Cortez Masto, Culinary Workers Union Leaders and Members Discuss Impacts of Trump Economy on Nevada

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Las Vegas, Nev. - U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Culinary Workers Union Local 226 President Diana Valles and union members to discuss the impacts of the Trump Administration's policies on Nevada's travel and tourism economy. Since President Trump was sworn in earlier this year, his administration's chaotic implementation of tariff and immigration policies has driven up costs for businesses and families and hurt Nevada's economy.

"The Trump Administration's chaos is making life harder for our union workers and for Nevada families," said Senator Cortez Masto. "I'm proud to stand with the hardworking men and women of Culinary Local 226. These Nevadans are the backbone of our travel and tourism industry, and we must continue to work together and push back against Trump's devastating economic policies."

Travel and tourism in the United States is a more than $2 trillion industry, which includes Nevada's $100 billion tourism sector. As of 2024, over 300,000 Nevadans are employed by the tourism industry, including more than 60,000 union members. Compared to Summer 2024, the number of visitors to Nevada from Canada has declined by more than 18 percent, and there's been an 11 percent drop in visitors overall. Visitation to Las Vegas has declined for seven straight months. Across the country, many states have seen a similar decline in tourism since Inauguration Day.

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

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