Candidate Profile: Gil Cisneros For U.S. House, 39th District, CA

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The 2020 election is heating up in Orange County, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the presidential election, but voters will also decide the outcome of state representative and senate seats.

Closer to home, Patch has asked candidates for all races to discuss their campaigns, publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Running for the U.S. House of Representatives: California's 39th District:

Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr.

Age (as of Election Day)

49

Town/City of Residence

Yorba Linda, CA

Office Sought

U.S. House: California's 39th District

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family

Jacki Cisneros (wife), Christopher Cisneros (6), Alexander Cisneros (6)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

George Washington University (BA), Regis University (MBA), Brown University (MA)

Occupation

Member of Congress

Campaign website

www.cisnerosforcongres...

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Congressman for California's 39th District

The single most pressing issue facing our (state, district, community, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing the 39th District is healthcare.

Whether it’s the fear of losing pre-existing condition protections, high costs, skyrocketing drug prices, or the coronavirus, 39th District residents are concerned about their health and how they can maintain it, especially with an unprecedented health crisis. In Congress, I’ve passed legislation to strengthen healthcare, preserve pre-existing condition protections, and lower drug prices.

I’m going to continue to fight to ensure our district has access to quality, affordable healthcare. That means standing up to any attempt to undermine our healthcare system. We cannot go back to a time when health insurance companies could deny a person healthcare because of a pre-existing condition. We need to build upon the Affordable Care Act, and I will work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to do just that.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

This race is about healthcare, coronavirus relief, common-sense gun safety legislation, our planet, our schools, and our veterans and servicemembers. Since day one of being elected to Congress, I have been fighting for my constituents on all these issues and more.

We need someone who will protect healthcare and preserve pre-existing condition protections, especially during this pandemic. We need someone to stand up to the powerful gun lobby. And we need someone who believes in science and the need to combat climate change. I’ve passed legislation to preserve protections for people who have a pre-existing condition and lower drug prices, I’ve stood up to the gun lobby, and I’m fighting to protect our planet by supporting clean energy policies.

My opponent supports overturning the Affordable Care Act—in the middle of a pandemic—and its protections for pre-existing conditions. She has no plan to replace it. She voted against keeping guns out of schools in the state assembly, has an A from the NRA, and is endorsed by the gun lobby.

She voted against supporting equal pay for equal work and against a women’s right to choose, including against Planned Parenthood. And she has made it clear she supports President Trump and his agenda. She’s also stayed silent as our Commander-In-Chief attacked our courageous servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. My opponent will be a rubber stamp for Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and President Trump.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I’m fighting to bring back the coronavirus relief, PPE, and resources that the 39th District needs. The health and safety of my constituents is my top priority, and I’ll continue to work to ensure we have the property funding for testing, contact tracing, and treatment.

At the same time, I’m also focused on our economic recovery and putting our country back on track safely. As a former Navy Supply Corps officer, I know how important it is to be prepared for a crisis, and we need to make sure we have the necessary supplies for this crisis, but for future ones as well.

We need to fix our broken immigration system. I’ve been fighting to protect DREAMers—they’re students, servicemembers, coworkers, neighbors, and many of them are on the frontlines of this pandemic helping to keep our communities safe and healthy. I’ve championed legislation that would offer DACA recipients a pathway to citizenship.

They deserve the opportunity to live in a country they love and call home without fear of deportation.

Gun violence is an epidemic in our country, and it’s something that’s personally affected my family. I strongly believe that we need common-sense gun safety legislation to protect our children and our communities. It’s long overdue. It’s not enough to simply embrace gun violence prevention, he will fight to expand background check requirements—which over 90 percent of Americans support—ban assault weapons, oppose Concealed Carry Reciprocity, repeal the Dickey Amendment, and take other measures to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals, domestic terrorists, and those with mental challenges. I’m proud to stand up to the corrupt, fraudulent gun lobby and I wear my F rating from the NRA as a badge of honor.

While we’ve come a long way in advancing women’s rights, there’s still so much more we need to do. We have to close the gender pay gap, end sexual harassment in the workplace, reduce barriers to women’s healthcare, and combat sexual assault and domestic violence. As a strong supporter of a woman’s right to choose, I will fight back against any attempt to undermine women’s reproductive care. It’s long overdue that we make the Equal Rights Amendment the 29th Amendment of our Constitution—guaranteeing that women and men are truly equal under the law.

As a former Navy Veteran, I’m committed to fighting for our veterans, servicemembers, and their families. I’m working to fully fund veterans programs, strengthen the G.I Bill, protect health care and educational benefits, and bring the VA into the 21st Century. I’ve also been a vocal advocate against discrimination to our servicemembers who are a part of the LGBTQ community and for reforming our military justice system to protect survivors of sexual assault and harassment in our military. Our veterans and servicemembers have always had our backs, it’s time we have theirs.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My proudest accomplishment since taking office is giving everyone in California’s 39th District the representation they deserve in Congress.

I’ve voted to protect the Affordable Care Act and protections for those with pre-existing conditions. I helped pass H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, to reduce the price of prescription drugs and expand Medicare benefits. I am working to ensure students have equal access to quality and affordable education, from preschool, to our K-12 system, and higher education. And I support legislation to lower interest rates for student loans and increase recruitment of diverse teachers.

