{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"NV\" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-celebrates-gold-butte-designation", "Rep. Titus Celebrates Gold Butte Designation", "2016-12-28", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 28, 2016\nLas Vegas \u2013 Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District celebrated the designation of Gold Butte National Monument by President Obama. Rep. Titus has sponsored legislation in Congress and championed greater protections at Gold Butte for more than a decade.\n\u201cGold Butte\u2019s story is one of perseverance and passion,\u201d Rep. Titus said.\u00a0 \u201cSince the effort to protect Gold Butte began in 1998, a network of a few dozen Nevadans has turned into a powerful coalition dedicated to protecting the region\u2019s ancient petroglyphs, colorful geology, iconic wildlife, and unique flora.\u00a0 President Obama heard our cry and took the necessary action to save this natural treasure. I am relieved that our glorious piece of the Grand Canyon now has the protection it needs and deserves so its magnificent resources can be preserved for generations to come.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-announces-812500-hhs-grant-to-help-underserved", "Rep. Titus Announces $812,500 HHS Grant to Help Underserved", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 16, 2016\nLas Vegas\u00a0\u2013 Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District announced that the Department of Health and Human Services will award a $812,500 grant to Silver State Health Services, a local nonprofit community care provider. \u00a0\nThe Access Point Grant Award will help an estimated 4,392 patients in Southern Nevada and is part of an effort to improve the health of underserved communities and vulnerable populations. The grant will provide Silver State Health Services and other health care centers across the country with more resources for comprehensive care and access to pharmacies, counseling, and oral health professionals.\n\u201cOne out of 13 people in the U.S relies on community care centers for quality health care services,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cThese funds will help to ensure that everyone in our community, including the most vulnerable, is able to access care when and where they need it.\u201d \u00a0\nNearly 1,400 health centers operating in over 9,800 sites provide care to more than 24 million people across the nation, in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin, according to HHS. Today, health centers employ nearly 190,000 people.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-applauds-blm-move-to-protect-city", "Titus Applauds BLM Move to Protect City", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 15, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nTitus Applauds BLM Move to Protect \u2018City\u2019  \n\tLas Vegas \u2013 Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District applauded the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s decision to incorporate a 1,316 acre plot of private land as part of Basin and Range National Monument.\u00a0\nThe land is home to \u201cCity,\u201d one of the most important pieces of contemporary artworks in history. Nevada artist Michael Heizer has spent nearly 50 years of his life on the project which will now share the same protections as the desert landscapes and wildlife within Basin and Range National Monument.\u00a0\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement is a significant step in the preservation of this important piece of art and the conservation of a special piece of our nation\u2019s public lands,\u201c said Rep. Titus, who championed the effort to designate the Basin and Range National Monument. \u201cThe landscapes of Basin and Range and \u2018City\u2019 deserve to stand together in the desert, representing the nexus of public art and public space for generations to come.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/two-southern-nevada-colleges-to-participate-in-education-department-study-on-school", "Two Southern Nevada Colleges to Participate in Education Department Study on School Loans", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 15, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas \u2013 Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District announced that two of Southern Nevada\u2019s post-secondary institutions will participate in a U.S. Department of Education loan counseling program to teach students more about incurring debt while going to school.\u00a0\nThe College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State College will join 49 other schools across the country in the counseling program which aims to collect new data on student finances while improving students\u2019 decision making about borrowing, promoting successful loan repayments, and impacting academic performance.\u00a0\nAround 100,000 students will participate in the counseling program. Schools will either work with counselors from the Department of Education, third-party services, or institutionally developed programs. They will then measure the effects between those students who receive extra counseling and those who only receive what is statutorily required.\n\u201cNearly half of all students attending post-secondary schools in Nevada walk away with considerable debt,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cWe must do more to protect students from incurring hefty financial liabilities with no clear understanding of their potential impact down the road. I applaud the Department of Education for initiating this program to collect data and ensure our future leaders have a firm understanding of how to best manage their finances in college and beyond.\u201d \u00a0\nThe Department is launching this project under the experimental sites authority of section 487A(b) of the Higher Education Act which allows the Department to test the effectiveness of statutory and regulatory flexibility for postsecondary institutions that participate in the federal financial aid program. Rep. Titus voted for an extension of this legislation in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-leads-bipartisan-request-for-audit-of-federal-animal-research-programs", "Rep. Titus leads bipartisan request for audit of federal animal research programs", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 13, 2016\nLas Vegas -- Congresswoman Dina Titus sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO)\u00a0last week requesting a study of costs and other details about animal research conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies. The letter was co-led by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, and signed by a bipartisan group of 11 other members.\nThe GAO audit request reads, in part:\n\u201cRecent cases of abuse, waste and accountability gaps documented by independent organizations have highlighted the need for additional scrutiny of intramural animal research programs at federal facilities\u2026.[W]e have discovered it is impossible to determine what federal animal research programs currently entail, what they cost and if they meet federal standards because of the limited and decentralized information available publicly.\u201d\nRep. Titus\u2019 letter requests a study to assess spending on animal research in government laboratories\u2014currently estimated at more than $1 billion\u2014and a critical review of existing systems for informing Congress and the public about the purpose, methods, cost and outcomes of government animal research. The request also seeks information about the number of animals used, how violations are reported, and investments in superior and cost-effective alternatives to animal testing.\nFederal agencies acknowledge that much animal research is wasteful, but critical information needed to identify unnecessary projects is not publicly available.\nThe GAO request was co-signed by Reps. Beyer (D-VA), Costello (R-PA), Grijalva (D-AZ), McCollum (D-MN), Marino (R-PA), Paulsen (R-MN), Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Royce (R-CA), Simpson (R-ID), Tsongas (D-MA) and Walters (R-CA).\nThe full letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/in-veterans-omnibus-bill-measure-passes-to-get-more-medical-professionals-working-at", "In Veterans Omnibus bill, Measure Passes to Get More Medical Professionals Working at the VA in Southern Nevada", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 16, 2016\nWashington, D.C.\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District applauded the passage of H.R. 6416, an omnibus measure that will improve health, education, and administrative programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Southern Nevada and around the country.\u00a0\nRep. Titus, a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, sponsored a measure in the bill allowing the VA to continue increasing the number of medical residencies at the department\u2019s healthcare facilities until 2024. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWith the inaugural class of the UNLV School of Medicine beginning in 2017, the legislation will provide opportunities for residents to treat veterans in Southern Nevada. \u00a0The bill will extend a provision authored by Rep. Titus and signed into law two years ago that expands the number of graduate medical education (GME) slots at the VA by 1,500. That measure was set to expire in 2019 but will now continue for an additional five years.\u00a0\n\u201cOur veterans deserve greater access to VA health care professionals in Las Vegas,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cThis legislation will give medical school residents at UNLV an opportunity to work with the VA, develop an expertise in specialized fields, and thereby ease the burden on our current system.\u201d\u00a0\n\"This is fantastic news,\" said Barbara Atkinson, MD, founding dean of UNLV School of Medicine. \"We need residency programs in Southern Nevada so our students will stay in the state after they finish their training.\"\nThe measure, which has support from the Association of American Medical Colleges, highlights the need for Nevada to address its shortage of physicians in the public and private sectors. \u00a0\nStudies show that doctors are more likely to continue their career in the city where they perform their residency. Expanding residency slots in areas like Southern Nevada will help ensure a steady flow of doctors will meet the needs of our expanding veterans\u2019 population.\u00a0\nThe state must increase its number of physicians by 46 percent just to reach the national rate of 327 doctors per 100,000 people, according to the 2014 physician workforce report from the University Of Nevada School Of Medicine.\nThe Omnibus bill passed the House by a 419-0 vote.\u00a0\nThe Senate is expected to approve the measure in the coming days and send it to President Obama\u2019s desk.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-elected-to-house-democratic-steering-and-policy-committee", "Rep. Titus Elected to House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 2, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District was elected by members of the House Democratic Caucus to serve as a Regional Member on the powerful Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. Congresswoman Titus will serve as the regional representative for the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest Region which includes Nevada, replacing outgoing member Congressman Peter DeFazio of Oregon. In her role, the Congresswoman will help decide committee leadership and assignments for the 115th Congress and be the voice for the region in policy development for the Democratic Caucus.\u00a0\n\u201cAs we face the challenges of the incoming 115th Congress and the uncertainties of a Trump Administration, I will be promoting an agenda that advances bedrock Democratic values like protecting Social Security and Medicare, creating jobs, fixing our broken immigration system, and investing in our crumbling infrastructure. I also look forward to helping our party become more responsive to the needs of rural and small town America. Finally, I will push for our region\u2019s members to get committee assignments which both take advantage of their expertise and allow them to better serve their districts.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0\u00a0  \n\tCongresswoman Dina Titus was first elected to Congress in 2008. As the representative for District 1, which is the heart of the Las Vegas Valley, Dina currently serves on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the House Committee on Veterans Affairs where she is the Ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. In addition, the Congresswoman serves on the Democratic Senior Whip Team and is co-chair of the I-11 Caucus, the Public Works and Infrastructure Caucus, and the Travel and Tourism Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-announces-14-million-grant-for-unlv-to-study-high-speed-rail-systems", "Rep. Titus Announces $1.4 Million Grant for UNLV to Study High-Speed Rail Systems", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 1, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) selected the University of Nevada Las Vegas to participate in a research consortium to examine effective design, construction, and maintenance of future high-speed rail projects.\u00a0  \n\tThe DOT will initially fund the consortium, which also includes the University of Delaware and Virginia Tech, with a $1.4 million grant for FY16.\u00a0  \n\tUNLV will focus on studying bridge building near areas of seismic activity, track alignment, rail foundations, and more. Congresswoman Titus voted to support the program in the Fixing America\u2019s Surface Transportation Act and advocated with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx for UNLV to be a participant.\u00a0\n  \n\t\u201cOur nation\u2019s deteriorating rail infrastructure is threatening our economy, security, and safety,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cThis consortium will reverse course by helping advance the development of high-speed rail projects that meet the demands of the 21st Century. With its longstanding rail program, UNLV is well positioned to galvanize high-speed railways in the desert Southwest and partner with academic institutions that have the common goal of deploying safe and innovative projects across the nation.\u201d \u00a0\nBACKGROUND\nThis grant is one of 35 that will be awarded to lead consortia under the University Transportation Centers (UTC) program, reauthorized by Sec. 6016 of the FAST Act. Subsequent funding will be subject to availability and appropriations. Assoc. Professor Hualiang \u201cHarry\u201d Teng of UNLV\u2019s Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering will lead the effort.  \n\tRep. Titus has long been a champion of high-speed rail and served on the California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission for over a decade. She is currently advocating for the expansion of Amtrak from Las Vegas to Southern California in the interim while continuing to work to link the two destinations with a major super-speed train.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-we-must-protect-immigrants-in-our-schools", "Rep. Titus: We Must Protect Immigrants In Our Schools", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 1, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District issued the following statement to denounce any threats aimed at immigrant students in Southern Nevada and commend the recent promise by UNLV President Len Jessup to support the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and undocumented immigrant students attending the university.\u00a0\n  \n\t\u201cAs questions emerge about the future of our immigration policy under the Trump Administration, I want to thank President Jessup and UNLV for pledging to support all of our students, and I ask him to continue standing up against hate on campus and in our community. \u00a0No student on campus should feel threatened or intimidated by their teachers, staff, or fellow students.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-statement-on-rossi-ralenkotter-s-selection-as-inaugural-member-of-the-national", "Titus Statement on Rossi Ralenkotters Selection as Inaugural Member of the National Advisory Committee on Travel and Tourism Infrastructure", "2016-11-10", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "November 10, 2016\nLas Vegas \u2013 Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District applauded the selection of Rossi Ralenkotter, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO, as an inaugural member of the National Advisory Committee on Travel and Tourism Infrastructure. (NACTTI)\nThe U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx selected Ralenkotter and other industry leaders to the two-year position in an effort to develop a national strategy for ensuring that our transportation policies align with the needs of travelers.\nCongresswoman Titus, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, spearheaded the creation of the NACTTI with an amendment to the Fixing America\u2019s Surface Transportation Act of 2015, which was signed into law by President Obama in December of last year.\n\u201cThere is no better advocate for Las Vegas and our nation\u2019s travel industry than Rossi,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cHe has been a pacesetter in the field for more than four decades and a valuable resource for expanding the Southern Nevada economy. The committee will greatly benefit from his knowledge and passion.