Wikipedia

Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra(/ˌhɑːviˈɛərbɪˈsɛrə/HAH-vee-AIRbih-SERR-ə,Latin American Spanish:[xaˈβjeɾβeˈsera];born January 26, 1958) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 25thUnited States secretary of health and human services,a position he held from March 19, 2021 to January 20, 2025. He is the first Latino to hold the position.[1]Becerra previously served as theattorney general of Californiafrom January 2017 until March 2021. He was a member of theUnited States House of Representatives,representingdowntown Los Angelesin Congress from 1993 to 2017. A member of theDemocratic Party,Becerra wasChairman of the House Democratic Caucusfrom 2013 to 2017.[2]

Xavier Becerra
Official portrait, 2021
25thUnited States Secretary of Health and Human Services
In office
March 19, 2021 – January 20, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
DeputyAndrea Palm
Preceded byAlex Azar
Succeeded byRobert F. Kennedy Jr.
33rdAttorney General of California
In office
January 24, 2017 – March 18, 2021
GovernorJerry Brown
Gavin Newsom
Preceded byKamala Harris
Succeeded byRob Bonta
Chair of the House Democratic Caucus
In office
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2017
DeputyJoe Crowley
LeaderNancy Pelosi
Preceded byJohn Larson
Succeeded byJoe Crowley
Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus
In office
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013
LeaderNancy Pelosi
Preceded byDaniel Larson
Succeeded byJoe Crowley
House Democratic Assistant to the Leader
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009
LeaderNancy Pelosi
Preceded byJohn Spratt
Succeeded byChris Van Hollen
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromCalifornia
In office
January 3, 1993 – January 24, 2017
Preceded byEdward Roybal(redistricted)
Succeeded byJimmy Gomez
Constituency30th district(1993–2003)
31st district(2003–2013)
34th district(2013–2017)
Member of theCalifornia State Assembly
from the59thdistrict
In office
December 3, 1990 – December 3, 1992
Preceded byCharles Calderon
Succeeded byDick Mountjoy
Personal details
Born(1958-01-26)January 26, 1958(age 67)
Sacramento, California,U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCarolina Reyes
Children3
EducationStanford University(BA,JD)
Becerra's voice
Becerra's opening statement onHHS's 2024 budget
Recorded March 22, 2023

Born inSacramento, California,Becerra graduated fromStanford Universityand received hisJuris Doctordegree fromStanford Law School.He worked as a lawyer at the Legal Assistance Corporation of central Massachusetts, before returning to California in 1986 to work as an administrative assistant for state senatorArt Torres.He served as a deputy attorney general in theCalifornia Department of Justicefrom 1987 to 1990 before he was elected to theCalifornia State Assembly,where he served one term from 1990 to 1992.

Becerra was first elected to the House of Representatives in1992.He representedCalifornia's 30th congressional districtfrom 1993 to 2003,California's 31st congressional districtfrom 2003 to 2013, andCalifornia's 34th congressional districtfrom 2013 to 2017. He served as Chairman of theCongressional Hispanic Caucusfrom 1997 to 1999,Vice Chairman of the House Democratic Caucusfrom 2009 to 2013, and as a member of theJoint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.He was elected Chairman of the U.S. House Democratic Caucus from 2013 to 2017.

Early life and education

edit

Born inSacramento, California,on January 26, 1958,[3][4]Becerra is the son of working-class parents, Maria Teresa and Manuel Guerrero Becerra. His father was born in the U.S. and raised inTijuana,Mexico, and his mother was fromGuadalajara.[5][6][7]As a child, Becerra grew up in a one-room apartment with his three sisters.[8]He graduated in 1976 fromC.K. McClatchy High School,located in the center of Sacramento.[9]He studied abroad at theUniversity of SalamancainSalamanca,Spain, from 1978 to 1979, before earning his Bachelor of Arts in economics fromStanford Universityin 1980, becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college.[10][11]He received hisJuris DoctorfromStanford Law Schoolin 1984, and was admitted to theState Bar of Californiain 1985.[12]

Early career

edit

Becerra began his career as an attorney, working on cases involving individuals who had mental disorders for the Legal Assistance Corporation of CentralMassachusetts[13](now Community Legal Aid).

