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Dispatches from Washington: Nevada's congressional delegation returns to work after month-long recess

Megan Messerly
Megan Messerly
Congress
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It was anything but a quiet week in Washington D.C. as Congress returned from its August recess to face several pressing tasks, raising the debt ceiling and passing a Hurricane Harvey aid package.

To top it off, the Trump administration officially announced on Tuesday that it was ending the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows people who were brought by their parents as children illegally to the United States temporary immunity from deportation. The announcement sparked a flurry of news releases from Democrats — and even one Republican — in Nevada’s congressional delegation.

In the wake of the DACA announcement, several Democratic members of the delegation urged Congress to take action and pass the DREAM Act, a long-stalled measure in Congress that would grant DACA recipients conditional and eventually permanent residency in the United States.

While his colleagues were focusing on immigration, Republican Sen. Dean Heller introduced a bill to address the nationwide rape-kit backlog to reauthorize, strengthen and extend the Sexual Assault Forensic Registry program.

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: 6

The details: Almost all of the news releases put out by Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s office this week focused on the administration’s DACA announcement and urged Congress to pass the DREAM Act, which she is co-sponsoring.

Cortez Masto said in a statement that the president’s decision to end DACA shows “he stands with racists like Stephen Bannon and Joe Arpaio.”

“Today’s decision to end DACA protections for DREAMers is not guided by sound policy, but by xenophobia and myths. DREAMers who benefit from DACA know no other country other than the U.S.,” she said. “Denying them DACA protection unjustly rips away their future, exposes them to job loss, and threatens them with deportation from the only country they have ever known. By revoking this program, the Administration robs our communities of their contributions and betrays America’s immigrant heritage.”

The DREAM Act, Cortez Masto said, would allow 13,000 people in Nevada who contribute more than $500 million to the state’s economy to continue to live and work in the Silver State. Without them, the state would lose billions of dollars, she said.

“That’s why businesses support it, in my state and across this country, that’s why the farmers, that’s why the cattle ranchers—you name it—across this country support passing comprehensive immigration reform and keeping those families here,” she said.

Press release subject lines:

  • 9/5: Cortez Masto: Trump DACA Repeal Betrays America’s Immigrant Heritage
  • 9/5: ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, September 6th at 10:00 AM ET in Washington, D.C. - Cortez Masto, Schumer, Pelosi, Senate and House Democrats to Demand Congressional Republicans Protect DACA Recipients, Pass the DREAM Act
  • 9/5: ***VIDEO RELEASE *** Cortez Masto: Trump DACA Repeal Betrays America’s Immigrant Heritage
  • 9/6: UPDATED LOCATION: ***MEDIA ADVISORY*** TODAY, September 6th at 10:00 AM ET in Washington, D.C. - Cortez Masto, Schumer, Pelosi, Senate and House Democrats to Demand Congressional Republicans Protect DACA Recipients, Pass the DREAM Act
  • 9/6: Cortez Masto Calls on Congress to Pass the DREAM Act Now
  • 9/6: Bill Cosponsored by Cortez Masto to Extend Bankruptcy Judgeships Passes Senate
  • 9/8: Cortez Masto Applauds Federal Grant for Elko Regional Airport Improvements

JACKY ROSEN

Number of press releases issued this week: 4

The details: Like Cortez Masto, Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen focused heavily on the DACA rollback announced by the administration in her news releases this week. She called the administration’s decision to end DACA a “heartless betrayal of Nevada DREAMers.”

“The White House should be ashamed of this cowardly decision,” Rosen said in a statement. “Now it is up to Congress to right his wrong and pass legislation that provides permanent relief to DREAMers so that they can continue to contribute to our country without fear of being kicked out of the country that they love.”

Her team also highlighted in news releases a speech she gave on the House floor calling out Republicans unsupportive of the DREAM Act and her vote in favor of of the Hurricane Harvey relief package that also raises the debt ceiling.

