Catherine Cortez Masto

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, like all Americans, Nevadans have been through a difficult 2 years. Our State was one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. Nevada relies on tourism and the travel industry, and with the country in lockdown, a huge proportion of our families saw layoffs or furloughs. In fact, we had one of the highest unemployment rates in the country at one time: 30 percent. For those families, the middle-class tax cuts we passed in the American Rescue Plan have been an incredible lifeline. Today, I am joining my colleagues to stand up for extending these tax cuts. It is so important that we get this done for people not only in the Silver State but across the country. In many cases, this is money that Nevadans have earned, and it really needs to go back into their pockets. We are talking about a tax cut that benefits the vast majority of families in Nevada. In July of this year, because of the American Rescue Plan, the child tax credit increased to $300 per month for children under 6 years of age and $250 a month for children between 6 and 17 years of age. Working families with two young kids are receiving more than $500 a month back from the government to help them make ends meet, and it is making a tremendous difference. Over 594,000 children in Nevada and their families qualify for this money. I have heard story after story from people in the Silver State about the way the money is supporting their children. Some families are using the money for rent, to make sure that their kids don't suffer from housing insecurity. Others use it for clothes for their children or schoolbooks and other school supplies. Lori Munoz from Henderson, NV, told the Las Vegas Sun that she uses it for school lunches and other school expenses. She said, ``You always think, `oh, it's some extra money.' It's never extra money. . . . Kids always need, there's always something that needs to be bought.'' Many families use it just for food on the table. After those first payments were issued in July, the number of adults reporting that children in their households didn't have enough to eat fell by one- third. And Jessie Cartinella from Reno told me that receiving the monthly payments let her stay afloat as a single mom on a teacher's salary and kept her from running up credit card bills. She said, and I quote: ``Thanks to the Advance Child Tax Credit, I've mostly avoided this and been able to pay bills and even enjoy special outings with my children. The Child Tax Credit encourages my family to make better choices in general--affording me assistance with quality childcare, options for healthier products and food, and providing the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities that I believe are critical to a kid's social and physical development.'' That was Jessie. And that is why it was so beneficial to her family and her children. Social interactions are so important for kids' mental health as well, and we have known that throughout this pandemic. Treanna James, a single mom in Las Vegas, used her extra funds to take her two sons to visit an uncle and an aunt in northern California for the first time since the pandemic began. Because of underlying medical issues, they had to be very careful about travel; but she said the child tax credit helped make it possible for them to spend time with family again at Thanksgiving. So these tax cuts have really been key for Nevada families. Now, they are set to expire at the end of 2021, but the budget proposal that we are considering extends them for 1 more year. Our hard-working families want us to keep this critical support going to them. This is not the time to make it harder for people to keep a roof over their heads or give their kids the essentials they need. So let's make sure Nevadans can keep that money that they have earned and extend these middle-class tax cuts to Nevadans and all families across the country. Let's support the working people. Let's support hard-working individuals every day and help them with their economic recovery. I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, this morning, the Supreme Court heard arguments about whether it is constitutional for Mississippi to ban abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. This is by far the biggest threat to Roe v. Wade in almost three decades. I am here today to sound the alarm and call on my colleagues to stand with me to protect the health of America's women. There is every reason to think that extreme Justices on the Supreme Court are poised to either overturn Roe or fatally undermine it. If the Supreme Court gets rid of Roe, which has been the law of the land for five decades, each individual State will decide whether to let women control their own bodies and their own lives. Without Roe, abortion will be immediately illegal in about 12 States, and more than a dozen others will likely put severe abortion restrictions in place. It is even possible that a future Republican Congress would try to restrict abortion nationally. Now, you know reproductive rights have been protected for so long in the United States that it has been easy for us to forget what happens when we don't safeguard them. But when women cannot control what reproductive care they receive, their health suffers--their physical, emotional, and economic health--and the health and welfare of their entire families. We can see that now in Texas, where a new law creates incentives for vigilantes to pry into their neighbors' lives by letting anyone sue who would aid and abet abortions and get a $10,000 reward for doing so. Texas doctors have reported that they are afraid to give essential medical advice to women at risk of life-threatening complications in their pregnancies. One woman in Texas was even refused care for an ectopic pregnancy, which cannot be carried to term and must be terminated to save the patient's life. Women seek access to reproductive care for all kinds of reasons-- reasons that are personal and intimate and sometimes heartbreaking. And Americans understand this. They get it. Three out of every four of us, including the vast majority of Nevadans, agree that the people who should be making decisions about pregnancies are women and their doctors. It is unthinkable to me, then, that the Court is on the verge of taking that decision away from women and medical professionals and giving it to politicians instead. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, nearly half of women nationwide will see the nearest clinic close. The average distance to the nearest reproductive healthcare clinic will go up by more than 10 times, from 25 miles to 279 miles. Now, if you have ever worked for minimum wage, you know that taking days to travel across State lines for healthcare is a luxury that many Americans can't afford. That is reality for many low-income women, including women of color. We have to stop treating women's healthcare as optional. In Nevada--and I say to the Presiding Officer, you know this better than anyone in the Senate--we have worked hard to protect reproductive health. In the nineties, we passed a ballot initiative to enshrine choice into law. More recently, in Nevada, we have done away with the kind of restrictions on abortion that are popping up in State after State. But make no mistake, as long as there are active efforts to eliminate the right to choose, whether in the courts or in Congress, the reproductive freedom of women everywhere is in jeopardy. We must do everything we can to protect a woman's right to choose. That is why it is so vital that Congress pass the Women's Health Protection Act. This bill would outlaw bans and other medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion across the country. It would mean that States could not impose medically unnecessary ultrasounds, excessive waiting periods, and other extreme burdens on healthcare providers intended to limit abortion access. It would guarantee women control over their reproductive decisions, in consultation with medical professionals. Now, that is what three-quarters of us think is right. I will do everything I can in the Senate to protect women in Nevada and across this country, and I would hope that our colleagues would join us. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I have 9 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 408.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m., Monday, October 25; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Cobb nomination; further, that at 5:30 p.m., the Senate resume consideration of the Parker nomination, as provided under the previous order; and, finally, that if any nominations are confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. For the information of Senators, there will be two rollcall votes starting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday on the confirmation of the Parker and Perez nominations.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, this is a difficult anniversary for people in Nevada and across the country. Tomorrow marks 4 years since the Route 91 Harvest Festival attack. And on that day 4 years ago, thousands attended a concert on a late summer night in my hometown of Las Vegas. They were at the festival to enjoy an evening with friends and loved ones. Fifty-eight of them never made it home. I will never forget waiting with families at the Reunification Center in Las Vegas, where they braced themselves for the worst possible news. Two more people have died of their wounds since the attack. Over 800 people were injured in the shooting and in the chaos that followed, as people fled for safety. And countless members of our community are still dealing with the emotional scars left by the violence of that night. For those hundreds of concertgoers and for their loved ones, 1 October is a lingering presence--one that can return in a rush at the faintest reminder, like the sound of sirens or fireworks. The day remains the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. While a nightmare unfolded around them, hundreds of people sprang into action to save lives, even at the risk of their own. Brave first responders rushed to the scene to direct people to safety and transport the wounded. Healthcare workers jumped into action. Ordinary Nevadans stood in line for hours in the days after the shooting to give blood to those in need. And businesses all over the State and country provided every imaginable support, from food to blankets, to airline tickets. I think about that contrast every time I think of October 1, 2017, between the darkness of the circumstances and the light of our community coming together in the aftermath. In the midst of terror and heartbreak, a whole city, a State, a country of people showed up to help one another. And I am so proud of Nevadans, whose first response to tragedy was to help their community heal these painful wounds. On that horrible night and the days after, every selfless act, large or small, made a difference. From bystanders who turned their pickup trucks into ambulances, to the thousands of Nevadans who put ``Vegas Strong'' signs in their windows to show survivors that they weren't alone, Nevadans came together to help. Now, we cannot undo the terrible actions or tragic events, but we can always do something to lessen the weight of these events. And even though years have passed, we still owe it to everyone touched by this tragedy to continue moving through our grief toward healing, and there is still so much that