Becerra returned to California, and in 1986, became an administrative assistant for DemocraticState SenatorArt Torresof Los Angeles.[14]He served as a deputy attorney general in theCalifornia Department of JusticeunderAttorney GeneralJohn Van de Kampfrom 1987 to 1990.[15]

After incumbent state assemblymanCharles Calderondecided to seek a seat in the California Senate, Becerra launched a grass-roots campaign for theCalifornia State Assembly,defeating Calderon's Senate aide Marta Maestas in the Democratic primary.[16]He went on to defeatRepublicanLee Lieberg andLibertarianSteven Pencall, receiving 60% of the vote.[17]Becerra served one term in the State Assembly, representing California's 59th district, from 1990 to 1992.[7]As a state legislator, Becerra worked to pass a law that would increase gang members' sentences.[18]

U.S. House of Representatives (1993–2017)

edit

Elections

edit

In 1992, 25th district congressmanEdward Roybalannounced his retirement after 30 years in Congress. Becerra entered the race for the seat, which had been renumbered as the 30th district after redistricting.[citation needed]Becerra won the Democratic primary with a plurality of 32% of the vote.[19]In the general election, he defeated Republican nominee Morry Waksberg, 58%–24%.[20]He won re-election to a second term in 1994 with 66%[21]of the vote. His district was renumbered as the 31st district after the 2000 census.[citation needed]

After redistricting, ahead of the2012 elections,most of Becerra's old district became the 34th district. He defeated Republican Stephen Smith 85.6% to 14.4%.[22]

Tenure

edit
Elijah Cummings,Xavier Becerra, andRobert Matsuiat a press conference on civil rights in 1997
Tipper Gore,Becerra, and PresidentBill Clinton

Becerra was a member of theCongressional Hispanic Caucus,of which he served as chairman during the105th Congress.[23]

Becerra voted against theEmergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008because he "wanted to see direct protections for responsible homeowners" in the bill.[24]

Becerra was appointed assistant to the speaker of the House for the 110th Congress.[25]He won his bid to succeedJohn LarsonasVice-Chairin the 111th Congress, defeatingMarcy Kapturof Ohio by a vote of 175–67.[26]

Becerra successfully ran for a second term as Vice-Chair in 2011 to serve during the112th Congress.[27]

During the111th Congressand112th Congress,Becerra served on several high-profile committees. He was appointed to serve on theNational Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform(often called Bowles-Simpson/Simpson-Bowles) on March 24, 2010.[28]Becerra was selected to serve on theJoint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction(also known as the Super Committee) on August 11, 2011.[29]And on December 23, 2011, he was appointed to serve on a bi-cameral conference committee to find bi-partisan solutions on middle-class tax cuts, unemployment insurance, and the Medicare physician payment rate.[30]

Becerra had a seat on theHouse Ways and Means Committeeand was the first Latino to serve on the committee.[18]

Abortion rights and pay equity

edit

A writer forVanity Fairdescribed Becerra as a "strident supporter of women's health and reproductive rights";[31]The New York Timesstated that he has been "vocal in the Democratic Party about fighting for women's health".[32]He voted against H.R. 3541, the Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act (PRENDA), which would have imposed civil and criminal penalties on anyone knowingly attempting to perform asex-selective abortion.The 2012 bill also would have required health care providers to report known or suspected violations to law enforcement, including suspicions about a woman's motives for seeking an abortion.[33]Becerra received a 100% rating fromPlanned ParenthoodandNARAL Pro-Choice Americain 2012.[34][35]Becerra voted for theLilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.[36][37]

Becerra argued before theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuitthat theLittle Sisters of the Poor,a Catholic religious order, should be required to providebirth controlservices under theAffordable Care Act.[38]In late 2020, arguing that the prosecution would discourage pregnant women from obtaining addiction treatment, Becerra requested that theSupreme Court of Californiablock the murder prosecution of a woman who had consumedmethamphetamineduring her pregnancy, resulting in astillbirth.The court declined to do so.[39]In response to the Trump administration's 2020 decision to restrict federal funding to California because it requires insurance providers to cover abortion, Becerra stated that "California has the sovereign right to protect women's reproductive rights".[40]

Committee assignments

edit

Caucus memberships

edit

Other political ambitions

edit

2001 Los Angeles mayoral election

edit
Main article:2001 Los Angeles mayoral election

Becerra ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 2001. He finished with 6% of the primary vote,[41]finishing behind businessmanSteve Soboroff,CouncilmanJoel Wachs,formerCalifornia State Assembly speakerAntonio Villaraigosa,and the eventual winner, then-city attorneyJames Hahn.[citation needed]

Consideration for federal government positions

edit

In 2008, Becerra was considered for the position ofU.S. trade representativein the administration of President-elect Obama.[42]While it was reported that he had already accepted,[43]he announced on December 15 that he would not accept the position.[44]Becerra had endorsed then-SenatorBarack Obamafor president on January 27, 2008.[citation needed]

Becerra was on the shortlist of presumptive Democratic presidential nomineeHillary Clintonfor thevice presidential nominationin 2016.[45][46]SenatorTim Kainewas eventually chosen.

