FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
Gil Cisneros Condemns Senate Republicans for Blocking the Right to Contraception Act
Covina, CA – Today, former LA County Congressman, Under Secretary of Defense, and Education and Veterans Advocate Gil Cisneros expressed profound disappointment and frustration following Senate Republicans’ blockade of the Right to Contraception Act on June 5th. As Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Gil signed the policy that allowed servicemembers to travel if they were stationed where abortion was unaccessible. As a candidate for CA 31, Gil Cisneros pledges to prioritize reproductive healthcare and fight for the passage of legislation that ensures access to contraceptives and safeguards the rights of all individuals to make choices about their own bodies.
The Right to Contraception Act, spearheaded by Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and other Democrats, is part of a broader effort to highlight reproductive rights, particularly in light of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The bill would guarantee the legal right for individuals to access contraception and for healthcare providers to offer contraception-related services. It would cover methods such as hormonal birth control pills, the “morning after” pill, and intrauterine devices (IUDs). However, due to the Senate’s filibuster the chamber was unable to reach the needed votes to pass.
“As Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, I was able to increase access to contraceptives and eliminate co-pays for our service members and their families. It is unfortunate that the Senate couldn’t do the same for the American people” said Gil “ I get asked all the time, why do I want to go back to a dysfunctional Congress? It is to stop radical Republicans who want to continually take away women’s access to healthcare. I fought at the Pentagon, I will do the same in Congress.”
Gil Cisneros supporters include Supervisor Hilda Solis, Congresswoman Napolitano, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, Retired Assemblymember Mike Eng, BOLD PAC Chair Congresswoman Linda Sánchez, Giffords PAC, ASPIRE PAC, California Environmental Voters, League of Conservation Voters, SEIU California, Democrats Serve, the New Democratic Coalition Action Fund, Operating Engineers Local 12, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers, and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36. A full endorsement list can be found here.
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Gil Cisneros is the former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and the Military’s Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer. A former U.S. Naval Officer, Gil was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2), the National Defense Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for his exemplary service to his country.
From 2019 to 2021, Cisneros served as U.S. representative for Los Angeles County in California’s 39th Congressional District where he served on the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs committees.
Gil is an advocate and co-founder of The Gilbert & Jacki Cisneros Foundation, an organization committed to improving the level of Hispanic education in the country and the lives of Veterans. Gilbert’s dedication toward philanthropy began when he purchased a winning California Mega Millions lottery ticket in 2010. Gil and Jacki partnered with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the city of Pico Rivera, California to create Generation First Degree Pico Rivera, with the goal of putting a college degree in every Hispanic household in the city. Gil’s commitment to education led him to be appointed to former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative’s advisory board.
California’s 31st is an open Congressional District in Los Angeles County covering the San Gabriel Valley. Incumbent Congressmember Grace Napolitano is retiring. The district includes all or part of the Cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, City of Industry, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Irwindale, La Puente, La Verne, Monrovia, San Dimas, South El Monte, and West Covina. 51.2% of the registered voters in CA-31 identify as Latino, and 15.3% are of Asian or Pacific Islander descent.
Gil Cisneros is a former Navy officer and the use of his military rank, job titles and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.