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cTourism is reliant on safe and efficient transportation infrastructure, so our industry leaders are excited to have a role in providing our insight to the Department of Transportation and transportation agencies across the country,\u201d said Rossi Ralenkotter, president/CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. \u201cIt is an honor to represent the tourism industry on this new advisory committee. Thank you to Congresswoman Titus for her continued commitment to Las Vegas and the tourism industry and her leadership in transportation improvements.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-announces-34-million-school-improvement-grant-for-nevada", "Rep. Titus Announces $3.4 Million School Improvement Grant for Nevada", "2016-11-07", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "November 7, 2016\nLas Vegas\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District announced that the U.S. Department of Education awarded the state a $3,447,309 School Improvement Grant (SIG) to help rapidly increase student achievement in underperforming public schools.\nThe Nevada Department of Education will distribute the Title 1 funds to qualifying districts to help increase the total percentage of students proficient in math and reading and improve graduation rates. The State will use the funds to hire new personnel and provide more tools to teachers throughout Nevada.\n\u201cThese critical funds have a track record of galvanizing under-performing schools across the nation,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cThey will give teachers and administrators more resources to improve student achievement and prepare our future leaders for life after K-12.\u201d\nThe grant is part of a $427,500 million effort by the U.S. Department of Education to improve student success. Rep. Titus voted in support of the funds in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-announces-900000-grant-to-salvation-army-for-fighting-human-trafficking", "Rep. Titus Announces $900,000 Grant to Salvation Army for Fighting Human Trafficking", "2016-10-14", "2016", "2016-10", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "October 14, 2016\nWashington D.C.\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District announced that the Department of Justice has awarded $900,000 to the Salvation Army Seeds of Hope Program for combating human trafficking.\nThe funds will support the development and enhancement of a task force to combat sex and labor trafficking of foreign nationals and U.S. citizens.\u00a0 The Salvation Army will work in tandem with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on the project.\n\u201cLocal partnerships can play a key role in the fight against human trafficking,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cThese funds will help implement collaborative approaches to prosecute sex and labor trafficking while addressing the needs of victims. This is another valuable effort to help our nation eradicate modern-day slavery from society.\u201d\nBackground\nAccording to the United Nation\u2019s International Labour Organization, 21 million people worldwide, including 5.5 million children, are reported victims of human trafficking. Cases in the United States are increasing with an estimated 17,500 people subject to sex and labor trafficking every year. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center, a nationwide hotline, reported a 10% increase in cases in 2015, with 6,000 cases being reported.\nNevada is among the leading states for cases of reported human trafficking. In 2013, there were 81 reported cases of trafficking. In 2015, those numbers increased to 133 reported cases, a quarter of which involved children under 18. Of those 133 reported cases, 114 involved sexual exploitation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-announces-19-million-to-reduce-sexual-assault-kit-backlog", "Rep. Titus Announces $1.9 Million to Reduce Sexual Assault Kit Backlog", "2016-10-06", "2016", "2016-10", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "October 6, 2016\nWashington, D.C.\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District announced that the Department of Justice has awarded the Nevada Attorney General\u2019s Office a $1,962,414 grant to continue the state\u2019s participation in the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI).\nThe state will use the funds to enhance and expand its current effort to reduce the sexual assault kit backlog in Nevada. The grant will increase resources for investigators and prosecutors, provide a statewide assessment of current policies to prevent future backlogs, and create new training programs for law enforcement. The funds will be used to hire a Sexual Assault Resource Prosecutor, a victim advocate, and other personnel.\n\u201cThis effort shows sexual assault victims that law enforcement is working to bring them justice,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cI applaud the DOJ for continuing to provide the state these much needed resources for addressing the current backlog and building a better community response system for the future. Justice for victims cannot wait while kits remain on a shelf.\u201d\nBACKGROUND:\nIn 2015, the state received a similar award from the DOJ to inventory and test backlogged kits and fund supportive victim services and investigative functions within the jurisdiction of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Crime Lab in Southern Nevada. Nevada will use this award to expand its SAKI program to effectively resolve the statewide issue of untested sexual assault kits. The Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) was established by the Obama Administration in the President\u2019s 2015 Budget Request. That year, Congress funded the grant program at $41 million. The SAKI is funded with appropriations for programs at the Department of Justice under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which was modernized and reauthorized by Rep. Titus and her colleagues in 2013 by a vote of 286-138.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-statement-on-supreme-court-rejecting-obama-administration-s-request-to-rehear", "Titus Statement on Supreme Court Rejecting Obama Administrations Request to Rehear Immigration Case", "2016-10-03", "2016", "2016-10", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "October 3, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to not rehear United States v. Texas, the obstructionist lawsuit preventing the Obama Administration from expanding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative and creating the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) program. The Court, missing one justice, reached a tie decision on the case in June, blocking the implementation of the Obama Administration\u2019s efforts to keep families together.\n\u201cI am disappointed that the Supreme Court rejected the request by the Obama Administration,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cFor years, millions of families have had to remain in the shadows because of the GOP\u2019s refusal to pass comprehensive immigration reform in Congress. Obstructionist Republicans have made the situation even worse with this politically driven lawsuit and by refusing to hold nomination hearings for Judge Garland in the Senate. It\u2019s time Republicans start thinking about what\u2019s best for families in the U.S. and do their job.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-announces-239998-grant-for-unlv-talent-search-program", "Rep. Titus Announces $239,998 Grant for UNLV Talent Search Program", "2016-09-29", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 29, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nWashington D.C.\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District announced the U.S. Department of Education will award the University of Nevada Las Vegas a $239,998 grant to encourage and assist Clark County School District students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue post-secondary education.\u00a0  \n\tUNLV will coordinate the effort with four CCSD schools: Chaparral High School, Eldorado High School, O\u2019Callaghan Middle School, and Woodbury Middle School. The program will provide academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encourage students to graduate from high school and complete post-secondary education.\n  \n\t\u201cAs a long-time professor, I know the value of providing counseling and support to students from all walks of life,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cI applaud the Department of Education, UNLV, and CCSD for embarking on a partnership that will offer more opportunities for Southern Nevada students to develop their leadership skills and succeed in their educational pursuits.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tBACKGROUND:  \n\tThe program will last for five years and annually receive similar amounts of funding. The program publicizes the availability of financial aid and assists participants with the post-secondary application process. Talent Search also encourages people who have not completed education programs at the secondary or post-secondary level to enter or re-enter and complete post-secondary education.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/beagle-blinding-killing-leaves-animal-experimentation-proponents-on-the-defensive", "Beagle blinding, killing leaves animal experimentation proponents on the defensive", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CBS News\u2019 recent exposure of waste of your and my tax dollars on a cruel experiment designed in such a way as to be ineffective before it was even begun may be the single-most critical event in the fight to stop government funding of animal experiments in months, or even years.\nFor those unfamiliar, the University of Missouri is being sued for allegedly blinding, and then killing when the experiment went awry, six beagles. Prior to their deaths, the six dogs\u2014a number insufficient to provide any meaningful scientific insight\u2014had acid dripped into their eyes. The experiment, like so many others, was paid for using your and my tax money, and generated a huge amount of media attention and social media chatter.\nNow, it appears that groups and individuals known for advancing spurious theories and rumored to be astroturfer targets, including some so-called conservatives who have evidently found a new line of wasteful government spending to embrace, are stepping up their advocacy for this kind of nonsense, which remains completely indefensible\u2014on scientific inquiry, fiscal responsibility, and anti-cruelty grounds. Americans who care about how government spends our money, about animal rights, and about real scientific inquiry that informs and pushes the boundaries of human knowledge, should be on guard and not buy what\u2019s being sold.\nTaxpayer funding of animal experiments is not a partisan issue, but it is one that has real resonance with both progressives, keen to see taxpayer money spent on items like health care and education while preventing the constant flow of government cash that imperils our furry friends more than anything else these days, and conservatives, who should oppose all government waste on spec, in the name of limited government and fiscal conservatism. There\u2019s a reason that principled leaders, whether Rep. Dina Titus or Sen. Jeff Flake, oppose running monkeys on treadmills until they become sick or dropping loads of taxpayer cash on hooking them on crack.\nThe truth is, lobbying and advocacy aimed at maintaining or expanding the $12 billion a year minimum the U.S. government spends poking and prodding our furry friends isn\u2019t about saving human lives, or groundbreaking scientific inquiry, or avoiding another Holocaust (a novel claim of experimentation advocates). It is literally about keeping the gravy train flowing for 1 percenter inhabitants of ivory towers who don\u2019t care how much they waste, or how ridiculous or non-informative their often duplicative, repetitive \u201cresearch\u201d is. This is why, in the coming months, you can expect to see more hyperbolic emotive calls for maintaining, or even doubling down on, the status quo. And it\u2019s why rational people across the philosophical spectrum should ignore them.\nProgressives and conservatives alike must reject calls to keep the trough full, and start calling for at least some of that $12 billion to be put to better use: Whether it\u2019s countering the Zika virus, taking the opioid crisis head-on, paying down the national debt, better funding care for our veterans or our kids or our poor, giving Americans a small tax rebate, or even just fueling federal government workers with more ice cold Diet Cokes, there is no shortage of better things to do with this money, which is yours and mine.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/former-nevada-first-lady-bonnie-bryan-dies-at-77", "Former Nevada first lady Bonnie Bryan dies at 77", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bonnie Fairchild Bryan, 26th First Lady of Nevada and wife of former Gov. and Sen. Richard Bryan, died Tuesday, according to a statement from the Bryan family. She was 77.\nShe died of leukemia and was surrounded by her husband and family, according to the release.\nBonnie Bryan is survived by her husband and three children.\nFuneral services are pending.\nBryan family spokesman Greg Ferraro said in the release: \"Married to Senator Bryan for 54 years, Bonnie, with her kindness and authentic warmth, left an indelible mark on the State she loved so much.\u201d\nFrankie Sue Del Papa, secretary of state during Richard Bryan's tenure as governor, issued this statement: \u201cWhenever I introduced Bonnie and Dick together, I always said we were so fortunate because Nevada got two for the price of one. Bonnie was just so steadfast. She loved every part of this state. But most importantly she loved Dick enough to be by his side every single chance she conceivably could.\u201d\nNevada State Democratic Party Chair Roberta Lange and Regent Sam Lieberman released the following joint statement:\n\u201cBonnie Bryan was a woman of valor who built a remarkable life focused on her family, her faith, and the citizens of Nevada. She was a champion for Senator Bryan and the issues he fought for, but she was also a strong and compassionate voice in her own right for our state and our party. Bonnie loved the Women\u2019s Democratic Club, and she cared deeply about building a stronger Democratic Party and valuing the work of our grassroots supporters across the state. She may have been our First Lady, but Bonnie never acted better than anyone else \u2014 she was charming, personable and made best friends everywhere she went.\n\u201cWe extend our love and deepest condolences to Senator Bryan and his family during this difficult time. Bonnie will be greatly missed.\u201d\nFrom Rep. Dina Titus: \"A light went out in the Las Vegas firmament with the loss of Bonnie Bryan. Her effervescent nature, charming wit, and generous heart will long be remembered. She set the gold standard.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/group-wasted-82m-in-bailout-funds-meant-for-nevadans", "Group wasted $8.2M in bailout funds meant for Nevadans", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A nonprofit that was supposed to distribute most of the $202 million that Nevada got in a recession-era government bailout has \"a pervasive culture of waste and abuse\" and has been spending as much money on itself as on homeowners trying to avoid foreclosure, according to federal auditors.\nOfficials with the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program said Nevada should immediately stop using the nonprofit to administer Hardest Hit Funds and return $8.2 million in wasted money back to the account. Most of that figure represents overhead costs, billed to the bailout fund, that held steady even though the nonprofit's client list dropped 94 percent from its peak year.\nThe nonprofit \"used the program as a cash cow for every expense imaginable while all but stopping admitting new homeowners,\" according to the report issued by Special Inspector General Christy Goldsmith Romero, which said the agency demonstrated \"a sense of entitlement and no appreciation for the fact that it was taking funds for itself from the homeowners the program intended to help.\"\nThe Nevada Housing Division, which oversees the nonprofit, said they're requesting an attorney general investigation into the situation.\nNevada suffered the highest unemployment rate in the country during the recession and was one of the first states to receive money from the Hardest Hit Fund, which aimed to stabilize communities during the housing crisis. While about 20 percent of Nevada homeowners remain underwater, owing more than their homes are worth, the nonprofit is behind pace on disbursing all the bailout funds by the end of 2017.\nThe report issued Friday says the contractor, the Nevada Affordable Housing Assistance Corporation, spent thousands of dollars on employee parties and upscale restaurants and paid $500 a month toward its CEO's Mercedes Benz. At the same time, its performance was falling.\nNevada estimated the Hardest Hit Fund could help nearly 24,000 homeowners in the years following the recession, but later scaled back those expectations. It helped only 117 homeowners in all of 2015, even though 688 applications came in.\nThe contractor also moved into a larger office in the more expensive North Las Vegas City Hall shortly after reducing its staff. The nonprofit broke its $11,200-per-month lease a year later after deciding that it didn't need so much room \u2014 a move that cost about $40,000 in lawyer fees, moving expenses and office furniture costs.\nAuditors faulted the Nevada Housing Division for letting the activities go unchecked, although the division provided a memo from October 2015 indicating it was previously shut out of many of the nonprofit's decisions and had been raising red flags about the organization for two years.