Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. · TranslatePolitics.com

House of Representatives

Recognizing 10th Anniversary of California School of the Arts--San Gabriel Valley

2026-09-02

“I'm here to cheer for an arts school in my district. It's been open for 10 years. I like it.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the California School of the Arts in the San Gabriel Valley. Over the past decade, this special institution has inspired so many talented young students in California's 31st District to embrace their creativity and pursue their dreams as artists. I visited the campus earlier this year and saw firsthand the talent on display. Students here are equally dedicated to academic excellence and mastering the artistic process. It is truly an inspiration to witness. To the staff and educators, I congratulate them on their 10-year anniversary of setting our California-31 students up with the foundation for success. Best of luck on the new school year, and I wish them all success in their future academic and creative endeavors.

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House of Representatives

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

2026-07-22

“You should vote against this amendment. Speed cameras help keep our bases safe. If we can't keep our bases safe, that's a big problem. Our military leaders know how to use speed cameras. We should let them do what they think is best. We should not waste time debating this. We should talk about our problems in the Middle East instead.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Chair, I appreciate my colleague's argument there, but if the Department of Defense can't maintain the cybersecurity cameras on our own installations, then we have a lot bigger problems. The truth is that vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of death for our servicemembers. Why are we even debating this? We should be debating amendments that rein in this administration's reckless conduct on this Iran war or its reckless spending in the Middle East. Instead, my colleagues would rather discuss speed cameras. The fact is, this amendment restrains the Secretary's ability to allocate security and law enforcement resources to address traffic safety. Prohibiting the use of speed cameras also undermines an installation commander's ability to deploy the appropriate resources to effectively meet the traffic and public safety needs of the installation. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this reckless amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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“I don't like this change. I want speed cameras on bases. They make bases safe. Cameras reduce accidents. Military bases have families. I want those families kept safe. I have not heard a good reason to remove the cameras. I want my colleagues to oppose this change.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Chair, I yield myself 1\1/2\ minutes. Mr. Chair, I am going to say, I am pretty baffled by this amendment from my friend and colleague, and I rise in opposition to this amendment. It moves base safety in the wrong direction. Even the Department of Defense opposes this amendment. This amendment would prohibit automated speed enforcement cameras on military installations. To be clear, these cameras aren't about punishing our troops or their families. They exist to keep bases and military families safe. These cameras keep reckless drivers accountable and have a proven and effective record for reducing traffic accidents and maintaining safe and orderly driving. According to the Federal Highway Administration, speed enforcement cameras have been found to reduce roadway fatalities and injuries by up to 37 percent. I want to remind my colleagues that our military bases aren't just for troops to work and train. They are home to schools, youth centers, child development centers, playgrounds, and family housing. Junior personnel can't usually afford vehicles and are usually having to walk around bases. It is imperative that we maintain traffic safety. The servicemembers and families who live and work on these bases deserve every protection we can give them, and that must be part of this conversation. I have not heard one shred of data and not one credible argument that this amendment makes our installations safer. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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House of Representatives

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

2026-07-21

“Gender dysphoria is real. Some people need treatment. My colleagues don't want them to get it. That's cruel. A friend is leaving the country for treatment. This policy is mean. You want to get rid of these people. That's wrong.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Chair, gender dysphoria is real. It is a real diagnosis, and there is a treatment for it. Yet, our colleagues want to deny them. Both in this debate and in the previous debate, my colleagues have said gender dysphoria is a mental health issue, and it needs to be treated. Yet, they want to deny individuals, the dependents--family members of our servicemembers and those servicemembers--the treatment required in order to help and support them. I have a friend, because of this Nation's policies, who is being forced--is leaving this country so that her daughter can go get the treatment that she can get in another country. This policy, this amendment, is cruel. It is meant to just basically root out a whole people that exist. You want to deny their existence. That is unfortunate, and it is cruel. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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“I don't want to ban the military from paying for transgender surgeries and treatments. I want taxpayers to pay for it. I think it helps people. I want the government to keep paying for it. I want more people to join the military.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. This amendment bans gender-affirming care for servicemembers and their dependents under TRICARE. Recently, the Secretary of Defense just came out in support of gender-affirming care for our male servicemembers by providing the testosterone testing and treatment for those who need it. The DOD Secretary and Republicans have already canceled health coverage for less than 1 percent of the population within the Department of Defense. The Secretary is currently kicking out transgender servicemembers, and now this cruel amendment is targeting dependents of servicemembers who are receiving hormone therapy and mental health counseling for gender dysphoria. Dependents not receiving adequate healthcare is a factor pushing people to separate from the military. This culture war ideology amendment can result in a readiness gap issue. I strongly oppose this amendment and urge my colleagues to vote ``no.'' I reserve the balance of my time.

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