During thepresidential transition of Joe Bidenin 2020, it was reported that Becerra was being considered for the Cabinet positions ofsecretary of homeland securityandattorney general.[47]

2020 U.S. Senate speculation

edit

In August 2020, California senatorKamala Harriswas selected by presumptive Democratic presidential nomineeJoe Bidenas his vice presidential running mate. After Biden ultimately won thegeneral election,Becerra was floated as a possible replacement for Harris, along with others such as RepresentativeKaren Bass,RepresentativeBarbara Lee,Secretary of StateAlex Padilla(who was eventually chosen), and former Secretary of LaborHilda Solís.[48][49][50]Early December reports that Biden planned to nominate Becerra asSecretary of Health and Human Servicesrendered such speculation moot.

2026 California governor speculation

edit
Main article:2026 California gubernatorial election

In the 2026 California gubernatorial election, incumbentgovernorGavin Newsomwill be ineligible to run for reelection due to term limits. In February 2024,Politicoreported that Becerra was considering a run for governor, and that he or affiliated individuals had approached a political consulting firm to that effect, a potential violation of theHatch Act.[51][52]Becerra's tenure as Secretary of Health and Human Services was described as "frustrating and at times rocky" by the Politico article and in a previous interview Becerra said that he missed being California attorney general because of the autonomy of the position.[53][54]

California Attorney General (2017–2021)

edit
Becerra speaking to theCalifornia Democratic PartyState Convention in 2019

Becerra acceptedGovernorJerry Brown's offer to be theattorney general of Californiaon December 1, 2016. TheCalifornia Legislatureconfirmed Becerra to the post on January 23, 2017. He succeededKamala Harris,who was elected to theUnited States Senate.[55]Becerra was sworn in on January 24, 2017, becoming the first Latino to serve as California's attorney general.[56]Becerra was elected to a full four-year term in2018,after defeating Republican challenger Steven Bailey and securing 61 percent of the vote.[57]

While Attorney General, Becerra was challenged the policymaking by President Trump that would disproportionately impact California, home to one in ten Americans.[58]He delivered the Democratic Spanish-language response to President Trump's 2019State of the Unionaddress.[59]

During his tenure as California attorney general, Xavier Becerra filed 122 lawsuits against the Trump administration, focusing on environmental and healthcare issues.[60]Notably, he successfully defended significant national policies such as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) before the United States Supreme Court.[61][62][63][64]

California Department of Justice reforms

edit

Bureau of Environmental Justice

edit

In 2018, Becerra created anenvironmental justicebureau at the California Department of Justice. Among other legal actions, it opposed the effort to expandSan Bernardino International Airportdue to concerns regardingair pollution,intervened to halt a proposed waterfront cement plant in Vallejo, citing significant concerns over increased air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and supported the City of Arvin's oil and gas ordinance, endorsing a 300-foot buffer for homes, schools, and hospitals, and confirming that such local ordinances are not preempted by state law.[65][66][67][68][69]The bureau also intervened in a lawsuit against the city of Fresno in 2018, leading to the city rescinding its approval of a large industrial warehouse project due to inadequate environmental review. By focusing on disparities such as the prevalence of polluting facilities near low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, the bureau's work has significantly addressed environmental justice concerns.[70][71]

Protection of Natural Resources

edit

Shasta Dam injunction and environmental impact

edit

On July 31, 2019, Becerra achieved a significant legal victory when a Superior Court issued a preliminary injunction to stop Westlands Water District's involvement in a project to raise the Shasta Dam. Becerra's lawsuit argued that the project contravened the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, threatening the McCloud River's ecology. Federal studies revealed that raising the dam would expand the inundation of the river by 39%, adversely affecting its fisheries, habitats, and submerging sacred sites of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe.[72][73][74]

edit

In September 2018, Becerra filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission. This action was in response to over 12 million gallons of untreated wastewater from the Tijuana River Watershed flowing into California, violating the Clean Water Act. The untreated wastewater, containing hazardous levels of pesticides, heavy metals, and bacteria, posed a significant threat to human health and the environment.[75]

Protection of Redwood City Salt Ponds

edit

In October 2020, Becerra achieved a significant legal victory in protecting the Redwood City Salt Ponds, vital to the San Francisco Bay's ecosystem. The U.S. District Court's ruling against the EPA's exclusion of the Salt Ponds from the Clean Water Act safeguards these areas from urban development. Additionally, efforts to restore the Salt Ponds as salt marshes and wetlands have been instrumental in enhancing the Bay's ecological health and bolstering climate change resilience, particularly against sea level rise.[76][77]