\nDemocratic Rep. Dina Titus echoed auditors' concerns and vowed to follow up on their findings. She said she'd long been skeptical of the state's \"bloated\" system for disbursing the funds.\n\"I am angered by the Nevada Housing Division's lack of oversight and greatly disturbed that money meant to aid struggling Nevadans was squandered on parties, gift cards, and luxury items,\" said Titus. \"The state's indiscretion highlighted in the report may jeopardize its future ability to garner federal assistance that can help Nevada families.\"\nOfficials with the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, which includes the Nevada Housing Division, said they think some of the expenses criticized in the audit are allowable under federal law, meaning far less than $8.2 million may be owed back to the Hardest Hit Fund.\n\"Whatever the final number, those responsible should be held accountable,\" the department said in a statement.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/measure-to-speed-va-review-of-disability-claims-appeals-passes-house", "MEASURE TO SPEED VA REVIEW OF DISABILITY CLAIMS APPEALS PASSES HOUSE", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Legislation by Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., to speed the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 handling of appeals for disability claims passed in the House Wednesday night.\nThe VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016 was combined with a measure by Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, to create a framework to remove or demote VA employees for failing to perform their duties to serve veterans.\nThe bill passed by a 310-116 vote, with opposition to the accountability provision generating most of the \u201cno\u201d votes.\nWhile the VA has reduced a logjam of more than 530,000 initial disability claims in recent years, a new backlog surfaced in 450,000 appeals, with an average wait time of three years to address them.\nTitus\u2019 measure will simplify and shorten the appeals process while giving veterans an opportunity to add evidence to their claims and choose to have a full review by the Board of Veterans Appeals, either with new evidence or as an expedited review without new supporting documents.\n\u201cI predicted this shift in the backlog and have attempt to prevent a tsunami from crashing down by working with the VA and veterans service organizations to overhaul this outdated and over-complicated system,\u201d Titus said in a statement Thursday.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/neon-museum-receives-federal-grant-and-announces-self-guided-tours", "Neon Museum receives federal grant and announces self-guided tours", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) \u2014 Good news for Las Vegas' Neon Museum. The unique space off of Las Vegas Boulevard received a $24,500 federal grant to help create a digital library of drawings, renderings, schematics, photos, postcards, and other items related to the treasured signs of Las Vegas past.\nThe grant came from the Insitute of Museum and Library Services, and will allow the museum to begin archiving the past.\n\u201cWith this grant, the Neon Museum is one step closer to showcasing and preserving more artifacts from the artists who decorated the Southern Nevada landscape and captivated millions of visitors over many decades,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cWhile we\u2019ve come to know and love the museum\u2019s monumental outdoor displays, it\u2019s gratifying to see the commitment to safeguarding the vestiges of the artistic process along with the world-famous collection in the Neon Boneyard. Protecting these items will allow us to tell the Las Vegas story and provide greater insight into our history as a land of aesthetic achievement.\u201d\nSELF-GUIDED TOURS\nIn addition to the exciting news about the grant money, the Neon Museum also announced that interested patrons can begin to take self-guided tours in the North Gallery.\nThe tours begin September 19, allowing visitors to browse 60 signs between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.\nThe North Gallery tours can be added to the existing Neon Boneyard tour for an additional $10 or as a stand-alone tour for $19.\n\u201cWe\u2019re pleased to introduce a tour experience that will enable us to welcome many more visitors to the Neon Museum than ever before,\u201d explained Rob McCoy, president and CEO, Neon Museum. \u201cNow, visitors who come to the museum will have another attractive option if guided tours are completely sold out.\u201d\nFor more information about the Neon Museum, hours of operation, and other events at the museum, check out their website here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/nevada-groups-receive-46m-in-va-grants-to-combat-veteran-homelessness", "Nevada groups receive $4.6M in VA grants to combat veteran homelessness", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $4.65 million in grants Tuesday to organizations in Nevada for curbing homelessness among veterans and their families.\nThe goal of the VA\u2019s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program is to help low-income veterans\u2019 families maintain stability in their current homes or transition to permanent housing. The program, which is in its fourth year, serves about 1,000 veterans.\nThis year the United States Veterans Initiative was awarded more than $1.2 million; Vietnam Veterans of California Inc., nearly $2 million; HELP Social Service Corp., about $954,000; and The Salvation Army more than $463,000.\n\u201cThese funds will play a major role to help bring our heroes off the streets and provide a safe place for them to stay as they transition to long-term housing,\u201d Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee said in a press release. \u201cNo one who wore the uniform should lack a roof over his or her head.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/new-asian-culture-center-in-las-vegas-celebrates-grand-opening", "New Asian Culture Center in Las Vegas celebrates grand opening", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Las Vegas\u2019 new Asian Culture Center celebrated its grand opening ceremony on Monday, August 29.\nThe festivities began at 3pm, with honorable mayor of the City of Las Vegas, Carolyn Goodman, cutting the ceremonial ribbon.\nHosted by Emmy-Award winner Steve Schorr, more than 300 business, political, and community leaders graced the special occasion, including the Asian-American community of Las Vegas.\nAmong the event\u2019s special guests were Mayor Carolyn Goodman, state Senator scott hammond, representatives of Rep. Dina Titus and Rep. Joe heck, a representative from Las Vegas Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, and Judges Janiece Marshall, Suzan Baucum, Eric Johnson and Susan Johnson.\nAfter its opening few weeks ago, more 40 free classes are being held with about 3 dozen volunteer teachers. From sushi making to Mandarin; and Body points (acupressure) to Martial Arts, the center has been bursting with activities.\nThe Asian Culture Center represents people and countries that aim to share the colorful Asian culture and history around the world. The 5,000-square foot facility is operated and owned Asian Culture Alliance, a non-profit organization founded by Cavin Fung. It is located at 928 S. Valley View Blvd.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/thalia-dondero-first-woman-elected-to-clark-county-commission-dies-at-96", "Thalia Dondero, first woman elected to Clark County Commission, dies at 96", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "When the male members of the Clark County Commission invited Thalia Dondero, the first-ever elected female commissioner, to the old Desert Inn Country Club for a round of golf in 1974, she accepted even though she had never played the game.\nThe men escorted Dondero and her bag of borrowed clubs to the first par-3 hole and told her rather condescendingly that the object was to get the ball into the hole in as few strokes as possible. On her first shot, Dondero\u2019s form and drive were not pretty, but the ball bounced along the fairway, rolled onto the green and dropped into the cup \u2014 a hole in one! The male commissioners stood gape-jawed.\nOver the next 42 years \u2014 not on the golf course, but in the field of community service \u2014 Dondero sank many seemingly impossible hole-in-one shots: She modernized and beautified McCarran International Airport, identified adequate and available water sources for the thirsty desert valley, and became a champion for education and preservation of Southern Nevada\u2019s natural landmarks.\nThalia Marie Sperry Dondero, who served 20 years on the county commission and 12 years on the Nevada Board of Regents while also dedicating her time to other community boards, died Sunday at Nathan Adelson Hospice of complications from congestive heart failure. She was 96.\nServices for the Nevada resident of 74 years are pending.\n\u201cI think one of the things that was evident with mom was she walked the walk. If she believed in something, she followed it,\u201d her daughter Marylin Dondero Loop said Monday. \u201cShe taught us to be good listeners and always do the right thing for the community.\n\u201cShe was a community-minded person.\u201d\nU.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Monday called Thalia Dondero \u201ca kind, thoughtful and charitable woman.\u201d\n\u201cThalia was a pioneer who opened doors of opportunity for countless Nevada women,\u201d Reid said in a statement. \u201cHer strength and dedication to public service stood as an inspiration, and her family continues to epitomize those values to this very day.\n\u201cFrom her tireless work to improve education for Nevada students to her vital role in expanding Southern Nevada\u2019s economic and recreational offerings, Thalia was a one-of-a-kind advocate for the Silver State and its residents. The impact of Thalia\u2019s work will continue to be felt for generations to come. Nevada is better off because of her and her family.\u201d\nU.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., said Dondero \"broke so many glass ceilings in Nevada and always did it with style and grace. All public servants can learn from the example she set.\u201d\nIn a March 30 interview with KNPR Radio, Dondero said she felt that her lasting legacy should be her \u201ccommunity and public service participation and raising five children, all of whom graduated from college.\u201d\nIt seems local dignitaries could agree with that legacy. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman tweeted Monday that \"Thalia Dondero was a true Nevada pioneer, in leadership and for women ... devoted to education & community betterment with kindness for all.\"\nThalia became active in community service while her children were in school. She focused on education, joining the Mayfair Grade School\u2019s PTA, where she met Las Vegas education leader Maude Frazier, who mentored Thalia and encouraged her to run for office.\nThalia Dondero lost her first political race for the Nevada Assembly in 1972 but bounced back two years later to win a seat on the county commission, where she overcame initial bouts of sexual discrimination, refusing a patronizing request from the male commissioners to serve as secretary and take minutes at meetings.\n\u201cMy vote is the same as yours,\u201d Dondero told what she often referred to as \u201cThe Boys Club.\u201d\nDondero often told the story of the first time she picked up a golf club in 1974 as an allegory for overcoming the archaic views of some men toward women at that time. Her fellow commissioners had invited Dondero to play as a lark \u2014 to be a potential source of duffer humor \u2014 but were shocked by her hole-in-one.\n\u201cThey certainly never invited me to play golf with them again,\u201d Dondero said.\nDuring her five terms on the county commission, Dondero served as chairwoman on three occasions. She played a key role in expanding state-owned recreational areas, including Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire, and traveled the world to visit international airports and bring knowledge back to Las Vegas that helped not only expand McCarran but beautify it with murals and other artwork. Dondero\u2019s other major thrusts as commissioner were efforts to reduce neighborhood crime and improve the quality of local parks.\nDondero made a bid for a sixth term in 1994, but she lost in the Democratic primary to Myrna Williams. Dondero\u2019s age, 74, became a campaign issue and a concern among voters who had no idea she would live nearly a quarter of a century more.\nBut she won had won many people over people with her tireless efforts.\n\"Thalia was a trailblazer who cared deeply about this community and served it with distinction,\" current Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak said. \"She broke the glass ceiling and became the first female county commissioner, and today a majority of our board is female. I had the pleasure of serving with her on the Board of Regents, where I always respected what she had to say. Las Vegas has lost one of its shining lights.\"\nAs chairwoman of the Las Vegas Valley Water District Board, she helped champion flood control projects such as the construction of retention basins when many major streets, particularly the Charleston Boulevard underpass, flooded nearly every time it rained. And at a time in Nevada\u2019s history when there were great fears that the available water supply would dry up amid massive population increases, Dondero led efforts to find sources that today provide adequate water to the sprawling valley.\nShe also served on the Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council, the Summerlin Hospital Board of Trustees and the Nevada State Parks Commission.\nDondero served twice as chairwoman and once as vice chairwoman for the Board of Regents. She was chairwoman of the Regents\u2019 Investment Committee and was a member of the Cultural Diversity and Security Committee, the Student and Academic Affairs Committee and the Health Sciences Systems Committee.\nOther community organizations on which Dondero served over the years include the Las Vegas Ice Age Park Foundation, of which she was past vice president and was a member until the day she died; Southern Nevada Public Television board of directors; Gilcrease Orchard Foundation board of trustees; International Women\u2019s Forum; Nevada PTA, of which she was past president; Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, of which she was past executive director and past president; Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada board of trustees; University Medical Center board of directors; Clark County Liquor and Gaming Licensing Board, of which she was past chairwoman; the state\u2019s advisory committee of the Housing Division of the Department of Business and Industry, of which she was past chairwoman; Clark County Sanitation District board of trustees, of which she was past vice chair; and the Big Bend Water District board of trustees, of which she was past chairwoman.\nBorn Thalia Sperry on Jan. 23, 1920, in Greeley, Colo., she moved to Bakersfield, Calif., at age 10 with her family and later attended junior college in California.\nShe then went to work for Basic Magnesium in California, which in 1942 transferred Dondero to its Southern Nevada office. Soon after, she met Harvey Dondero, a native Nevadan teaching at the old Las Vegas High School, and they married in 1946.\nFrom 1946 to 1948, the Donderos made their home in Carson City, where Harvey worked for the U.S. Department of Education. In 1948, they returned to Las Vegas, where Harvey served as assistant superintendent of the Clark County School District.\nHarvey died in 1986 at age 76.\nAmong Dondero\u2019s numerous awards and honors, in 2004 she received the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Junior League of Las Vegas, of which she was a longtime member. In 2006, she was awarded the Education Hero Award from the Public Education Foundation, and in 2007 Dondero was given an honorary doctor of law degree from UNLV for her commitment to higher education and distinguished service to the community. In 2010, she received the Fifth Annual Women\u2019s Hall of Fame Pioneer Award from the Women\u2019s Chamber Foundation.\nDondero enjoyed apparent good health until June, when she fell and broke her hip, her family said, noting that two months later she was diagnosed with the serious heart condition and her health quickly declined.\nDondero is survived by her five children, Judy Habbeshaw of Kanab, Utah; Michael Dondero of Reno; Harvey Dondero Jr. of Greensboro, N.C.; and Marylin Dondero Loop and Robert Dondero, both of Las Vegas. Other survivors include 15 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.\nEd Koch is a former longtime Las Vegas Sun reporter. Sun reporter Chris Kudialis contributed to this report.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/we-must-invest-in-a-well-educated-stem-workforce", "We must invest in a well-educated STEM workforce", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today\u2019s STEM students are tomorrow\u2019s researchers, scientists, doctors, astronauts and engineers, as well as the teachers who will prepare future generations to follow in their footsteps. They will face tremendous challenges, which in turn present the possibility of doing amazing things that can transform the world as we know it. They will be tasked with preserving our natural resources, advancing technology, curing diseases and protecting our citizens. That is why it is so important that we attract and nurture these future change-makers by getting children hooked on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) at an early age.