we can do. Every time we reminisce about those we have lost, we help their loved ones keep the memories alive. With every donation to the memorial scholarships, we honor those affected by the shooting. We help survivors deal with the impact of this tragedy when we talk about the mental health toll that the shooting has taken and when we work to decrease the stigma around mental health issues. I have consistently worked to expand treatment options for mental health and substance use issues, and I will keep pushing in the Senate to support life-changing care for those facing mental health challenges. We make it better when we advocate for commonsense laws to prevent gun violence as well, like the ones we have passed in Nevada. It is unbelievable that I am standing here on the Senate floor 4 years after I first spoke about this tragedy and that we still have not been able to pass background checks and commonsense gun safety measures. The majority of Americans are with us. We need to act because Las Vegas deserves it and so do communities all across the Nation. We cannot continue to stand by as mass attacks and shootings take a tragic toll all over the United States. To the people of Las Vegas who continue to grapple with the pain we experienced on that day, know that I am with you. We will continue to work to create a permanent memorial at the site of the shooting to be a tangible reminder of what we know; that even in the darkest times-- especially in the darkest times--we can come together to help one another and we can make a difference. I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, today, I want to recognize a friend of mine, Susan Meuschke, who is the Executive Director of the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. She is retiring after three decades working on behalf of women and children in my home State of Nevada. Sue has been a champion for victims of domestic violence and their families since she worked as a volunteer for the Committee to Aid Abused Women in Reno, NV. It was there--listening to the stories of women dealing with family violence--that she began to understand both their struggles and their courage. Sue went on to work with the coalition for 32 years, helping develop it into a powerful organization statewide for those affected by domestic and sexual violence. I have had the pleasure of working with Sue since I was Nevada's attorney general, and together we passed legislation to create dedicated funding for domestic violence programs. She has continued to be a resource for me during my time in the U.S. Senate, as I have worked to prevent sex trafficking, to stem the tide of violence against Native women, and push for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I pushed to make sure that our next COVID package included more support for survivors of domestic violence. Sue worked to distribute those Federal funds fairly and effectively to Nevadans, and she worked especially hard to promote a microloan program that families could use to regain financial independence. As Sue enters her retirement, I want to make sure everyone in Nevada appreciates her decades of advocacy. She has made a profound difference for families in the Silver State. I have no doubt that whoever succeeds Sue at the coalition will continue to work tirelessly to end domestic and sexual violence, because, honestly, we still have so much work to do. That is why I am here on the Senate floor today. The reality is that women's rights are under attack around the country, and that includes reproductive rights. Anti-abortion extremists are going to great lengths to stop women from seeking reproductive care. As of June, they had proposed 500 new laws restricting reproductive rights and passed 70 of these laws. Let's start with Texas, where a new law prohibits abortions before many people even know they are pregnant. The law lets anyone sue those who aid and abet abortions and get a $10,000 reward. It has the potential to create a whole industry of vigilantes prying into their neighbors' lives, all to stop women from being able to access reproductive healthcare. The American people--70 percent of us--oppose deputizing private citizens to collect these kinds of bounties. But even though the Texas law is extreme, the Supreme Court has refused to stop it from going into effect. That means that, right now, 7 million women of reproductive age in Texas have been deprived of a key constitutional right, a right that they have had for 50 years. Clinics in Oklahoma City, OK, and Little Rock, AR, have seen the number of Texas women seeking abortions jump tenfold in a matter of days. But it is not just Texas where the right to medical care is threatened. Dangerous abortion bans have been signed into law in Mississippi, Arizona, and Georgia, among others. And all of this is happening because anti-abortion extremists have been working for decades to limit women's choices. Let's be very clear: they are on the brink of success. On December 1, the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a case called Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, which deals with an abortion ban in Mississippi. This case was specifically chosen by anti-choice activists to help strike down Roe v. Wade. Sadly, the Court has given every signal it is willing to do the activists' bidding by overturning Roe v. Wade and allowing these bans to take effect. That is why I and 47 of my Senate colleagues filed a friend of the court brief last week, calling on the Supreme Court to stick to the settled precedent of Roe and strike down the Mississippi law. But if the Supreme Court doesn't abide by 50 years of its own rulings, well, there are 19 States where abortion would be illegal the day after a Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe