Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., responds to a question during an editorial board meeting at the Las Vegas Sun offices in Henderson Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019.
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 | 7 p.m.
Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen said a stimulus package is vital to get the country through the “darkest part” of the winter, even as distribution of the coronavirus vaccine begins to roll out.
“We want a package to come through now that will take us through at least March 30,” said Rosen, a Democrat.
In an interview earlier this week, she said she hoped a package could pass by Friday.
On Thursday, national news outlets were reporting that talks might extend into the weekend, with some reporting a short government shutdown may be looming as the deadline for a stopgap spending bill is Friday night.
“Everyone I’m talking to on both sides of the aisle feels strongly that we have to help folks back home,” Rosen said.
Rosen is looking ahead, as well.
The pandemic has highlighted the need for investment in education, infrastructure and broadband, which could expand access to education and telehealth services, she said.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, 97% of Americans living in urban areas have access to high-speed internet service, compared with 65% in rural areas and 60% on tribal lands.
Rosen said she also wants to bring more job opportunities to Nevada, which is heavily reliant on gaming and tourism.
Gov. Steve Sisolak recently said a shutdown of the state’s gaming industry would cost about $52 million a month in revenue.
Rosen said she’s interested in expanding the health care workforce. UNLV recently broke ground on its long-awaited medical school building.
Rosen said she’s also interested in boosting solar and geothermal energy.
“Those are things that we have right in our state that would be good jobs that would create good energy for not just Nevada but for some states surrounding us,” she said.
Rosen, who defeated Republican incumbent Dean Heller in 2018, was one of the most bipartisan freshman legislators in her first year in Washington. She said she wants to continue working across the aisle.
“I can tell you that for a lot of the work I’ve done, I feel very proud of my bipartisan work,” Rosen said.
Twenty-nine of the 32 bills she has introduced have had bipartisan backing.
She said she hopes President-elect Joe Biden’s win will create an environment in Congress in which politicians will work together.
Biden has been adamant that he will find a way to work with Republicans in Congress.
“He wants good ideas; he wants us to find those places where we get along and move the country forward,” Rosen said.
With regard to the pandemic, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel, she said.
The first vaccine in Nevada was administered on Wednesday.
University Medical Center Chief Executive Mason Van Houweling said the vaccine should be available to the general public no later than March, much earlier than some state estimates.
“I know it’s the holiday season, we’re all missing our friends, those we know and love and this is going to allow us to go back to restaurants and travel for vacations and birthdays and celebrations with family,” Rosen said of the vaccine.
