Cortez Masto Promotes Child Care Legislation at NLV Facility

The Nevada senator visited the Early Childhood Education Lab at the College of Southern Nevada to discuss proposals to expand access and increase wages.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:48pm

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U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., visited the Early Childhood Education Lab at the College of Southern Nevada's North Las Vegas campus, where she promoted Senate proposals to expand child care access and increase wages for caretakers. Cortez Masto said the issue should be a priority in Washington, D.C., rather than funding a war in Iran and increased deportation efforts.

Why it matters

Access to affordable, quality child care is a major challenge for many working families in Nevada and across the country. Cortez Masto's visit highlights her efforts to address this issue through federal legislation that would expand access and increase wages for child care workers.

The details

During her visit, Cortez Masto toured the child care facility and spoke with staff about their efforts to relocate and reopen a child care center at the College of Southern Nevada's Charleston campus. The senator promoted two Senate proposals she supports - the Stronger Start for Working Families Act and the Child Care for Working Families Act - which aim to make child care more accessible and affordable for families.

  • Cortez Masto visited the facility on March 13, 2026.

The players

Catherine Cortez Masto

A U.S. senator from Nevada who is promoting federal legislation to expand child care access and increase wages for caretakers.

Mary Regan

The director of the College of Southern Nevada's early childhood education department.

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What they’re saying

“The challenge we have in this state — and I think across the country — is not just affordability for families, but it also is the ability to make sure that we're paying our child care workers good wages.”

— Catherine Cortez Masto, U.S. Senator

“We have to build the foundation for children to keep learning and for parents to be able to go and do the things they need to do to at their jobs or their schools. And if they don't have somewhere safe and trustworthy, they can't move forward.”

— Mary Regan, Director of Early Childhood Education Department

What’s next

Cortez Masto said her office will receive a grant proposal from the College of Southern Nevada to help reopen the child care facility at its Charleston campus.

The takeaway

Cortez Masto's visit highlights the importance of expanding access to affordable, quality child care for working families in Nevada and across the country. Her support for federal legislation to address this issue could have a significant impact on the lives of many parents and children.