 for information gathering related to the nuclear repository at Yucca Mountain.

“This announcement is another sign that the Trump Administration continues to stack the deck against Nevada and maneuvers to revive the unworkable Yucca scheme,” Titus said in a statement. “These funds are the tip of the iceberg in a project that would cost ratepayers at least $80 billion.”

Press release subject lines:

• 8/7: Titus Letter to Anthem CEO
• 8/8: TITUS STATEMENT ON NRC ANNOUNCEMENT
• 8/8: TOMORROW AT 5 PM: REP TITUS AND IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES HOST EVENT TO STOP FRAUD
• 8/9: TODAY AT 5 PM: REP TITUS AND IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES HOST EVENT TO STOP FRAUD
• 8/11: REP TITUS CELEBRATES PASSAGE OF MAJOR REFORM AT VA

DEAN HELLER

Number of press releases issued this week: 4

The details: While on the Senate’s August break this week, Heller sent out a number of missives, including one calling the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s decision to use past funds for information gathering related to Yucca Mountain a “waste of taxpayer money.”

“I’m disappointed in the NRC’s reckless and fiscally irresponsible decision to throw more taxpayer dollars on a project that Nevada continues to reject instead of using that money toward a consent-based approach to solving our country’s nuclear waste problem,” Heller said. “I’ll continue to lead the fight against Yucca Mountain and ensure this proposal remains dead.”

His office also highlighted in a press release Nevada media coverage of two of Heller’s veterans bills that are now headed to the president’s desk for a signature, including one that funds the Veterans Choice Program and another to improve education benefits for veterans.

Press release subject lines:

• 8/7: In Case You Missed It: Nevada Media Highlights Heller-Backed Bills to Support the State’s Veterans
• 8/7: HELLER NEWS: Heller to Energy: Pick Nevada for Geothermal Laboratory
• 8/8: HELLER NEWS: Heller Statement on Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Efforts to Revive Yucca Mountain
• 8/11: HELLER NEWS: House Passes Heller-Backed Bill to Strengthen Veterans’ Rights in VA Appeals Process

RUBEN KIHUEN

Number of press releases issued this week: 3

The details: Democratic Rep. Kihuen highlighted a roundtable discussion he had with restaurant owners this week at Leticia’s Mexican Cocina while Congress is on recess this week. At the roundtable, Kihuen met with the Nevada Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association.

“Our local small businesses owners are the heart of Las Vegas,” Kihuen said. “These roundtables are the perfect opportunity to listen to concerns, learn how federal policy is impacting their businesses, and discuss ways to strengthen these engines of economic opportunity.”

He highlighted a bill he introduced with Democratic Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island to modify federal laws about teacher preparation, including changes to reporting requirements, accountability provisions and the TEACH Grant scholarship program. In another release, he blamed Anthem’s decision to back out of Nevada’s exchange on attempts by Republicans in Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Press release subject lines:

• 8/7: REP. KIHUEN GOP MUST SUPPORT BIPARTISAN HEALTHCARE PLAN
• 8/8: CONGRESSMAN RUBEN KIHUEN (NV-04) & SENATOR JACK REED (RI) INTRODUCE EDUCATION PREPARATION REFORM ACT
• 8/10: REP. KIHUEN JOINS LOCAL RESTAURANT OWNERS FOR ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

JACKY ROSEN

Number of press releases issued this week: 3

The details: Like two of her Democratic colleagues, Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen jumped on the news that Anthem is pulling out of Nevada’s health exchange. The insurance company had pulled out of 14 rural counties earlier in the summer but had still planned to provide coverage to Clark, Washoe and Nye counties.

“The Trump administration's repeated calls to let the Affordable Care Act ‘implode’ on top of Republicans in Congress refusing to give up on repeal is causing widespread market instability across Nevada,” she said in a statement. “Instead of continuing to obsess about passing a partisan repeal bill that does nothing to lower people's health care costs or expand access, my Republican colleagues need to come to the table to find real, bipartisan solutions to fix and improve the ACA.”

Rosen also criticized the president for “abandoning health-care outreach to the Latino community” and praised a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human services to prevent lead poisoning in children.

Press release subject lines:

• 8/7: REP. JACKY ROSEN: REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO SABOTAGE ACA CAUSING HEALTH CRISIS FOR NEVADANS
• 8/10: ROSEN APPLAUDS HHS GRANT TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING
• 8/10: ROSEN CALLS OUT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR ABANDONING HEALTH CARE OUTREACH TO LATINO COMMUNITY

MARK AMODEI

Number of press releases issued this week: 0

The details: Republican Congressman Mark Amodei was again all crickets this week, issuing no press releases. It was not immediately clear what Amodei was up to during his August congressional recess.