\nIf we invest in a highly skilled, well-educated STEM workforce, not only will our nation become more globally competitive, but individuals will also be able to enjoy more rewarding, prosperous lives. In 2015, the average wage for all STEM occupations was $85,570, nearly double the average of all other occupations combined, according to the Department of Labor. It is anticipated that the demand for STEM workers will grow by 14 percent between 2010 and 2020. Unfortunately, data show that 3 million of those jobs will go unfilled if we continue on our current path. We clearly need more software experts and chemists, math teachers and lab technicians.\nThere are three STEM magnet middle schools located in Nevada\u2019s 1st District (Las Vegas), including Hyde Park Middle School, where students have won our Congressional App Challenge every year. There are also seven STEM/STEAM focused elementary schools, which provide exposure to the nexus of the arts and sciences for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Sustained early exposure is very important because research shows by the time students reach fourth grade, one-third of boys and girls have lost interest in science; by eighth grade, half deem it irrelevant to their future plans.\nThe numbers are even worse when one looks specifically at minority students, who have fewer opportunities to study the STEM fields. Only 28 percent of high schools with high black and Latino student enrollment offer physics, compared to 67 percent of high schools with low enrollment of their demographics. Likewise, only 33 percent of such schools offer calculus, compared to 56 percent, and only 27 percent of black and Latino students take AP classes. This is reflected in the STEM workforce. Blacks and Hispanics make up around 28 percent of the overall workforce but only account for 12.5 percent of STEM careers nationwide, according to the Department of Education.\nWe as a society cannot afford such a drop-off and corresponding loss of brain power in these fields. That\u2019s why I am sponsoring legislation to create a National Science Foundation grant program, to give at-risk K-12 students the tools they need to improve their STEM education. The bill will increase federal investment for low-income and minority students studying STEM at colleges and universities by offering students loan forgiveness grants. It will also provide assistance to minority-serving institutions in the development of STEM programs that reach out to those demographics. The program will be paid for by increasing the H-1B visa fee, which companies pay to bring highly skilled foreign workers to the United States. Rather than importing STEM workers, we should be \u201cgrowing\u201d our own.\nI submitted this bill in 2015 and am still waiting for Republicans to act. What\u2019s disheartening is that our students and our nation cannot afford to wait. It\u2019s time we level the playing field and offer incentives for more students to enter these exciting and rewarding fields. By not acting, Congress is depriving our young people of great opportunities while failing to prepare our country for the future.\nTitus is a member of the STEM Education Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/year-of-the-monkey-primate-research-under-the-microscope-in-uk-and-us", "Year of the Monkey: Primate Research under the microscope in UK and US", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "It seems that 2016 has been the Year of the Monkey in more ways than one. In both the United States and the United Kingdom the use of primates in research has been under increased scrutiny this year.\nFrom the US Congressional mandate that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) review its use of nonhuman primates for research, to last week\u2019s publication of an open letter in the UK Independent signed by 21 experts including Sir David Attenborough and Dr. Jane Goodall raising concerns about the use of monkeys in brain experiments.\nAs one might expect all this attention seems to have put the primate research industry on the defensive.\nLast week, the NIH essentially facilitated a circling of the wagons at what I hoped would be an open and critical discussion on the use of non-human primates in research as requested by Congress.\nTo take a step back for context, the 2016 spending bill passed by Congress last December included language authored by Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) that requested the NIH to \u2018conduct a review of its ethical policies and processes with respect to nonhuman primate research subjects, in consultation with outside experts, to ensure it has appropriate justification for animals research protocols and to provide and update on these efforts in the fiscal year 2017 budget request.\u2019\nIn a follow up letter sent to the NIH in January by five members of Congress [Roybal-Allard, Sam Farr (D-CA) Dina Titus (D-NV), Eliot Engel (D-NY), and Brendan Boyle (D-PA)] it was reiterated that the review should be, \u201cas independent as possible, so that the most difficult ethical questions with regards to the use of all non-human primates in a wide range of experiments can be honestly asked and answered.\u201d Unfortunately the workshop held by the NIH last week, largely failed to meet this stipulation.\nAs I monitored this workshop online, I was struck that the meeting seemed to be more of a cheerleading session for primate experiments and, at times, a macabre audition for researchers to make a case for their experiments to receive continued funding.\nThe few \u201coutside experts\u201d who were invited and not financially tied to primate research, were Dr. Tom Beauchamp, an ethicist at Georgetown University and Dr. Jeffrey Kahn a bioethicist at Johns Hopkins University but they were not invited to give presentations and had to vie for time in the discussion sessions where they were frequently shut down. This was especially shocking since Dr. Kahn had such relevant expertise, having chaired the 2011 review committee on the use of Chimpanzees in Biomedical and Behavioral Research, which led to the decision by the NIH to end support for invasive chimpanzee research.\nThe lack of balance was, I believe, no accident. When the workshop was first announced I contacted the workshop organizers to encourage a robust review and specifically suggested our own Dr. Jarrod Bailey who has published multiple peer-reviewed papers on the use of non-human primates in biomedical research and who participated in the aforementioned review of chimpanzees. Despite his impressive resume he, and many other possible candidates, were not invited to participate in the workshop.\nA few weeks ahead of this workshop the NY Times published an opinion piece titled \u201cSecond Thoughts of an Animal Researcher\u201d by Dr. John P. Gluck, an emeritus professor of psychology at the University of New Mexico, who seemed to suggest that the NIH workshop was poised to miss the mark from its inception; he wrote, \u201c...the N.I.H will hold a workshop on, \u201ccontinued responsible research\u201d with these animals. This sounds like a positive development. But as someone who spent decades working almost daily with macaque monkeys in primate research laboratories, I know firsthand that \u201cresponsible\u201d research is not enough. What we really need to examine is the very moral ground of animal research itself.\u201d\nAcross the pond, Dr. Gluck joined Dr. Jane Goodall, Sir David Attenborough and 18 other scientists, primatologists and animal welfare experts in signing an open letter, organized by Cruelty Free International, to bodies in the UK and EU responsible for funding and licensing controversial brain experiments on monkeys. Of particular concern is neuroscience research involving monkeys being subjected to invasive brain surgery, water deprivation and prolonged restraint.\nA recent review of the claims of the human relevance of data made by researchers, who use monkeys in these kinds of experiments, were found to be overstated and the availability and use of ethical studies involving humans were of more value to medical progress.\nSir David Attenborough, said:\n\u201cThe recognition that apes, certainly, and to an extent other primates, are so akin to ourselves, and can suffer so much, as we can, has transformed our attitude, or should have transformed our attitude, to using them for our own benefit. They are sentient beings that have mental lives comparable to ours, and sensitivities, and pain and deprivation mean things to them, just as they mean things to us.\u201d\nDr Jane Goodall, said:\n\u201cI and my team have studied chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, for over 50 years. I can state categorically that they have a similar capacity for suffering, both mental and physical, and show similar emotions to many of ours. We also study baboons and other monkeys and there is no doubt they too can suffer and experience fear, depression, anxiety, frustration and so on. To confine these primate relatives of ours to laboratory cages and subject them to experiments that are often distressing and painful is, in my opinion, morally wrong. To restrain their movement and deprive them of water is inhumane and extremely cruel and we have no right to exploit them in this way for any reason.\u201d\nIn response to the letter, a group of UK primate researchers have gone on the defensive, attacking the credibility of those scientists who disagree with them.\nLast week\u2019s lopsided NIH workshop and the hostile response to the open letter seem to suggest that those directly involved with primate research aren\u2019t quite ready for an open, honest, discussion about the ethics of non-human primate research and the inevitable soul searching that will come with it. But whether they are ready or not, the conversation with the public and policy makers has begun.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/vets-secretary-under-fire-for-comparing-va-wait-times-to-disneyland", "Vets Secretary Under Fire for Comparing VA Wait Times to Disneyland", "2016-09-23", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald on Monday compared wait times at VA hosptial facilities to those at Disneyland, in remarks that are facing fierce backlash from veterans groups and members of Congress.\n\u201cWhen you go to Disney, do they measure the number of hours you wait in line? Or what\u2019s important? What\u2019s important is, what\u2019s your satisfaction with the experience?\u201d McDonald said at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast. \u201cAnd what I would like to move to, eventually, is that kind of measure.\u201d\nScores of social media users were quick to point out that dozens of veterans have died waiting for medical treatment at VA facilities, a revelation that led to the resignation of former VA Secretary Eric Shinseki and a renewed focus on the troubled agency.\nMcDonald, former CEO of consumer giant Procter & Gamble, was explaining to reporters at the breakfast his desire for the VA to move toward a satisfaction-based measure of healthcare at the department's facilities, rather than evaluating it based solely on wait times.\nMcDonald was roundly criticized in conservative circles on Monday. House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted, \"This is not make-believe, Mr. Secretary.\" Meanwhile, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump used McDonald's remarks to slam Hillary Clinton, his likely general election rival, tweeting, \"I will take care of our vets!\"\nRep. Jeff Miller, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, said the comparison to wait times at Disneyland was \"just plain wrong.\"\n\"In fact, the VA scandal over fraudulent wait times ... is precisely why McDonald is now VA secretary,\" Miller said in a statement. \"Unfortunately, nearly two years after McDonald took over at VA, the department's wait-time rhetoric doesn't match up with the reality of veterans' experiences.\"\nDan Caldwell, vice president for political and legislative action of Concerned Veterans for America, said in a statement that McDonald's comments show \"he doesn't even view long wait times and secret wait lists as real problems in need of a fix,\" calling him out of touch and \"not the serious reformer he promised to be.\"\nWhile the conservative group demanded an apology, it did not go as far as calling for McDonald's resignation. The organization's press secretary, John Cooper, told The Daily Beast that McDonald should not be retained in the next administration.\n\"Frankly, at this point, it wouldn't make a difference if Secretary McDonald resigns because his deputy, Sloan Gibson, is just as invested in defending a broken VA system, and President Obama has shown he is not serious about fixing the issues at the VA,\" Cooper said.\nVoteVets, a progressive veterans group, issued a more measured response to The Daily Beast. Its chairman, Jon Soltz, praised McDonald and Shinseki for eliminating the agency's backlog of claims and working to decrease wait times.\n\"Secretary McDonald's comments were clumsy, at best,\" said Soltz, an Iraq War veteran. \"...We're on the right path, and it's crucial that Congress continue to give the VA what it needs to expand services, and cut wait times, not move towards privatization.\"\nThe Daily Beast's calls and emails to various Democratic House and Senate offices \u2014 in particular those members who sit on veterans' affairs committees \u2014 went mostly unreturned. However, Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) rationalized McDonald's comments, telling The Daily Beast that while his comparison to Disneyland was \"unfortunate,\" the VA can often seem like \"a bad theme park: long lines, bad service, and indifferent employees.\"\nRep. Jerry McNerney, another Democratic member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, told The Daily Beast that McDonald \"should be more aware of the impact his comments may have on veterans and their families.\"\nThe Department of Veterans Affairs provided a statement to The Daily Beast on Monday afternoon which neither mentioned nor apologized for McDonald's comments.\n\"In our effort to determine how we can better meet veterans' needs, knowing that their satisfaction is our most important measure, we have heard them tell us that wait times alone are not the only indication of their experience with the VA and that's why we must transform the way we do business,\" the statement reads.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/faa-rules-to-clear-way-for-routine-commercial-drone-flights", "FAA rules to clear way for routine commercial drone flights", "2016-09-19", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Routine use of small drones by real estate agents, farmers, filmmakers and countless other commercial operators was cleared for takeoff by the Obama administration Tuesday, after years of struggling to write rules that would both protect public safety and free the benefits of a new technology.\nThe Federal Aviation Administration announced the creation of a new category of aviation rules designed specifically for drones weighing less than 55 pounds. The long-anticipated rules mean commercial operators can fly drones without special permission.\nIndustry and government officials describe commercial drones as the biggest game-changing technology in aviation since the advent of the jet engine.\n\u201cThis is a watershed moment in how advanced technology can improve lives,\u201d said Brendan Schulman, a vice president at DJI, the world\u2019s largest civilian drone-maker.\n\u00a0\nJason Miller, an Obama economic adviser, said the rules are the first step toward full integration of drones in the national airspace system.\nUntil now, commercial operators have had to apply for a waiver from rules that govern manned aircraft, a process that can be time-consuming and expensive.\nSince 2014 the FAA has granted more than 6,100 waivers and another 7,600 are waiting for approval. Many more small companies have been using drones without FAA permission, say industry officials.\nUnless those operators make a serious mistake that brings them to the FAA\u2019s attention, there\u2019s not a lot the agency can do to track them down. The new rules would provide an easier way for those businesses to operate legally.\nThe rules also would effectively lift the lid on flights by other potential operators who have held off using the technology \u2014 ranchers who want to count cattle, filmmakers who want to employ aerial photography, research scientists, companies that inspect infrastructure like bridges, oil platforms and smokestacks, to name a few.\nUnder the new rules, operators would register their drones online, pass an aviation knowledge exam for drone pilots at an FAA-approved testing center and then they\u2019re approved. That\u2019s a big change since operators currently have to have a manned aircraft pilot\u2019s license.\nThe rules permit commercial transport of goods by drones for the first time, but the other restrictions on flights beyond sight of the operator and over people still apply.\nOther important limitations also remain in place. Drone flights will be permitted only during the day and at twilight. Drone industry officials have long complained that restricting drone flights to daytime precluded a great many uses like some search and rescue operations, agricultural operations best done after dark and roof inspections of commercial building roofs that use heat sensors.\nOperators could still seek waivers to restrictions like nighttime flights, flights beyond sight of the operator and flights over people.\n\u00a0\nThe rules still prevent delivery drones from flying across cities and suburbs clasping small packages. Amazon and Google announced two years ago that they are working on drone delivery systems for goods purchased online, and Google officials have said they expect deliveries to begin sometime in 2017.\nFAA Administrator Michael Huerta said the agency is researching how drone deliveries might safely be accomplished, but he declined to set a timetable for such rules.