I also secured House passage of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Bill. As a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, I’ve been working to improve access to benefits for our veterans. I launched a bipartisan MTAP caucus to help servicemembers better transition out of the military, and we are currently overseeing implementation of the new law expanding benefits for Blue Water Navy veterans.

I’m also proud of the high level of engagement, accessibility, and visibility we have had in the district. Over $367 million has been brought back to the district, including over $200 million in covid-19 federal aid. My District Office has recovered $565,693 for constituents through casework and helped 419 constituents resolve their issues, from Social Security and Medicare benefits, to immigration casework, to Veterans’ Affairs benefits. I have responded to over 119,000 constituent letters, participated in over 250 Community Events, addressed over 15,000 constituent COVID-related concerns, and hosted 30 town halls.

Throughout this pandemic, I worked with our community leaders, small business owners, and families to help the 39th District through this crisis. My office and I have answered over 15,000 emails, phone calls, and voicemails from constituents who had questions and concerns about the coronavirus.

I’ve hosted over 20 coronavirus-related, virtual town halls with local doctors and representatives from the Small Business Administration and Small Business Development Center at Cal State Fullerton. I’ve called out anti-AAPI hate and hosted a town hall focused on resources for our AAPI community who have been experiencing racism, discrimination, and violence related to the coronavirus. I’ve also been a strong advocate in closing the health disparities in communities of colors, including hosting a town hall with representatives from local Latino organizations to provide resources and help. In Congress, I’ve worked across party lines to introduce and pass legislation that meet the challenges that the 39th District is facing, including relief for small businesses, essential workers, families, schools, and cities and funding for testing. I know that more work needs to be done to get our community and our country back on track.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

If I win re-election, I’m committed to continuing to provide relief for our communities, strengthen healthcare, protect our servicemembers, enact common-sense gun safety legislation, support small businesses, and fight climate change.

I want to continue to form relationships with my Republican colleagues and work on bipartisan solutions to address the greatest challenges in the 39th District and across the country. As a Co-Chair to the Military Transition Assistance Pathway (MTAP) Caucus, I want to help our servicemembers better transition out of the military. I’m going to continue being transparent and accountable to my constituents by hosting town halls, office hours, and events safely. Most importantly, I want to continue serving constituents with casework and improving communication with federal agencies.

Why should voters trust you?

From my first day in Congress, I’ve been fighting for the 39th District. Constituent casework has been a cornerstone of my agenda, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to help get the money and benefits they’re owed from our federal agencies. During this pandemic, I’m especially proud that my office was able to answer over 15,000 constituents who had a question, concern, or problem. We helped 39th District small businesses who wanted to change operations and produce PPE to navigate federal agencies and regulations.

I’ve connected organizations to resources throughout the community, and I've been transparent with 39th District residents about what’s happening on the federal, state, and local level. Beyond this pandemic, I’ve worked with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to pass meaningful legislation that helps our community, including protecting healthcare, lowering drug prices, and keeping our communities safe.

I’ve kept my word, and my strong record reflects that.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

I strongly believe that members of Congress need to be good stewards of taxpayer money. I’m against cuts to Medicare, Social Security, and the Highway Trust Fund. We need to be investing in the American people. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I provide necessary oversight on how the Department of Defense uses its budget to ensure we’re protecting our national security, servicemembers, and military families properly.

I’ve championed legislation to lift the SALT cap and lower taxes for 39th District residents, and I’ve called for bipartisan budget reforms that address the health and economic needs of our country. I am a cosponsor of the TRUST Act, which would establish a bipartisan process for addressing the long term solvency of important federal programs, which are all slated to be insolvent within the next decade.

Coming together across the aisle to fix these programs with thoughtful revenue and spending adjustments will help grow the economy and prevent massive increases in the national debt.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

It wasn’t given to me, but my favorite quote is from baseball legend Jackie Robinson: “A life is not important except in the impact is has on other lives.”

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

As a United States Navy Officer, I learned that leaders must lead with their actions as well as their words.

During this public health crisis, my priority as your representative has been making sure frontline workers, like doctors and nurses, have protective equipment when treating Coronavirus patients. I’ve been fighting to provide more Coronavirus testing and tracing to contain outbreaks and ensure a vaccine is free when available. With so many folks struggling, I’ve been working to get people and small businesses back on their feet.

My dad was a Vietnam veteran who suffered health problems from Agent Orange and lost his insurance. I’ll never stop fighting for people like him. We owe a debt to those who served our country, so I’m working to strengthen healthcare and housing opportunities for veterans.

Our families must have high-quality affordable healthcare, so I’ve stood up to the insurance lobby to protect people with pre-existing conditions and I’m taking on Big Pharma to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

I’m fighting to make career politicians do their jobs and rein in the influence of corporate special interests and their lobbyists. I didn’t take a salary during the government shutdown, I’m demanding Congressmembers don’t get paid until they pass a budget, and I’ve kept my promise to refuse corporate PAC money.

Actions matter. I worked on eight bipartisan bills that became law to help families and I’ll continue to get results.

I’m proudly endorsed by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, nurses, firefighters, teachers, and VoteVets.

I’d be honored to earn your support.

Do you have a question to ask your candidate? Do so in comments! or email your Patch Editor.