Press release subject lines:

  • 9/5: ROSEN CALLS OUT PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR BETRAYAL OF NEVADA DREAMERS
  • 9/6: ROSEN CO-SPONSORS BIPARTISAN DREAM ACT, CALLS REPUBLICANS’ ATTEMPT TO BLOCK ITS VOTE SHAMEFUL
  • 9/7: ROSEN TAKES TO HOUSE FLOOR TO CALL OUT REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO BLOCK DREAM ACT
  • 9/8: ROSEN VOTES FOR BIPARTISAN DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE AND TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, CALLS ON CONGRESS TO TAKE UP DREAM ACT

DINA TITUS

Number of press releases issued this week: 3

The details: Like her colleagues, Democratic Rep. Dina Titus decried the decision to end DACA, saying that the president was “tearing apart families and turning his back on a promise.” She blamed Republicans for spending “the better part of a decade avoiding votes on bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform.”

“I am working with community leaders to help provide access to resources for immigrants and urging my colleagues in Congress to reverse Trump’s latest attack on working families,” Titus said in a statement. “We will not let Trump destroy the American Dream for 800,000 family members, friends, and neighbors in our nation.”

She also put out a statement stressing the need for equal pay for equal work, a living wage, quality health care, retirement benefits, safety standards and diversity in the workplace on Labor Day. Another press release highlighted Titus’s vote in favor of the Hurricane Harvey relief package that also raises the debt ceiling.

Press release subject lines:

  • 9/4: Titus Statement on Labor Day
  • 9/5: TITUS STATEMENT ON TRUMP ENDING DACA
  • 9/8: Titus Votes for Harvey and Irma Relief, Government Funding Extension

RUBEN KIHUEN

Number of press releases issued this week: 3

The details: Democratic Rep. Ruben Kihuen, who was formerly undocumented, said he was “disappointed” in the president’s decision to end the DACA program and said that he would fight “tooth and nail” to protect DREAMers from deportation.

“I was once undocumented, and now I am a Member of Congress. DACA beneficiaries are teachers, students, young professionals, and service members who provide significant economic and cultural benefits to our country,” Kihuen said. “All these young people want is a chance for a better life and greater opportunity. DREAMers are not criminals and they should not be targets for deportation.”

His staff also highlighted an interview Kihuen did with MSNBC talking about the president’s decision on DACA.

Press release subject lines:

  • 9/5: REP. KIHUEN: PRESIDENT TRUMP ONCE AGAIN TRAMPLES OVER OUR COUNTRY’S VALUES
  • 9/7: ICYMI Rep. Kihuen talks DACA on MSNBC's Hardball W/ Chris Matthews
  • 9/8: ICYMI: Rep. Kihuen calls on Congress to pass the DREAM Act

DEAN HELLER

Number of press releases issued this week: 2

The details: Republican Sen. Dean Heller put out only two press releases this week, including one touting a piece of legislation he introduced to reduce the nation’s rape kit backlog.

The bill, also sponsored by Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, would reauthorize, strengthen and extend the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Kit Reporting program. It would also ensure that pediatric forensic nurses are eligible for training to help children suffering from abuse.

“Victims of sexual assault deserve swift justice and nothing less,” Heller said. “This bill helps Nevada law enforcement in their efforts to cut down on the backlog of untested rape kits and ensure critical evidence isn’t left collecting dust.”

He also applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that White Pine County will receive a $9 million loan to assist with the construction of a new justice center in Ely.

Press release subject lines:

  • 9/6: Heller, Bipartisan Group of Senators, Introduce Bill to Help Reduce National Rape Kit Backlog
  • 9/8: Heller Announces Million USDA Loan for White Pine County

MARK AMODEI

Number of press releases issued this week: 1

The details: Nevada’s only Republican member in the House of Representatives, Mark Amodei, put out a statement this week responding to the DACA decision by saying that Congress has “six months to do the job it’s supposed to do according to the Constitution.” He said that if Congress is “unable to kick it into high gear” and pass an immigration bill after 31 years, “the blame is rightfully Congress’s.”

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve called on congressional leadership to act on immigration reform,” Amodei said. “I would always rather be criticized for attempting to move this issue toward a solution, than criticized for repeated inaction.”

Press release subject lines:

  • 9/6: AMODEI RESPONDS TO ADMINISTRATION’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON DACA
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