\nWhat\u2019s missing from the rules is an enforcement mechanism, said Sarah Kreps, a Cornell University professor. \u201cIt is hard to see how the (FAA) actually can ensure that these rules are followed,\u201d she said.\nCongress has been prodding the FAA for more than a decade to write rules to enable broad access to the national airspace by civilian drones. Initially, the agency put its emphasis on finding ways to enable larger drones like those used for military missions to safely fly at the same altitudes as airliners and other manned aircraft. After several years, the agency shifted its focus to small drones when it became clear that the market for their uses was developing much faster.\nBut the FAA\u2019s slow pace led frustrated lawmakers to include a provision in a major aviation bill four years ago setting deadlines for the agency to issue regulations to integrate safely small drones into the national airspace by August 2014 and other drones by September 2015.\nThe new rules fulfill that first deadline. The agency is also working on an array of other safety rules and standards to further broaden the circumstances under which drones can be flown. In April, FAA officials said they are working on regulations that would permit some commercial drones to fly over people and crowds based on recommendations from an industry advisory committee.\nThe flexible revisions and clarification of provisions will put U.S. companies on the global market, said Chris Walach, director for the FAA-designated Nevada Unmanned Aviation Test Site and director of technical operations for the Nevada Institute of Autonomous Systems.\n\u201cIt\u2019s going to help the commercial UAS companies better execute their missions and be more competitive,\u201d Walach said. \u201cThis allows them to be more competitive and actually go after those jobs they weren\u2019t able to go after before.\u201d\nHe said the 624-page document relaxes and clarifies provisions for unmanned aviation systems. At the Nevada test site, one of six across the country, he said they\u2019ll be able to take companies and vendors closer to the next level of integrating drones into national airspace.\n\u201cNo doubt there is going to be some adjustments we\u2019re going to have to make as a test site for implementation for the (Part) 107,\u201d he said, referring to the document, but: \u201cI see those adjustments as being very positive.\u201d\nU.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., serves on the House of Representatives Aviation Committee, which has jurisdiction over the FAA. She said in a statement that she\u2019ll work with manufacturers, operators, developers and regulatory agencies to progress commercial use of unmanned aviation systems.\n\u201cThis rule is a significant step forward for an industry that has the potential to transform our economy in Nevada and nationwide,\u201d she said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/wounded-veterans-press-va-for-fertility-services", "Wounded veterans press VA for fertility services", "2016-09-19", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Three months into a deployment in June 2012, Army Sgt. Kevin Jaye was on foot patrol in Afghanistan when he triggered the pressure plate of an improvised explosive device. The blast tore off his right leg and caused significant damage to his left leg and lower torso.\nJaye spent two years at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, enduring more than 30 surgeries and countless physical therapy sessions. Now medically retired from the military, he continues to need health services from the Veterans Affairs Department.\nNearly all Jaye\u2019s combat-related conditions are covered by VA, except for one: Infertility.\nThe explosion \u201cdestroyed his reproductive system,\u201d according to Jaye, leaving him with low testosterone and a negligible sperm count that makes it impossible for Jaye to father children without medical assistance.\nThe VA provides assessments and some treatment, such as surgeries and medications, to increase a veteran\u2019s odds of creating a baby, but it does not provide in vitro fertilization and other advanced reproductive treatments for the 1,800 to 2,000 injured post-9/11 troops who need help to start a family.\nJaye and his wife, Lauren, were able to access fertility treatments through Lauren\u2019s employer-provided health insurance.\nBut without a change to the 1992 law that prohibits VA from covering in vitro fertilization, their baby girl, due in August, likely will be their only child, since the couple has maxed out their $30,000 insurance cap on fertility treatments.\n\u201cWe have fought so hard to have a child. \u2026 VA covers everything else, why not this? It\u2019s heartbreaking,\u201d Kevin Jaye said during a visit to Congress to press for the law to be overturned.\nSen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has tried for more than five years to pass legislation requiring the VA to cover in vitro fertilization and other specialty fertility services.\nShe recently sponsored an amendment to the Senate military construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill that would allocate $88 million to the VA to cover fertility treatments and counseling for these wounded veterans and their spouses.\nAccording to Murray, paralyzed veterans, those with groin injuries, and former service members who have suffered head trauma that affects their hormones have a right to start a family and shouldn\u2019t be forced to pay out of pocket.\n\u201cThis is just so wrong to me. \u2026 People in America need to stand up and say this is a wound of war and this country needs to pay for it,\u201d Murray said.\nEarlier this year, the Pentagon announced it would create a pilot program that will cover the cost of freezing the sperm or eggs of active-duty troops to provide more family planning options and preserve a service member\u2019s fertility prior to deployment.\nThe Defense Department also covers in vitro fertilization and other fertility services for severely wounded troops while they are on active duty.\nBut once they medically retire, the coverage stops.\nAnd, according to these troops, the recovery period before they leave active duty is the worst time to think about having babies.\n\u201cWe were in the process of saving his leg. What a terrible time, as responsible people, to start a family,\u201d Lauren Jaye said. \u201cWe wanted to get him healed and then think about it.\u201d\n\u201cWe had a lot to get through,\u201d said Tracy Keil, wife of retired Army Staff Sgt. Matt Keil, who was paralyzed by a sniper\u2019s bullet in Iraq. \u201cWe were adjusting to the wheelchair, we both lost our jobs. Matt lost his whole career \u2014 he need time figure out what he wanted to do when he grew up. It wasn\u2019t a good time to think about children.\u201d\nThe Keils did not take DoD up on the offer and paid $32,000 of their savings for treatment. Their twins are now 5 years old.\n\u201cI felt betrayed, forgotten. I don\u2019t want other veterans to have to go through the heartache I went through. Why should any of us have to beg for something like this?\u201d Matt Keil said.\nMurray has made several attempts to get legislation passed to expand coverage for veterans. A bill proposed last year was pulled before a committee vote when Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., added amendments that questioned the funding of the initiative and prohibited the VA from working with Planned Parenthood and other organizations that provide abortion services in addition to fertility treatments.\nA 2012 bill was approved by the Senate but failed in the house over funding concerns.\nMurray said Tuesday she believes her most recent proposal has the support of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and funding shouldn\u2019t be an issue.\n\u201cI want to make sure that nothing happens in the middle of the night that takes it out of the bill. People say they object to it because of its cost. But this is a cost of war,\u201d she said.\nDuring a hearing last year, an assistant VA deputy undersecretary told the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee that the department largely supports Murray\u2019s proposals, provided that money was available for the services.\n\u201cVA supports doing all we can to restore to the greatest extent possible a veteran's quality of life, including the ability to have a family,\u201d Dr. Rajiv Jain said.\nStill, the legislation faces an uphill battle.\nOn Wednesday, Democrats on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee proposed amendments similar to Murray\u2019s proposal.\nBut the panel instead advanced legislation that would give $20,000 in new compensation payouts to veterans who suffered injuries to reproductive organs, with the goal of using the money to cover ensuing family planning costs.\nRepublican supporters said the money could go toward adoption costs, fertility treatments or family expenses of the veterans\u2019 choosing.\nRep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., however, noted that $20,000 may not be enough to cover even one full cycle of IVF treatments.\n\"We should do the right thing and fulfill our promises to take care of these veterans,\" she said.\nCrystal Black and retired Army Cpl. Tyler Wilson have spent $14,000 of their own money to have a baby. They are just in the early stages and hope that Crystal will be pregnant in the next few months.\nWilson, paralyzed from the waist down by enemy gunfire, said in vitro fertilization is the only way they will have a complete family. But after this try, they won\u2019t be able to afford future attempts.\n\u201cThe VA covers every other medical need he has, his medications, his wheelchair. But the VA is denying Tyler and every other service member in our situation, the right to have a family, the right that these men served for and already have given so much for,\u201d Black said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-announces-neon-museum-grant", "Rep. Titus Announces Neon Museum Grant", "2016-09-16", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 16, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\n  \n\tLas Vegas -- Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District announced that Las Vegas\u2019 Neon Museum received a federal grant to help create a digital library of drawings, renderings, schematics, photos, postcards, and other items relating to Southern Nevada\u2019s most iconic works of art. \u00a0\u00a0  \n\tThe $24,500 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services will allow the Neon Museum to begin digitally archiving its collection of groundbreaking and contemporary artists whose signs and advertisements have become synonymous with the Las Vegas aesthetic.\u00a0\n  \n\t\u201cWith this grant, the Neon Museum is one step closer to showcasing and preserving more artifacts from the artists who decorated the Southern Nevada landscape and captivated millions of visitors over many decades,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cWhile we\u2019ve come to know and love the museum\u2019s monumental outdoor displays, it\u2019s gratifying to see the commitment to safeguarding the vestiges of the artistic process along with the world-famous collection in the Neon Boneyard. Protecting these items will allow us to tell the Las Vegas story and provide greater insight into our history as a land of aesthetic achievement.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/video-rep-titus-celebrates-hispanic-heritage-month", "VIDEO: Rep. Titus Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month", "2016-09-15", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 15, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\n\u00a0\nWashington, D.C.\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District released the following statement and video on Hispanic Heritage Month.\nWatch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq-IBZaxPYc\n\u201cHello, I\u2019m Dina Titus, your congresswoman from District One.\n\u201cLo siento pero no hablo Espanol muy bien. Un poquito, nada mas. Pero ojala que mejore.\n\u201cPlease join me in recognizing September as National Hispanic Heritage Month. The neighborhoods of District One are the most diverse in the state and exemplify why Hispanic traditions, language, and arts are among the touchstones of American culture.\n\u201cIn Las Vegas, nearly one-third of the total population and over 40 percent of those under 18 identify themselves as Hispanic. Residents hail from all the Latin American countries and many island nations, threading their folkways and history into the fabric of everyday life in Southern Nevada.\u00a0 Hispanic culture endows our city from corner to corner.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to imagine Las Vegas without mainstays like the Mexican dance group Comparza Morelense, the newspaper El Mundo, the Venezuelan restaurant Las Arepas, the Salvadoran Las Pupusas, the Puerto Rican Association, the Peruvian Chamber of Commerce, the Las Vegas Heritage Museum, or the annual Dia De Los Muertos celebration at Winchester Park.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cWhile there is much to celebrate, we still have work to do. I want to thank Las Vegas\u2019 immigration advocates including DREAMers like Astrid Silva who have fought for commonsense reform instead of building walls.\n\u201cPassing comprehensive legislation is a moral imperative and economic necessity for the 210,000 undocumented immigrants in our state. This Hispanic Heritage Month we must renew our effort to bring people out of the shadows and give them a shot at the American Dream.\n\u201cPlease know that I am -- and always will be -- an advocate for fixing our broken immigration system and providing families with the opportunity to prosper in the U.S. Together we will celebrate the culture, achievements, and heritage of the Hispanic community. Together we will work to bring justice to those who deserve a voice.\u00a0\n\u201cY recuerden, \u201cAdelante\u2026 siempre adelante.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/in-the-news/las-vegas-chamber-pushes-for-speed-in-building-las-vegas-phoenix-interstate", "Las Vegas chamber pushes for speed in building Las Vegas-Phoenix interstate", "2016-09-13", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Southern Nevada\u2019s business community is pushing to speed construction of Interstate 11 between Las Vegas and Phoenix.\nLas Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce members and leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., this week. A group of more than 50 business people and officials visited with members of the Nevada congressional delegation and others about a range of issues, including getting I-11 built so it provides faster travel between Phoenix and Las Vegas.\n\u201cIt\u2019s really one of our top priorities,\u201d said Kristin McMillan, president and chief executive officer of the chamber. Las Vegas and Phoenix are the only two large adjacent metropolitan areas not connected by an interstate. As a result, the cities miss out on economic development opportunities in areas involving warehousing, freight and logistics.\nRight now, I-11 is a multijurisdictional effort that spans two states \u2013 Arizona and Nevada. Officials envision the project stretching from the Mexico border to Canada, running through Arizona, Nevada north of Las Vegas and into Idaho. It\u2019s a project that ultimately would add another arterial for commerce, linking the intermountain West to ports in California and Mexico.\nFor now, officials are focusing on the stretch from Las Vegas to Phoenix, well aware that the complete route is an undertaking that will take decades to finish. Beyond Las Vegas, the interstate would connect to I-80, though the exact route through rural Nevada hasn\u2019t been determined.\nU.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., is co-chair of an I-11 caucus that includes congressional members from Arizona.\n\u201cIn all of this, I want to be sure that the emphasis stays on Las Vegas to Phoenix,\u201d Titus said. \u201cThat\u2019s the most needed part. That\u2019s the part we\u2019ve got to do first. I don\u2019t want to have that lost while we wait to get the whole thing done.\u201d\nU.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., said he talked recently with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx about the importance of the interstate.\n\u201cSecretary Foxx promised to work with us closely,\u201d Heller said.\nOne challenge will be deciding where the route in Nevada will run north of Las Vegas. \u201cThat decision has to be made locally in my opinion, and then the planning process can start,\u201d Heller said.\nIt\u2019s important to be open-minded about the route through Northern Nevada, said Ron Smith, a Sparks city councilman and vice chairman of the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County.\n\u201cWe want the best route,\u201d he said.\nU.S. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., said he expects it to be a decade or more before the state sees the leg from Las Vegas to I-80, adding that funding will be the biggest challenge. When finished, the project will provide a \u201cviable alternative\u201d that\u2019s good for interstate commerce, he said.\nIn Southern Nevada, work is underway on the Boulder City bypass, the first section of Interstate 11. The 15-mile bypass project includes one portion overseen by the Nevada Department of Transportation and a 12.5-mile stretch that the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is handling north and east from the O\u2019Callaghan-Tillman Memorial Bridge over the Colorado River. The new highway will go through the Eldorado Mountains, then south of Boulder City, looping north over U.S. Highway 95 near the Railroad Pass Casino. The 2.5-mile stretch closest to Las Vegas near Railroad Pass is the state\u2019s portion because two separate funding systems are used.