V. Wade, and others where abortion bans would likely follow. All in all, nearly half of women nationwide will see the nearest clinic close. The average distance to the nearest clinic for those seeking reproductive care will jump from 25 to 279 miles. Anyone who has ever worked a minimum-wage job knows that they don't have the luxury of traveling hundreds of miles for healthcare. Women's healthcare isn't optional. Nevadans know this. That is why we worked so hard in Nevada to protect the right to choose. In the nineties, we passed a ballot initiative to enshrine choice into law, and we have actually done away with the kind of restrictions on abortion that are popping up in State after State. But what we are seeing in Texas and other States across the country threatens the future of Roe V. Wade everywhere. Let me be clear: It threatens the future of Roe V. Wade everywhere. And without Roe, there will be no Federal protections in place, paving the way for anti-choice lawmakers to pass legislation to restrict reproductive rights anywhere in the country. And that is why it is so important for the Senate to pass the Women's Health Protection Act. This bill would outlaw bans in other medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion across the country. It would mean that States could not impose medically unnecessary ultrasounds, excessive waiting periods, and extreme burdens on healthcare providers intended to limit abortion access. In Nevada and across the country, the vast majority of voters believes that women should get to make their own decisions about their reproductive health, including when and whether to have a child. We cannot let a dedicated minority take that right away from the rest of us. Let me just say, I am going to keep working on this issue because it is so important to Nevadans and to women all over this country. This is about making sure that women can control their own bodies and their futures, and I will always stand up for that. I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, today I am honored to recognize Susan Meuschke, executive director of the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence--NCEDSV--who will officially retire on September 30, 2021. Ms. Meuschke has been a champion for victims of domestic violence and their families for more than three decades. Her career in advocacy and awareness of the problem of family violence in our communities began when she was a volunteer for the Committee to Aid Abused Women in Reno, NV. It was there, while listening to the struggles and the courage of those dealing with family violence, that she found her lifelong passion for helping those in need. Ms. Meuschke then went on to work with NCEDSV for 32 years and was instrumental in developing the organization into a powerful force in the State of Nevada with 10 full-time staff members, a variety of consultants, and offices in both Reno and Las Vegas. Ms. Meuschke is also a founding member of the Nevada Domestic Violence Prevention Council and a former member of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Steering Committee. In 2019, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak proclaimed February 1 as a day in honor of Ms. Meuschke, a fitting tribute for such a remarkable woman. It has been an honor to work with Ms. Meuschke to help grow domestic violence programs. While I was Nevada's attorney general, I worked closely with Ms. Meuschke to ensure we passed legislation to create dedicated funding for domestic violence programs through fees on marriage licenses. Before her retirement, Ms. Meuschke and NCEDSV were also working on a bill to increase statewide funding for domestic violence services and to create funding for sexual violence services. These efforts reflect her dedication to working across the aisle to build a safer, more caring world for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. During 2020 and the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Meuschke worked hard to ensure that Federal coronavirus relief funding delivered to NCEDSV went to programs aimed at providing education and support to survivors in rural communities. The funding also sought to improve the financial independence of survivors through the Financial Empowerment Microloan program. Ms. Meuschke was crucial in seeing that the funds were distributed equitably to programs that would make the biggest difference in the lives of survivors. As Ms. Meuschke enters her retirement, I want to make sure her decades of strong advocacy and empowerment are recognized for the important impact they have had in the State of Nevada. First as Nevada's attorney general and now as a U.S. Senator, I have been fortunate to work side-by-side with Ms. Meuschke to support families and make our communities safer. NCEDSV is not only a strong advocate for policies that protect victims but a resource for survivors who are looking for help. Much of its strength can be attributed to Ms. Meuschke's leadership and her unwavering resilience and fortitude to advocate on behalf of all survivors.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I was unable to attend the rollcall vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of James Richard Kvaal, of Massachusetts, to be Under Secretary of Education. I am supportive of his nomination and would have voted in support of cloture.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, I call up my amendment, No. 3317, and ask that it be reported by number.