Las Vegas, Nev. – This week, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) emphasized bills and constituent meetings to help interested Nevada workers prepare for and pursue careers in in-demand industries.
“As Nevada looks to recover from the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, our first priority should be supporting our workers, especially those who may have decided to reevaluate their careers or seek further training. I want to give both current workers who’d like to move into new industries and students deciding on a professional pathway every support with critical information, training, and other education opportunities. That’s why I’ve introduced a suite of bills this week to assist job seekers, and that’s why I’ll continue to fight in the U.S. Senate for COVID-19 relief legislation and a host of other measures to lift up Nevada’s workers.”
BACKGROUND:
This week, Senator Cortez Masto met virtually with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to discuss ways to support job seekers in the transportation industry, diversify the transportation workforce, and invest in transportation infrastructure to create more good-paying jobs in Nevada and across the country. She also spoke with President Biden’s nominee for Secretary of Commerce, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, to discuss how the U.S. Department of Commerce can be a helpful ally to Nevada in promoting the state’s job growth and economic recovery from COVID-19. In addition, she joined Vice President Harris, Congressional leaders, and representatives of advocacy organizations to highlight the problem of job loss among women during the pandemic and emphasize the importance of enacting President Biden’s American Rescue Plan to bring the pandemic under control, revitalize the economy, and help women recoup career losses.
In Nevada, Senator Cortez Masto toured the Employ NV Business Hub at the Sahara West Library, which helps small businesses access an array of resources, including employee training programs. She hosted a virtual town hall with first-generation students to speak with them about what educational opportunities they need to reach their goals. She also met with women in Nevada Women in Trade’s apprentice readiness program to discuss pioneering in predominantly male industries. Finally, she hosted a roundtable discussion with travel and tourism business leaders to discuss the challenges Nevada’s hospitality industries have faced during the coronavirus pandemic. She also underscored the need for comprehensive relief and recovery measures for the convention, trade show, entertainment, travel and hospitality industries and their workers, as well as the need to assist hard-hit small businesses with additional support.
In addition, Senator Cortez Masto introduced the following legislation as part of her Innovation State Initiative to assist students and workers in the Silver State with education and training for in-demand careers:
- The Working On Rewarding and Keeping Employees Resilient (WORKER) Act to promote education and training—including registered apprenticeship programs—for workers in in-demand industries. This legislationwould also fund STEM education and create stipends for workers looking to train or re-train for Nevada’s 21st-century economy.
- The Transportation Opportunities for Professional Service (TOPS) Act, legislation aimed at developing a 21st-century transportation workforce through federal training and educational programs. The TOPS Act directs the Department of Transportation (DOT to conduct an assessment of the current state of the transportation workforce and develop strategies to improve and diversify it.
- The Workforce Promotion to Access Training to Help Workers, Adults, and Youth Succeed (PATHWAYS) Act to create a public-private partnership that would help job seekers in Nevada and across the country find critical information about employment opportunities.
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