Cortez Masto Announces Las Vegas IBEW Local 357 Worker as State of the Union Guest

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced Melenie Zavala, member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Las Vegas Local 357 and 2022 Apprentice of the Year, as her guest to the State of the Union address. Through legislation including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act,Senator Cortez Masto and the Biden-Harris administration have delivered historic investments to create good-paying, union jobs and support Nevadans like Melenie who are building exciting careers with organized labor.

Nevada's clean energy economy already employs over 42,000 Nevadans, and that number is predicted to double in the next 10 years. In addition to supporting clean energy projects, federal investments Senator Cortez Masto secured are helping fund the new Brightline West rail project between Las Vegas and Southern California, which is estimated to create 35,000 good-paying union jobs and bolster Southern Nevada's tourism economy. In addition to Cortez Masto's efforts to create union jobs in Nevada, she's pushing for expanded apprenticeship and job training programs to make sure Nevada workers have the training and skills to take advantage of new opportunities.

"I come from a strong union family, and I'll always stand up for organized labor. Over the past four years, we've delivered historic investments for clean energy and infrastructure in Nevada and this is just the beginning," said Senator Cortez Masto. "I'm proud to have Melenie Zavala as my guest for this week's speech to celebrate the thousands of good-paying, union jobs coming to Nevada and highlight the lifechanging opportunities our unions, and their apprenticeships, provide. I'll keep doing all I can in the Senate to support the hardworking Nevadans who are driving our economy."

"A union job made all the difference in my life, and I'm glad to bring my story to Washington," said Melenie Zavala. "Senator Cortez Masto and this administration are champions for organized labor and their policies are supporting thousands of good-paying jobs across the state. Investing in union workers is good for our state, our economy, and our future."

Through her Innovation State Initiative, Senator Cortez Masto has been working to boost Nevada's economy and create good-paying, union jobs. In helping pass legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, she's worked to bring more good-paying union jobs to Nevada. She wrote the battery manufacturing and recycling program that is funding projects in Nevada, and supported numerous provisions to improve technology supply chains that will help build out Nevada's electric vehicle infrastructure, continue to support solar and geothermal energy projects, and invest in Nevada's infrastructure and workforce development programs. She has also cosponsored the PRO Act to protect workers' rights to come together and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces.

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