Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) serves on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Photo: SCIA

FOLLOWING MONTHS OF ENGAGEMENT FROM CORTEZ MASTO, CDC ANNOUNCES IT WILL DROP COVID TESTING REQUIREMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS

Cortez Masto led calls to the CDC to support Nevada’s travel and tourism economy by suspending the coronavirus testing requirement for international travelers

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) is pleased that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suspended the coronavirus testing requirement for international travelers. For months, Cortez Masto has worked directly with the administration, leading efforts to make this change to support Nevada’s travel and tourism economy.

“I’ll always fight for Nevada’s travel and tourism industry and the jobs it supports” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m glad CDC suspended the burdensome coronavirus testing requirement for international travelers, and I’ll continue to do all I can to support the strong recovery of our hospitality industry.”

The testing requirement policy has served its purpose, and Nevada is now ready to welcome international visitors more consistently. Many countries in Europe, Latin America, and South Asia have already dropped the inbound testing requirement given the high efficacy of vaccines. The U.S. Travel Association, as well as countless hospitality businesses across Nevada, has noted that the inbound testing requirement was the single biggest barrier to the full recovery of the international travel and tourism economy.

Senator Cortez Masto has been a champion of Nevada’s economy, supporting the travel and tourism sectors and working through her Innovation State Initiative to promote economic development and diversification. Ahead of the recent NFL draft, the senator underscored benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the strengthening of our infrastructure for visitors and Nevada’s workers. In the American Rescue Plan, Senator Cortez Masto secured dedicated funding for the Economic Development Administration to help states like Nevada that were affected by job and revenue loss, including in the tourism and travel industries. During the height of the pandemic, Cortez Masto delivered resources to the state’s businesses and secured flexibility for the gaming industry. In 2019 and 2022, she led bipartisan efforts to both secure the reauthorization of Brand USA through 2027 and provide it flexibility to help the tourism industry recover. Brand USA is a public-private partnership that enhances tourism and job creation across the country.

I led efforts with the administration to make this change, and I’m glad the CDC has decided to suspend the coronavirus testing requirement for international travelers. I’ll continue to advocate for the strong recovery of our hospitality industry and its workers. https://t.co/hIqCRhFGaP

— Senator Cortez Masto (@SenCortezMasto) June 10, 2022