\nTina Quigley, general manager of the RTC, said the different jurisdictions are working well together.\n\u201cIt is unusual in the world of transportation to have so much collaboration and coordination associated with a project,\u201d she said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-statement-on-the-15th-anniversary-of-911-attacks", "Rep. Titus Statement on the 15th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks", "2016-09-10", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 10, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tLas Vegas\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District issued a statement to commemorate the lives lost on September 11, 2001.\u00a0\n  \n\t\u201cTomorrow we pause to mourn the 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. The attacks left deep wounds in our hearts and communities, devastating family members, friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens of those who went down and testing our resolve as a country. But out of the ashes and rubble, Americans rallied and heroes emerged. First responders, airline passengers, soldiers, and ordinary citizens answered the call to action. Their bravery unified and inspired our nation at its darkest hour, comforting those who grieved, reassuring those who watched in disbelief, and mobilizing our citizens to help secure, rebuild, and defend our country. \u00a0\u00a0\n  \n\t\u201cThe events of 9/11 emboldened men and women to make great sacrifices and risk their own lives for the greater good. Their bravery and selflessness serve as a reminder of both the heroic and abhorrent acts that our nation witnessed on that day. \u00a0\n  \n\t\u201cEvery September 11th, we honor the legacy of those who had their lives taken and changed by those heinous attacks with the National Day of Service and Remembrance. Let us use this time to rekindle the spirit of unity, allegiance, and duty that sprang from the attacks by giving back. There is no better way to pay homage to all who have lost and sacrificed in the aftermath of the attacks than to pay it forward.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-announces-21-million-criminal-justice-grant-for-nevada", "Titus Announces $2.1 Million Criminal Justice Grant for Nevada", "2016-09-09", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 9, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\n  \n\tWashington, D.C.\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District announced a $2,135,648 Department of Justice grant to the Nevada Department of Public Safety for enhancing the criminal justice system in the state.\u00a0  \n\tThe funds come from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and allow the Department of Public Safety to distribute the money to law enforcement and units of local government for a variety of projects. \u00a0Recipients can use the funds for youth resource officers, body cameras, training projects, behavioral health specialists, and crime-fighting task forces. The program also supports drug treatment programs, transitional housing for offenders, and counseling for adolescents.\n  \n\t\u201cAll Nevadans benefit when our communities work together to protect residents, assist law enforcement, and serve those who are at-risk or recovering from the past,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cThese funds will support initiatives, assistance, training, and equipment that make the state safer for residents and visitors.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0  \n\tThe funds are broad-based and allow the Department of Public Safety to allocate the money where it is most needed. \u00a0In previous years, the program has helped fund medical and social services personnel, records management systems, forensic laboratory equipment, family counseling through drug treatment courts, training for law enforcement, outreach activities for high-risk neighborhoods and more.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-statement-on-hardest-hit-fund-audit", "Titus Statement on Hardest Hit Fund Audit", "2016-09-09", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 9, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nWashington, D.C. \u2013Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District issued a statement on the audit of Nevada\u2019s Hardest Hit Fund conducted by the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.\u00a0\n  \n\t\u201cI expressed initial skepticism about how the state chose to utilize funds from the Hardest Hit Fund program. When Nevada originally received these funds, I publicly encouraged the state to establish a system to help underwater homeowners buy down the principal on their mortgages while simultaneously investing in our communities. This was the best way to quickly help homeowners and stabilize communities in Nevada. \u00a0Instead, the state created a Rube Goldberg-esque system, bloated with administrative costs, known as the Nevada Affordable Housing Assistance Corporation. I am angered by the Nevada Housing Division\u2019s lack of oversight and greatly disturbed that money meant to aid struggling Nevadans was squandered on parties, gift cards, and luxury items. My office has spoken with the Housing Division, SIGTARP, and the Treasury Department and will follow up about the findings of the audit. While our economy continues to improve in the aftermath of the recession, the state\u2019s indiscretion highlighted in the report may jeopardize its future ability to garner federal assistance that can help Nevada families.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/2016-presidential-debate-in-las-vegas", "2016 Presidential Debate in Las Vegas", "2016-09-06", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Commission on Presidential Debates manages all aspects of the debate, including the number of attendees and ticket allocation. The number of attendees will depend on format and production needs. The event is primarily intended for television to reach as many viewers around the country as possible. There will be television viewing events on the UNLV campus and around the community for individuals to attend. You can find more information about related events here: https://www.unlv.edu/2016debate/events.\nYou may be interested in signing up to volunteer at the debate. All volunteer opportunities will be decided at a later date, but you can access the application form to express interest here: http://lasvegasdebate2016.com/volunteer.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-statement-for-labor-day", "Rep. Titus Statement for Labor Day", "2016-09-05", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 5, 2016  \n\t\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\t\tPhone: 202-657-3219\n\tLas Vegas\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District issued a statement to commemorate Labor Day.\n\n\u201cToday we honor the industriousness, talent, and perseverance of American workers. Our infrastructure, buildings, and businesses across Southern Nevada are evidence of their many contributions. But we must not forget that workers, past and present, have faced exploitation, discrimination, and other unacceptable treatment on the job. On Labor Day we renew our commitment to ensure employers offer equal pay for equal work, pay livable wages, provide quality health care, guarantee on-the-job safety, protect retirement, and condemn workplace discrimination of all kinds. Together we can secure the best conditions for the world\u2019s greatest workforce, which benefits us all.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-statement-on-the-passing-of-thalia-dondero", "Rep. Titus Statement on the Passing of Thalia Dondero", "2016-09-05", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 5, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tLas Vegas\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District issued a statement on the passing of former Clark County Commissioner Thalia Dondero.\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI've long known and respected Thalia, who broke so many glass ceilings in Nevada and always did it with style and grace. All public servants can learn from the example she set.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-announces-251375-nsf-grant-for-unlv-research", "Titus Announces $251,375 NSF Grant for UNLV Research", "2016-09-01", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 1, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District announced that the University of Nevada Las Vegas will receive a $251,375 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant as part of a program to investigate middle school mathematics curriculum. UNLV Associate Professor Dr. Travis Olson will collaborate with researchers from Brigham Young University, the University of Arkansas, and Grand Valley State University in what amounts to a $1,090,283 project funded by the NSF.\nThe three-year grant will help researchers learn more about how middle school math teachers prepare their lesson plans by interviewing and collecting data from eighth grade math teachers in four states. The study is part of a greater effort by the NSF to emphasize Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research.\u00a0\n\u201cThe NSF funds fewer than a quarter of grant proposals like this one submitted each year,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cI am proud that UNLV and Dr. Olson will play a significant role in helping to determine how teachers can best prepare their curriculum and what students understand about math in and out of the classroom. STEM education is vital to the development of our future leaders and helps pave the way to college degrees and good careers. The more we know about how students learn in STEM fields, the better we can prepare them to innovate in Nevada and compete in the global marketplace.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-announces-46-million-in-grants-to-fight-veteran-homelessness", "Rep. Titus Announces $4.6 Million in Grants to Fight Veteran Homelessness", "2016-08-30", "2016", "2016-08", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 30, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\n  \n\tWashington D.C. -- Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District and member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs announced $4,650,743 in grants to fight veteran homelessness in Nevada. \u00a0\nThe Department of Veterans Affairs awarded the funds under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. The goal of the SSVF program is to promote housing stability among very low-income veteran families who reside in or are transitioning to permanent housing. The grant is the Department\u2019s fourth renewal of the annual program and has served some 1000 veterans each year.\n\u201cWe must provide all the support we can to local groups that are working day and night to end veteran homelessness,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cThese funds will play a major role to help bring our heroes off the streets and provide a safe place for them to stay as they transition to long-term housing. No one who wore the uniform should lack a roof over his or her head.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0\nThe grantees include: United States Veterans Initiative ($1,243,451), Vietnam Veterans of California Inc. ($1,990,104), HELP Social Service Corporation ($953,850), and The Salvation Army ($463,338).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-statement-on-the-passing-of-bonnie-bryan", "Rep. Titus Statement on the Passing of Bonnie Bryan", "2016-08-30", "2016", "2016-08", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 30, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tLas Vegas \u2013 Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District released the following statement on the passing of former First Lady of Nevada Bonnie Bryan.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cA light went out in the Las Vegas firmament with the loss of Bonnie Bryan. Her effervescent nature, charming wit, and generous heart will long be remembered. She set the gold standard.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-announces-2-million-grant-for-crime-victims", "Titus Announces $2 Million Grant for Crime Victims", "2016-08-23", "2016", "2016-08", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 23, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District announced a $2,049,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to the Nevada Department of Administration\u2019s Victims of Crime Program.\nThe award will help victims or their dependents in Nevada pay for medical bills, funeral costs, counseling, and other services in FY2017. The grant is predominantly funded by penalties, fines, and restitution imposed on criminals and comes from the DOJ\u2019s Crime Victims Fund. State officials from the Department of Administration annually apply for the grant. The money helped provide services to about 2,500 Nevadans in the past year.\n\u201cAmericans are victims of more than 20 million crimes each year and often face unnecessary and unfortunate challenges as a result,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cThis grant provides vital assistance and helps foster a less stressful environment for victims and their families as they recover.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-hosts-event-with-plan-legal-aid-center-catholic-charities-others-to-protect", "Titus Hosts Event with PLAN, Legal Aid Center, Catholic Charities & Others to Protect Immigrants Scammed By Local Businesses", "2016-08-17", "2016", "2016-08", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 17, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus will host her annual Immigration Fraud Prevention Fair in an effort to raise awareness of the legitimate agencies and organizations available to those in need of immigration assistance. \u00a0\n\u201cBad actors, including some notarios and unqualified counselors, are deceiving a growing number of vulnerable immigrants around the country,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cThey produce phony documents, offer improper legal advice, and demand payment without delivering any service. We cannot let these imposters take advantage of our friends and neighbors.\u201d\nPracticing \u201cnotario fraud,\u201d wrongdoers can jeopardize the eligibility status of prospective permanent residents. \u00a0In many Latin American countries, a \u201cnotario p\u00fablico\u201d is a state-appointed lawyer with proper credentials to practice law. In the U.S., however, a notary public can only witness and certify legal documents. The distinction between the terms gives scammers the fa\u00e7ade of credibility and the opportunity to target the immigrant community.\u00a0\nMore than 15 organizations and agencies will be on hand at the 4th annual Immigration Fraud Prevention Fair.\u00a0\nEvent Details\nDate: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\nAugust 17, 2016\u00a0\nTime: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\n4:30 PM to 6:30 PM\nLocation: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\nEast Las Vegas Community Center\u00a0  \n\t250 North Eastern Avenue  \n\tLas Vegas, NV, 89101\nParticipants:\nMexican Consulate  \n\tEl Salvador Consulate\u00a0  \n\tProgressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, Astrid Silva \u00a0  \n\tCatholic Charities, Jasmine Coca\u00a0  \n\tLegal Aid Center, Debbie Jacoby\u00a0  \n\tUNLV Immigration Clinic\u00a0  \n\tInternal Revenue Service  \n\tNevada Ombudsman of Consumer Affairs, Miriam Lira Hickerson  \n\tImmigrant Justice Initiative, Arlene Rivera  \n\tDream Big Vegas, Jose Macias  \n\tCity of Las Vegas, Amy Solich \u00a0  \n\tHermandad Mexicana, Luz Marina Mosquera\u00a0  \n\tMi Familia Vota, Martiza Rodriguez\u00a0  \n\tAnd More\u2026", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-to-meet-with-immigrant-families-scammed-by-local-businesses", "Titus to Meet With Immigrant Families Scammed By Local Businesses", "2016-08-15", "2016", "2016-08", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 15, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas\u2014Today Rep. Dina Titus will host a press conference with immigrant families who have been exploited for their money and personal information by businesses in Las Vegas \u00a0that fraudulently pose as immigration attorneys or notaries.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPracticing \u201cnotario fraud,\u201d wrongdoers can jeopardize the eligibility status of prospective permanent residents. \u00a0In many Latin American countries, a \u201cnotario p\u00fablico\u201d is a state-appointed lawyer with proper credentials to practice law. In the U.S., however, a notary public can only witness and certify legal documents. The distinction between the terms gives scammers the fa\u00e7ade of credibility and the opportunity to target the immigrant community.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cWhile House Republicans ignore our broken immigration system, bad actors, including some notarios and unqualified counselors, are deceiving a growing number of vulnerable immigrants around the country,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cThey produce phony documents, offer improper legal advice, and demand payment without delivering any service. We cannot let these imposters take advantage of our friends and neighbors.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Congresswoman will follow up by hosting her annual Immigration Fraud Prevention Fair on Wednesday with many of the State\u2019s prominent legal practitioners, community organizations, and immigration activists. \u00a0She is also a supporter of legislation including, The Notario Victim Relief Act, which will protect victims of notario fraud from deportation.