Cortez Masto Delivers Critical Funding to Nevada, Protects SNAP and WIC

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) delivered $14.5 million in funding to community projects across Nevada, advanced policies that support Nevada's farmers, ranchers, and veterans, and ensured food assistance programs are protected from future political fights. These victories were included in the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, which passed the House and Senate earlier this week and was subsequently signed into law by President Donald Trump.

"Since the day I was sworn in, I've had one goal as United States Senator: to deliver for Nevada," said Senator Cortez Masto. "This week, we did just that. We not only ended a painful government shutdown that was having a devastating impact on working families across our state, but I fought for and secured funding that will help our ranchers, servicemembers, veterans, and families."

Senator Cortez Masto secured the following funding, totaling $14.5 million, for community projects across Nevada:

• $5,400,000 for the planning and design of a larger fuel cell hangar at Reno-Tahoe International Airport for the Nevada Air National Guard;
• $4,000,000 for the planning and design of a Regional Communications Center at Nellis Air Force Base;
• $3,100,000 for the construction of a community center offering recreational, educational, social, and health services for the Ely Shoshone Tribe and surrounding community; and
• $2,000,000 for the planning and design of a facility to support F-35 data operations at Nellis Air Force Base.

The FY26 Appropriations passed this weekinclude $8.2 billion in funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) - an increase of $603 million from current levels. This funding also ensures that these programs cannot be used as political leverage in case of a partial shutdown in January. Additionally, the bills include:

• Historic funding for veterans' medical care, including billions to continue to implement the PACT Act;
• Support for food safety, conservation and agricultural research programs, as well as over $1.4 billion to help farmers and ranchers across the country;
• Significant dollars for affordable housing in rural communities, including funding Cortez Masto fought for to support the Rural Community Development Initiative, which helps rural housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities, and Tribes fund housing and economic development projects;
• $500,000 for continued treatments of the Mormon cricket population;
• A ban on the Department of Veterans Affairs from buying technology manufactured in China; and
• A requirement that the Department of Veterans' Affairs provide an update on the status, path forward, and timeline to construct a new medical center in Reno.

Senator Cortez Masto has been a consistent champion for communities across Nevada, fighting to cut costs and protect benefits. She worked to end taxes on tips, and once the policy was adopted, she pressed the Trump administration to address barriers in its implementation that would hurt tipped workers in Nevada. Recently, she introduced legislation to increase tax benefits for working Nevadans. She has fought to lower the cost of prescription drugs and increase the supply of affordable housing. Two of her provisions to address the housing crisis in the Silver State were recently included in a landmark bipartisan Senate housing package.

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