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, I am joined on this amendment by Senators Tester, Wyden, and Warnock. Our amendment will protect family farms, ranches, and small businesses while ensuring that the wealthy pay their fair share. Family-owned businesses, farms, and ranches are the backbone of the American economy. Many of these family-owned businesses have held their assets for generations and have a deep connection to the land they inherit. They are essential for feeding America. Congress should protect these multigenerational, hard-working families who have spent a lifetime creating jobs, building businesses, and serving their communities. We are committed to protecting these family-owned businesses while ensuring that the top 1 percent of corporations pay their fair share. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that will make historic investments in Nevada, pending legislation we are working on right now. With this legislation, Senators from both sides of the aisle were able to come together to negotiate policy that will prepare us for a sustainable future. It will create good-paying jobs, and it will strengthen the economy. This is an example of how Congress can work to the benefit of all Americans. In the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I worked to make sure that Nevada and the Western States have the tools they need to address the drought and wildfires caused by the extreme weather we are experiencing now. This package includes necessary legislation to fund large-scale water-recycling projects that can clean millions of gallons of wastewater a day to keep water in Lake Mead for the Las Vegas Valley. This act also includes measures I wrote to help prevent wildfires and to fund state-of-the-art fire-detection equipment. New technologies can keep us one step ahead of disastrous fires, and we need this kind of forward thinking to protect our communities. I also ensured this bill would support Nevada's mining industry and create new union jobs. It does this by strengthening the critical mineral and battery supply chain that provides key components of cell phones and laptops, electric vehicles, solar panels, and more. We should be processing the minerals we mine in Nevada right here in the United States, and this bill will help us do that in a responsible way while protecting the environment and our public lands. I am so pleased that this bill will also make historic investments in our students. My bipartisan Renew America's Schools Act will invest $100 million a year in environmentally friendly school improvement projects, and I worked to include additional support for our students, from funding for electric school buses to programs that keep kids safe when they walk, bike, or ride the bus to school. This legislation also includes $65 billion in funding to expand broadband access to Americans across the country, and I helped draft additional bipartisan provisions to promote digital equity and ensure the government is being transparent about how it is spending this funding. The infrastructure bill will also secure improvements for our public transit systems and airports and allow us to produce and charge more electric vehicles. It will make our lives more sustainable. It will bolster our economy and uplift working families. You know, I like to call Nevada the Innovation State. I know we have the technology and creativity to deal with the challenges of the 21st century. My State is full of innovators and inventors, small business owners, and students, all of whom are eager to play a part in a sustainable and prosperous future. This package will bring us closer to that goal. I look forward to the positive changes this legislation will bring my State, and that is why I am supporting it. I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I join my colleague from Nebraska in support of this bipartisan amendment. Transparency around broadband is so important for all of our communities, and it fits with, I think, what we are all doing to address our broadband needs across the country and trying to ensure we are bringing broadband into the communities most in need. So I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I yield the floor.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that all remaining time be yielded back on the nomination.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I rise today to tell you about Brian Neuman, an Iraq combat veteran who was wounded while serving our Nation overseas in 2004. Brian has spent years working with the Wounded Warrior Project to help other veterans get the benefits that they need. Years after returning home, Brian applied for an annual clothing allowance of $841. This allowance should be available to veterans like Brian when a medication or a medical device causes irregular wear or damage to their clothing. As many vets with service injuries will tell you, their clothes wear down much faster than other people's, and the prosthetics can rip or tear clothes as well. Some veterans need tailoring to make clothing fit more comfortably around their injuries. Others have to treat skin conditions with creams that damage their clothes. These veterans get compensation for the expenses associated with their injuries--and rightly so. Our veterans have given this country so much, and Congress has a responsibility to hold up its end of the bargain, to care for them when they are injured during their service to our Nation. But right now, this benefit isn't accessible for many veterans, and that is wrong, and we need to change it. In the case of the clothing allowance benefits, as Brian discovered, the VA currently requires veterans to be evaluated for this benefit in person, every year. One year, Brian physically went to a VA clinic to submit the clothing allowance application, and his request was denied because the VA had no record that he received a prosthetic at that specific clinic. At that point, like many vets, Brian gave up on the process in frustration. That is just unacceptable. These