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tBackground  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tLidia Quiroz: Victim of Immigration Fraud, case resolved by our office  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tLidia Quiroz has been waiting for over 20 years to obtain permanent residency in the United States. Several Notarios told her there was nothing to be do but wait. Those notarios charged her fees and said it was the only measure to take if she wanted to keep her case open with federal officials. Lidia came to Rep. Titus\u2019 office in hopes of finding an alternative. Rep. Titus\u2019 office helped determine that Lidia was able to adjust her status because she was grandfathered into section 245 (i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Her case had expeditious processing and she received a green card \u2013 allowing her to visit her ailing mother in Mexico for the first time in over twenty years.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tVirginia Ramos Bojorquez: Victim of Immigration Fraud  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tVirginia Ramos entered the country legally in 1985 and has been fighting to become a legal permanent resident since. She has been a victim of several fraud schemes that have promised her a green card by falsely \u2018qualifying\u2019 her for benefits and laws. Notarios that have preyed on the immigrant community have given false hope to Virginia time and time again by promising to fix the mistakes of their predecessors for the right fee. Instead they have lied on her forms and damaged her record with immigration authorities. \u00a0 Virginia is currently fighting to uncover the work of the notarios.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tDetails  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tDate: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0August 15, 2016\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tTime: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 10 AM \u00a0to 10:30 AM\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tLocation: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0East Las Vegas Community Center\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0250 North Eastern Avenue  \n\t\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Las Vegas, NV, 89101", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/today-1-pm-rep-titus-david-copperfield-call-to-recognize-magic-as-art", "Today 1 PM: Rep. Titus, David Copperfield Call to Recognize Magic as Art", "2016-08-15", "2016", "2016-08", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 15, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas \u2013 Tomorrow Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District will host a press conference with Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and world-renown magician David Copperfield to promote H.Res 642, a measure that would distinguish magic as an art form and help protect the craft under the law. \u00a0\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tLas Vegas is home to superstars like David Copperfield and other magicians who have made Southern Nevada a premier entertainment destination. The legislation would help ensure performers can protect their ideas by providing an avenue for magicians to have intellectual property protections relating to magic tricks. Artists who work in theater, jazz, ballet, and other fields currently have those protections.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cTake a walk down the Las Vegas Strip and you will see the impact of magicians and their craft on our economy.\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cEvery year artists like David Copperfield mesmerize millions of visitors who come to Las Vegas. We must do everything we can to protect their craft and ensure that those who create magic have the commensurate protections as other artists in our country.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\n\"Performers and creators in the magic arts deserve the same prominence and recognition that performers in the theater, ballet, jazz, and countless other genres have had for decades,\u201d Copperfield said. \"Magic is an art that enchants and inspires millions of people every year. \u00a0This important Congressional resolution recognizes the impact that magic and magicians have had throughout the United States for over a century and their role in inspiring our nation. I want to thank Rep. Titus for not backing away from this issue by highlighting the achievements and the intellectual property rights of magicians across the country.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cA lot of people might not know this, but when I was younger, I helped pay for college working as a magician,\u201d Rep. Pocan said. \u201cI also have a web series where I use magic to explain the workings of Congress. As an original cosponsor of the magic resolution, I\u00b9m proud to join Congresswoman Titus and David Copperfield today so we can help maintain magic as an art form for future generations.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/republicans-should-let-dreamers-work-for-congress", "Republicans Should Let DREAMers Work For Congress", "2016-08-02", "2016", "2016-08", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 2, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas, NV \u2013 Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District recently joined her Democratic colleagues to co-sponsor the American Dream Employment Act, a bill that would allow beneficiaries of President Obama\u2019s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to work full time for members of Congress.\u00a0\nDespite having the ability to work legally at other jobs around the country, DACA recipients, known as DREAMers, cannot obtain employment in congressional offices. Under current law, a provision in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act limits paid employment in the House and Senate to individuals who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents in the process of naturalizing. The American Dream Employment Act would amend this provision to specify DREAMers as eligible for employment in congressional offices.\u00a0\n\u201cThis year one of my interns inquired about finding full-time employment with members of Congress. Regretfully, I had to tell her that it wasn\u2019t possible,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u00a0\u201cEvery day thousands of DREAMers offer our nation their expertise in mathematics, arts, the sciences, health care, international relations, and countless other fields. They legally go to school, earn driver\u2019s licenses, and work in the private sector. We should not deny smart, young, motivated people the opportunity to serve the only country they call home. Inaction by Republicans will continue to deprive the nation of all the valuable skills that DREAMers have to offer.\u201d\n  \n\tBackground on DACA:\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tMore than 800,000 people living in the U.S. are benefitting from DACA, a program which protects the children of undocumented immigrations who traveled into the U.S prior to 2007 from deportation. President Obama implemented the program in June 2012 after Congress failed to pass the Dream Act. DACA recipients must have been younger than 16 before entering the U.S. and continually resided in the U.S. for the past nine years.\u00a0\nBackground on Rep. Titus\u2019 former intern, Brenda Romero:\u00a0\nBrenda is a DACA recipient who worked with Rep. Titus during the spring and summer of 2016 after completing her associate degree from the College of Southern Nevada. She was the first undocumented student body president ever at the college. This fall she will begin pursuing a four-year degree at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Her dream is to become a counselor in higher education and an immigration attorney. Attached is a photo of the congresswoman and Brenda.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-applauds-133-million-us-dot-grant-for-green-fleet-of-buses", "Titus Applauds $13.3 million U.S. DOT Grant for Green Fleet of Buses", "2016-07-29", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "July 29, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\n\u00a0\nLas Vegas \u2013 Today Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First District issued a statement on the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s $13,324,000 grant for 25 new cleaner-burning, natural-gas-powered vehicles in Southern Nevada. The Regional Transportation Commission will receive the funds to replace its diesel transit buses and provide the community with a \u201cGreen Fleet.\u201d Rep. Titus, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, wrote a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in March to encourage DOT funding for the new buses. The RTC will replace the diesel buses at the end of their designated service life.\n\u201cOlder diesel vehicles have higher fuel costs, require more maintenance, and emit harmful emissions that negatively impact our air quality,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cThese buses will save taxpayer dollars, reduce Southern Nevada\u2019s carbon footprint, and help to provide a better experience for the passengers who ride to work and sightsee in Las Vegas every year.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-to-commemorate-26th-anniversary-of-the-ada-with-disabled-nevadans", "Rep. Titus to Commemorate 26th Anniversary of the ADA with Disabled Nevadans", "2016-07-21", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "July 21, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\n  \n\tLas Vegas \u2013 Today Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District will commemorate the 26th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the Dina Titus Estates, an affordable housing complex for Nevadans who are wheelchair-bound or suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The facility is named in Rep. Titus\u2019 honor to commemorate her decades of advocacy on behalf of Nevada\u2019s most vulnerable residents. The Congresswoman will be joined by residents and Dan Billmark, Director of Real Estate Development at Accessible Space, the non-profit that operates the complex. Attendees will have the opportunity to sign a pledge encouraging our nation to come into full compliance with the law.\u00a0\n\u201cOn the 26th anniversary of the ADA, it is important to remember that some of the nation\u2019s most vulnerable people still face discrimination and hardships solely because they are living with disabilities,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cAs a nation, we must use this day to say, \u2018We\u2019re better than that.\u2019 Today\u2019s historic milestone gives us an opportunity to commemorate passage of this landmark legislation while vowing to make sure that more people have access to jobs, transportation, government services, and telecommunications. When everyone has an opportunity to achieve his or her potential, the entire community is better served.\u201d\u00a0\n  \n\tADA History\nOn July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities. This legislation established a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.\u00a0\nThe ADA has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers, changing perceptions, and increasing full participation in community life. However, the full promise of the ADA will only be reached if we remain committed to continue our efforts to fully implement the ADA.\nThe purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA is divided into five titles (or sections) that relate to different areas of public life, including: employment, public services, public accommodations, telecommunications, and transportation. But more must be done to guarantee full and comprehensive implementation of this law across the country.\u00a0\nEvent Details \u00a0\u00a0\nWhere: \u00a0\nThe Dina Titus Estates\u00a0  \n\t5050 Missouri Avenue  \n\tLas Vegas, NV 89122\nWhen:\u00a0\n2:00 pm PST\nDate:\nToday, July 21, 2016\nOther:\nThe Congresswoman will meet with residents and commemorate the anniversary with refreshments.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-local-advocates-host-career-building-workshop-for-veterans-and-active-military", "Titus, Local Advocates Host Career Building Workshop for Veterans and Active Military", "2016-07-21", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "July 21, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas \u2013 Today Congresswoman Dina Titus will host a workshop with local advocates to help prepare Nevada\u2019s soldiers and veterans for successful careers in the civilian workforce. \u00a0Officials from Work for Warriors Nevada, Valley Economic Development Centers, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Vegas PBS, and the VA Southern Nevada HealthCare System will join Rep. Titus, local veterans and military members.\u00a0\nThe workshop will focus on resume building, transition of military skills, federal job applications, and job interviews. The workshop is part of a larger effort in the community to create more employment opportunities for Nevada\u2019s 7,000 unemployed veterans.\u00a0\n\u201cThe veteran unemployment rate is dropping, but 5.8 percent is still unacceptable,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cWe must work together -- government agencies, community organizations, and private businesses -- to help our nation\u2019s heroes transition to civilian life and find good jobs that take advantage of and reward their training, skills, leadership qualities, and work ethic. In doing so, we will all benefit.\u201d\u00a0\nBackground:\u00a0\nAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 495,000 unemployed veterans in 2015 \u2013 with 7,000 residing in Nevada. The unemployment rate for veterans who served on active duty since September 2001 is currently at 5.8 percent of the workforce, a 1.4 percent drop from the previous year.\u00a0\nEvent Details:\u00a0\nTime: 3 pm to 6 pm\nDate: July 21, 2016\nLocation: Vegas PBS, 3050 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, 89121\nParticipants:\u00a0\nKathleen Taylor, VEDC  \n\tCol. Steve Seroka, ESGR  \n\tGregory Wolff, Department of Veterans Affairs  \n\tToni Giddens, NV Work for Warriors", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-working-to-grow-renewable-energy-market-in-nevada", "Titus Working to Grow Renewable Energy Market in Nevada", "2016-07-13", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "July 13, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nWashington D.C.  Today Congresswoman Dina Titus applauded her colleagues in the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources for holding a hearing on legislation shes co-sponsoring to promote renewable energy development. The Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2015, H.R. 2663, will encourage renewable energy development by simplifying the permitting process for wind, solar, and geothermal energy generation on federal land. The bill also protects lands by directing federal proceeds from royalties and rental payments for conservation projects. \n  \n\tWith this legislation Nevada can continue developing as one of the nations leading renewable energy markets, Rep. Titus said. This bill will give the federal government the ability to deploy renewable energy resources in a 21st Century framework that allows us to battle climate change and grow our economy. The nation cannot afford to waste any more rays of sunshine, plumes of steam, and gusts of wind.\nBackground\n  \n\tThe Bureau of Land Management has identified 20.6 million acres of public land with wind potential and over 19 million acres with solar potential. But the current lack of a regulatory and statutory structure governing access to federal land has hindered the rapid development of renewables.  \n\tRenewable energy companies need a more streamlined permitting process. The nation also lacks a fair revenue structure that benefits states and counties affected by renewable development.  \n\tThe legislation will establish the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund to be used for conserving land affected by renewable development. It directs revenues, including royalties and rental payments from renewable projects on public lands, to counties, the states, and the Fund.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-provision-to-fight-human-trafficking-passes-in-faa-extension", "Titus Provision to Fight Human Trafficking Passes in FAA Extension", "2016-07-12", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "July 12, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nWashington, D.C.  Today Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevadas First Congressional District and member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure applauded the decision to include in the Federal Aviation Administration short-term extension bill her provision to require that airlines train industry employees on how to recognize and report human trafficking.Last night the House passed the short-term extension bill, H.Res.818, to authorize the FAA until September 2017 and offer a variety of public safety measures for the aviation industry.\nThese crimes dont just happen on the ground and are just as hard to spot in the sky, said Rep. Titus, a member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation. Airline industry employees are in the best position to recognize and report the signs of human trafficking in our skies and can play a key role in stopping the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.