As your United States Senator, it’s my job to travel throughout Nevada and hear from communities and leaders about what they need to help move our state forward. From Reno to Elko to our Tribal communities, my top priority is ensuring Nevadans across the state have the resources to succeed.
After conversations with local and Tribal governments, colleges and universities, workers, and business owners from every corner of our state, I made sure this year’s federal government funding package included key priorities for Northern Nevada. I’m proud to have secured support for 100 Nevada projects to improve our state’s workforce development, health care, mental health services, research, and education.
Representatives from colleges and universities throughout Nevada have told me they need more resources to ensure their students are getting the best possible education. Thanks to this legislation, Western Nevada College will be able to upgrade their facilities so they can educate and train more rural Nevadans to become registered nurses. Students at Great Basin College who have an interest in the electrical industry will have more hands-on learning opportunities, which will also be available to high school students looking to pursue careers in STEM. And for Native American students, there is now funding to establish reservation-based health science training opportunities in Northern Nevada. Thanks to the resources I helped deliver for the Desert Research Institute, students at the University of Nevada, Reno will have new technology to study environmental pollutants in Lake Tahoe and beyond. DRI will now also be able to support and encourage more K-12 students interested in science and technology.
Whether you’re a senior or a young Nevadan, few things are as important as your health and wellbeing. That’s why, in addition to securing funding for training, mentorship, and learning opportunities for Washoe County School District’s teachers and staff to ensure our school leaders are as prepared as they can be, I also made sure to focus on our student’s mental health needs. This legislation will expand mobile crisis teams in Lyon County so they have the tools they need to respond to young Nevadans needing mental health and crisis care. For seniors in Lyon County, I delivered resources to provide some relief for family caregivers by creating a respite program for older adults and individuals living with disabilities.
My focus is also on keeping our communities safe and making sure our law enforcement has the tools they need to protect Nevada families. That’s why I worked to secure an additional over $7 million for law enforcement projects throughout Nevada. That funding will go toward supporting mental health initiatives for the Reno Police Department, purchasing new technology and equipment for the Lander County Sheriff’s Office, upgrading equipment and patrol vehicles for Reno-Sparks Indian Colony police officers, and investing in new instruments to upgrade and access DNA databases for the Reno and Sparks Police Departments as well as the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
Delivering for Nevadans will always be my most important mission. By supporting workforce development, strengthening our mental health infrastructure, and investing in education and public safety, the resources coming to Nevada will create good-paying jobs and help Nevadans stay safe and healthy. These projects will benefit hardworking families, small businesses, and students across the state, and it’s all because I’m hearing from Nevadans and community leaders about what they need. I’m going to keep working on the ground in our state and in Washington to ensure Nevadans have every opportunity to succeed.
