Celebrating National Women’s History Month
By U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto
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hen I reflect on the people who helped me find my path, I think about my mother, my sister, and my grandmothers. I think about all the women who have made me strive to be better, to reach higher. I know that without their guidance, I wouldn’t be where I am today. This National Women’s History month, I’d Catherine Cortez Masto like to thank all the women who’ve empowered me to live boldly and dream big. I was lucky to grow up in a family full of strong women. From my mother, I learned the power of compassionate leadership. From my grandmothers, I learned the value of hard work. And from my sister I learned the value of community engagement. Let me explain. Starting with my beautiful and loving mother. She was and still is the dominant force in our family. Yes, she loved
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March 2021 // www.SeniorSpectrumNewspapers.com
my father and her family and showed us every day by always being there for us no matter the hardship to her, even after a long day at work bookkeeping for a real estate title company. But she also instilled and inspired her daughters with the belief that women were equal in the workplace and in control of their own healthcare decisions. My grandmothers similarly were dominant forces and inspirational. My paternal grandmother, for whom my sister is named, was the oldest of thirteen children, which forced her to grow up fast and help to support the family at a young age. That work ethic continued as a wife, mother and grandmother. I have memories of seeing her working as a sales clerk in Las Vegas. After years of being in the workforce, she was finally able to retire relying on Social Security and Medicare. My maternal grandmother, for whom I am named, similarly raised a family thanks to the service industry in Las Vegas. She had a brilliant mind and was an insatiable reader, which made it hard to accept her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease later in life. My sister has also inspired me throughout my career. She is a school counselor and has always worked with disadvantaged youth, especially with girls who suffered physical, mental, or emotional abuse. Her commitment to help struggling youth inspire my efforts to put the interests of our children first and to champion similar laws in the U.S. Senate. Similarly, the Silver State has no shortage of amazing women. Nevada’s historic leaders include women’s suffrage leader Anne Henrietta Martin, nurse and social welfare advocate Lubertha Johnson, Native American activist and author Sarah Winnemucca, and so many more. These women opened the door for women like me—and my colleague, Senator Jacky Rosen—to be empowered to dream big and work relentlessly to achieve our goals. Every day I’m grateful to work with Jacky to represent the diverse and vibrant people of my home state. As important as it is to hold the door open for more aspiring women and girls, it’s equally important to show my respect for and gratitude to those who held the door open before me. That’s why I’m proud that my bill with Senator Deb Fischer (RNE), the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act, was signed into law at the start of this year. This bipartisan legislation creates a new series of quarters highlighting American women who have contributed to suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, and the humanities. For far too long, women have gone unrecognized for their critical contributions to our nation and I’m excited that girls and young women will be able to see these female pioneers’ faces on our coinage. This National Women’s History month, I’m proud to pay tribute to a few of the significant women in my life whom I’m eternally grateful for.