\n\"We thank Representative Titus for her steadfast leadership incombatinghuman trafficking and getting thenecessary tools to Flight Attendants to serve as more than 100,000 eyes in the skies saving lives.We all recognize the horror of this crime, but we must take action to stop it.Within a global struggle to combat this problem of epidemic proportions, aviation's first responderscan play a key role in the fight against human trafficking,\" stated Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO.\nBackground on Human Trafficking Provision\nRep. Titus originally had this language in a standalone bill, the Secure Our Skies Act, but moved to attach it to the FAA extension legislation.\nThe human trafficking provision will require airlines and contractors to develop training materials for their employees to help spot common indicators of human trafficking and offer best practices for reporting suspected cases to law enforcement.\nAccording to the United Nations International Labour Organization, 21 million people worldwide, including 5.5 million children, are reported victims of human trafficking. Cases in the United States are increasing with an estimated 17,500 people subject to sex and labor trafficking every year. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center, a national hotline, reported a 10% increase in reported cases in 2015, with 6,000 cases being reported.\nNevada is among the leading states for cases of reported human trafficking. In 2013, there were 81 reported cases of trafficking. In 2015, those numbers increased to 133 reported cases, a quarter of which involved children under 18. Of those 133 reported cases, 114 involved sexual exploitation.\nBackground on FAA Extension \nThe FAAs funding for operations is scheduled to expire on July 15th. This extension legislation ensures the FAA will continue its operations under current funding levels until September 2017.\nThis bipartisan, bicameral measure provides stability for the U.S. aviation system and important aviation safety, security, and time-sensitive improvements for air travelers while Congress continues to develop a long-term reauthorization of the FAA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-statement-on-basin-and-range-national-monument-s-one-year-anniversary", "Titus Statement on Basin and Range National Monuments One-Year Anniversary", "2016-07-11", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "July 9, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas \u2013 Today Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District released a statement to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Basin and Range National Monument on July 10, 2016.\n\u201cOne year ago, I was proud to participate in the designation of Basin and Range National Monument with President Obama, Senator Reid, and all the Nevadans who had advocated for establishing this lasting symbol of public spaces and public art. As we celebrate Basin and Range\u2019s first anniversary, let us remember that it is a grand privilege and responsibility to protect Basin and Range\u2019s wondrous tableau of ancient drawings, mountains, flora, and fauna for generations to come. Together we must all keep working to preserve this time capsule of Nevada\u2019s many cultural, historic, and natural wonders.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/rep-titus-we-will-not-be-bribed-for-yucca-mountain", "Rep. Titus: We will not be bribed for Yucca Mountain", "2016-07-07", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "July 7, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District testified in front of the House Subcommittee on Environment and Economy to protest the GOP\u2019s farcical hearing to promote a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain entitled, \u201cFederal, State, and Local Agreements and Associated Benefits for Spent Nuclear Fuel Disposal.\u201d\u00a0  \n\tBelow is an excerpt of the Congresswoman\u2019s remarks from the hearing and background information. You can watch her complete testimony here.\u00a0\n  \n\t\u00a0\u201cMembers of Congress may board a plane to my District and then be shuttled out to the desert north of town for a photo op where they can see the dry and desolate moonscape where Yucca Mountain is located. But they should not be fooled by such a superficial look at lands Nevadans love and want to protect. Southern Nevada is not a wasteland. It is home to unique desert habitats, rare and endangered species of plants and animals, iconic wildlife like Big Horn Sheep and Desert Tortoises, and cultural resources from Native American tribes dating back thousands of years.\u00a0\n  \n\t\u201cSuch a quick visit also ignores the fact that beneath the surface are major fault lines and a water table that moves toward the Las Vegas Valley. Furthermore, the waste to be stored has to be shipped thousands of miles across the nation on highways and byways that travel through small towns and big cities, farmlands and scenic preserves, near churches, schools, and neighborhoods in almost every Member\u2019s district. God forbid there be an accident.\u201d\nBackground\n  \n\tThe title of the hearing was political \u201cnukespeak\u201d from a cohort of congressional Republicans who falsely promise Nevada benefits in exchange for accepting the dump. There is no reason to believe that these same Republicans, who have failed to pass a budget and shut down the government over spending differences, are going to appropriate extra bribe money for Nevada.\u00a0  \n\tAlong with her testimony, Rep. Titus also provided the subcommittee with letters of opposition from The Nevada Resort Association, The Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, The League of Women Voters, The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, The Nevada Nuclear waste Task Force, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, and the Democratic leadership of the Nevada Legislature.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-statement-on-faa-bill-to-bolster-nevada-drone-industry", "Titus Statement on FAA Bill to Bolster Nevada Drone Industry", "2016-07-06", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "July 6, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\n  \n\tWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional district and member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee applauded provisions included in a bipartisan short-term extension authorizing the Federal Aviation Administration through 2017. The legislation includes provisions Rep. Titus championed to bolster Nevada\u2019s growing Unmanned Aviation Systems (UAS) industry.\u00a0\nThe legislation ensures that Nevada will remain a leader in developing drone standards and operations by reauthorizing the state as one of six UAS Test Sites through 2020. Authorization for the Nevada UAS Test Range and the other sites was set to expire next year. The bill also includes key safety measures the Congresswoman authored for the development of a low-altitude unmanned traffic management system that will be vital to the commercialization of this important technology. Other provisions include a pilot program for detecting airborne UAS at the nation\u2019s airports and increased authority to prosecute incidents of reckless UAS use.\u00a0\n\u201cWhether it\u2019s flying millions of people into McCarran International Airport or bringing fresh-caught lobsters to resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, the aviation sector has long been an industry of innovation in Nevada and an integral part of our economy. This bill will continue that distinction by keeping Nevada as a premier hub of growth for the UAS industry while maintaining the valuable partnership between the FAA and the state.\u201d\u00a0\nBACKGROUND:\nThe FAA\u2019s funding for operations is scheduled to expire on July 15th. This legislation ensures the FAA will continue its operations under current funding levels until September 2017. The Senate passed FAA reauthorization legislation in April. The House reauthorization legislation stalled because of a Republican-backed attempt to privatize the nation\u2019s air traffic control system. There are no measures to develop or study privatization in the compromise legislation. The compromise legislation is expected to be on President Obama\u2019s desk by next week.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-statement-on-independence-day-0", "Titus Statement on Independence Day", "2016-07-04", "2016", "2016-07", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "July 4, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nLas Vegas, NV \u2013 Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First District released the following statement in recognition of Independence Day:\n\u201cThis year we pause on Independence Day to celebrate and reflect on our nation\u2019s past, present, and future. While we remember our great successes as a country, we must persist in the pursuit of equality and justice for all. As we gather with family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate the Fourth of July, take the time to honor those who have made great sacrifices in defense of our freedom. I wish you and your family a happy Independence Day.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-statement-on-whole-women-s-health-v-hellerstedt", "Titus Statement on Whole Womens Health v. Hellerstedt", "2016-06-27", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "June 27, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\n  \n\tWashington, DC -- Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District issued a statement on the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s 5-3 decision to strike down \u00a0Texas\u2019 restrictive anti-abortion law, HB 2, in the case of Whole Women\u2019s Health v. Hellerstedt.\u00a0\nHB 2 enacted such onerous restrictions on Texas\u2019 abortion care providers that it would have forced 75 percent of the state\u2019s clinics to close. It was the greatest threat to women\u2019s reproductive freedom since Roe v. Wade.\u00a0\n\u201cThe State of Texas should not waste its time interfering with the reproductive rights of women. For more than 40 years, American women have had the right to safe and legal abortions and today\u2019s decision upholds that access. For too long Republicans have attacked women\u2019s health care. Today\u2019s ruling is a clear signal that they are out of line and wasting time.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\nBackground on HB 2\nHB 2 would have required doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of where the procedure takes place. Furthermore, abortion clinics would have to be retrofitted to meet hospital-grade standards of ambulatory surgical centers. These restrictions are often known as \u201cTRAP laws\u201d (targeted regulation of abortion providers). In a state with 5.4 million women of reproductive age, HB 2 would have created a gap of 500 miles between San Antonio and the New Mexico border without a single clinic.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-statement-on-designation-of-stonewall-national-monument", "Titus Statement on Designation of Stonewall National Monument", "2016-06-24", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "June 24, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nWashington, DC \u2013 Representative Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District released the following statement in response to President Obama\u2019s designation of the Stonewall National Monument.\n\u201cNearly 50 years ago this week, gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals at a small bar in Greenwich Village said enough is enough and stood up to injustice and discrimination. Their actions that night sparked the LGBT civil rights movement that continues to this day. As a proud sponsor of legislation to permanently protect the Stonewall Inn and recognize its importance to United States history and the LGBT rights movement, I applaud the President\u2019s decision.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-statement-on-bill-to-cut-wait-times-for-veterans-0", "Titus Statement on Bill to Cut Wait Times for Veterans", "2016-06-23", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "June 23, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\n  \n\tWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today the House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs took a major step toward ensuring veterans receive the benefits they have earned in a timely fashion \u00a0by holding a hearing on a critical piece of legislation, H.R. 5083, the VA Appeals Modernization Act of 2016, which is sponsored by Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District.\u00a0  \n\tThe legislation will reform the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 framework for processing appeals on disability claims for service-related injuries. Right now there are more than 460,000 veterans stuck in an appeals backlog waiting for a decision. The average wait time is longer than two years and is estimated to balloon to a decade if reforms are not enacted. \u00a0The VA estimates that Rep. Titus\u2019 proposal would decrease wait times and save the VA at least $2.6 billion.\n  \n\tThe current process offers no clear pathway for dissolution of an appeal. Congresswoman Titus\u2019 legislation outlines three distinct routes for veterans and a structure that will provide definitive conclusions in appeals cases. Veterans will be able to choose the path that best fits the specifics of their individual case.\u00a0  \n\tVeterans file an appeal if they disagree with the VA\u2019s initial determination of their benefits eligibility application.\u00a0  \n\tAfter the hearing, Congresswoman Titus issued a statement on her bill. \u00a0 \u00a0\n  \n\t\u201cWhen I became a member of the VA committee in 2013, much of the focus was on the VA\u2019s disability claims backlog. We\u2019ve reduced that backlog from more than 600,000 to about 75,000. As we focused our efforts on the claims, I pointed out that the appeals backlog would likely grow. Since 2012, we\u2019ve seen just that. The appeals backlog has skyrocketed to almost 500,000, causing significant wait times for veterans. \u00a0\n  \n\t\u201cWe must not miss this opportunity to reform an outdated and overcomplicated system that\u2019s only had one major update since it was first developed in 1933. The VA supports this legislation along with groups like the VFW, DAV, IAVA, AMVETS, American Legion and others. We are committed to cutting wait times and revamping an antiquated system to meet the needs of all veterans. We must take action now to ensure that we serve those who serve our country. The backlog grows every day we wait.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://titus.house.gov/press-releases/titus-statement-on-supreme-courts-immigration-decision", "Titus Statement on Supreme Court's Immigration Decision", "2016-06-23", "2016", "2016-06", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "June 23, 2016  \n\tContact: Kyle Roerink  \n\tPhone: 202-657-3219\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada\u2019s First Congressional District issued a statement on the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s 4-4 decision that upholds a lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama\u2019s immigration programs known as expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA).\u00a0President Obama proposed these programs in 2014 after Republicans in the U.S. House refused to move forward on a comprehensive immigration reform bill drafted by a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators known as the Gang of Eight. Post haste, 23 Republican governors filed a lawsuit, United States V. Texas, to halt the president\u2019s executive actions.\u00a0\n  \n\t\u201cThe Supreme Court\u2019s action is bad for Nevada and the rest of the country,\u201d Rep. Titus said. \u201cFor years, millions of families have had to remain in the shadows because of the GOP\u2019s refusal to pass a reform bill in Congress and more recently a politically driven lawsuit. \u00a0This problem is especially acute in Nevada where ten percent of the workforce is undocumented and more than 17 percent of students have at least one undocumented parent. Republicans can address this situation by working with Democrats to pass a comprehensive reform plan. It\u2019s time for Republicans to do their job. We should focus on keeping families together, not building walls.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0\n\u00a0\nBackground on expanded DACA and DAPA: \u00a0\n  \n\tThe measures would have provided relief to more than 5 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. who meet strict criteria outlined by the Department of Homeland Security. They would have allowed certain undocumented parents and children to have temporary protection from deportation and opportunities to apply for work permits after Homeland Security officials conduct background checks and case-by-case reviews of applicants.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 58, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "NV", "p2": "2016"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NV&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 58, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NV&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NV&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 58, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NV&year=2016&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NV&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "NV", "label": "NV", "count": 58, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NV&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "2016", "label": "2016", "count": 58, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=NV", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": null, "next_url": null, "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 120.56613713502884, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}