are brave men and women who are living with severe burns or who wear prosthetic devices as a result of their service. In many cases, the VA already knows these veterans have a medical condition that isn't going to change year from year. And that didn't make any sense to Brian, so he did something about it. He reached out to see if Congress could solve the problem. He did. He did it, he says, less for himself, but more for the many veterans in rural States, like mine in Nevada, who live hours away from the nearest VA Brian knows that many of them are so worn out by the process of applying for what is owed them that they just give up. These men and women are tired of jumping through hoops to access their earned benefits. So why are we forcing them to navigate this complicated bureaucracy? There are certainly places to cut costs, but this isn't one of them. The Senate can fix this problem easily, and I have introduced a bipartisan bill to do just that. I am glad to be working across the aisle with my colleague Senator Boozman to support injured and disabled veterans. Our bill makes it easier for them to get clothing that works for their specific needs. My legislation requires the VA to automatically renew this clothing allowance. Veterans can get it until they say they don't need it anymore or until the VA's records indicate that they don't require it. This will make sure they aren't forced to drive long distances to access a VA benefit they are owed. I am looking forward to moving this legislation through Congress so we can make life a little easier for the 40,000 wounded warriors who currently receive this benefit and for the thousands more who qualify. There shouldn't be any redtape stopping veterans from getting their benefits, so let's pass this bill and fix this problem. I am going to continue to work in every way I can to make sure that veterans in Nevada and across the country get the Federal resources they need

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I rise today to tell you about Brian Neuman, an Iraq combat veteran who was wounded while serving our Nation overseas in 2004. Brian has spent years working with the Wounded Warrior Project to help other veterans get the benefits that they need. Years after returning home, Brian applied for an annual clothing allowance of $841. This allowance should be available to veterans like Brian when a medication or a medical device causes irregular wear or damage to their clothing. As many vets with service injuries will tell you, their clothes wear down much faster than other people's, and the prosthetics can rip or tear clothes as well. Some veterans need tailoring to make clothing fit more comfortably around their injuries. Others have to treat skin conditions with creams that damage their clothes. These veterans get compensation for the expenses associated with their injuries--and rightly so. Our veterans have given this country so much, and Congress has a responsibility to hold up its end of the bargain, to care for them when they are injured during their service to our Nation. But right now, this benefit isn't accessible for many veterans, and that is wrong, and we need to change it. In the case of the clothing allowance benefits, as Brian discovered, the VA currently requires veterans to be evaluated for this benefit in person, every year. One year, Brian physically went to a VA clinic to submit the clothing allowance application, and his request was denied because the VA had no record that he received a prosthetic at that specific clinic. At that point, like many vets, Brian gave up on the process in frustration. That is just unacceptable. These are brave men and women who are living with severe burns or who wear prosthetic devices as a result of their service. In many cases, the VA already knows these veterans have a medical condition that isn't going to change year from year. And that didn't make any sense to Brian, so he did something about it. He reached out to see if Congress could solve the problem. He did. He did it, he says, less for himself, but more for the many veterans in rural States, like mine in Nevada, who live hours away from the nearest VA Brian knows that many of them are so worn out by the process of applying for what is owed them that they just give up. These men and women are tired of jumping through hoops to access their earned benefits. So why are we forcing them to navigate this complicated bureaucracy? There are certainly places to cut costs, but this isn't one of them. The Senate can fix this problem easily, and I have introduced a bipartisan bill to do just that. I am glad to be working across the aisle with my colleague Senator Boozman to support injured and disabled veterans. Our bill makes it easier for them to get clothing that works for their specific needs. My legislation requires the VA to automatically renew this clothing allowance. Veterans can get it until they say they don't need it anymore or until the VA's records indicate that they don't require it. This will make sure they aren't forced to drive long distances to access a VA benefit they are owed. I am looking forward to moving this legislation through Congress so we can make life a little easier for the 40,000 wounded warriors who currently receive this benefit and for the thousands more who qualify. There shouldn't be any redtape stopping veterans from getting their benefits, so let's pass this bill and fix this problem. I am going to continue to work in every way I can to make sure that veterans in Nevada and across the country get the Federal resources they need

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order following the remarks of Senators Cruz and Lee.

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 306, submitted earlier today.