Protection of endangered species in Sacramento and San Joaquin River

edit

In February 2020, Becerra, exercising his independent authority as defined in the California Constitution (art. V, § 13) and Government Code (§§ 12660–12612), filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on behalf of the People of the State of California. The legal challenge focused on the federal government's inadequacy in protecting endangered species in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. It specifically scrutinized the biological opinions provided under the Endangered Species Act in relation to federal water export operations, emphasizing their insufficient protection of vulnerable species and habitats in the Bay-Delta area. On May 11, 2020, Becerra secured a preliminary injunction in this lawsuit against the Trump Administration for unlawfully expanding water export operations in the Central Valley.[78][79][80]

Criminal law enforcement

edit

Arrest of La Luz Del Mundo leader in major sex trafficking case

edit

On June 4, 2019, Becerra announced the arrest of Naasón Joaquín García, the leader of the international religious organization La Luz Del Mundo, along with several co-defendants. The defendants were charged with serious offenses including human trafficking, production of child pornography, and forcible rape of a minor. The alleged crimes occurred between 2015 and 2018 and involved coercing victims into sexual acts under the guise of religious authority. The criminal complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court accused García and his associates, Alondra Ocampo, Azalea Rangel Melendez (who remains at large), and Susana Medina Oaxaca, of committing 26 felonies in Southern California. With this arrest, Becerra emphasized the commitment of the California Department of Justice to combat human trafficking and protect the rights of survivors. The arrests were part of a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies and were initiated by a tip received through the clergy abuse online complaint form of the California Department of Justice. On June 8, 2022, Naasón Joaquín García was sentenced to more than 16 years in a California prison.[81][82]

Operation Blocc Buster: Takedown of Casa Blanca Gangster Crips

edit

On January 17, 2020, Becerra and Riverside Police chief Larry Gonzalez announced the successful execution of "Operation Blocc Buster," targeting the Casa Blanca Gangster Crips street gang in Riverside. This operation led to the arrest of 15 individuals and the seizure of 14 firearms, including assault weapons, along with methamphetamine and cocaine. The Casa Blanca Gangster Crips, known for violent crimes such as murder, assault, and narcotics trafficking, have been a significant concern in the south Riverside community.

This operation is part of a broader initiative under Becerra's leadership, where the California Department of Justice actively collaborates with local and federal agencies to dismantle various criminal street gangs across California, enhancing public safety and addressing gang-related violence and crime. This comprehensive anti-gang initiative has led to hundreds of arrests, significantly disrupting various criminal street gangs. Key operations under this initiative include a May 2017 crackdown on the Sureño gang and its connections to the Mexican Mafia in Merced County, and a June 2017 operation against the Sureño gang in San Bernardino County. In November 2017, efforts focused on members of the Mexican mafia and drug cartels across Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties. December 2017 saw the takedown of gangs including the MOB, Flyboys, East Coast Crips, and others in Stockton.

Further operations throughout 2018 and 2019 maintained this momentum. In August 2018, an operation targeted the MS-13 gang in the Central Valley and beyond. October 2018 featured a major operation dismantling Riverside County's largest criminal street gang. The following year, multiple operations were directed against Norteño street gangs in Kings, Tulare, and Stanislaus Counties, as well as in Stockton. In December 2019, the Country Boy Crips in south Bakersfield were the focus of a significant operation. These targeted actions reflect the Becerra's ongoing dedication to curbing gang-related violence and crime, ensuring safer communities across California.[83]

Statewide organized crime ring charged with sex trafficking in California

edit

On September 13, 2019, Becerra of California announced the filing of charges against Jing Chiang Huang, Shu Mei Lin, Shao Lee, Peihsin Lee, Pengcheng Cai, and Dafeng Wen for their alleged involvement in a statewide organized crime ring engaged in sex trafficking, tax fraud, and money laundering. This legal action, the product of a collaborative effort between the California Department of Justice, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, and several other law enforcement partners, asserts that from 2015 to 2019, the defendants committed 13 felonies related to sex trafficking. The criminal complaint suggests that the accused used Backpage.com for their operations and forcibly coerced individuals into prostitution at various brothel locations, employing tactics like withholding passports and threatening job opportunities to maintain control over their victims. The announcement of these charges underlines Attorney Becerra's ongoing commitment to eradicating sex trafficking and protecting the rights of survivors in California.[84]Five suspects were sentenced in March 2022.[85]

Additional criminal law enforcement

edit

Becerra brought fourteen felony charges againstCenter for Medical Progressactivists for recording fourteen videos (seePlanned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy), and one felony charge for conspiring to invade privacy, on March 28, 2017.[86]The charges were dismissed by a California Superior Court judge in June for not stating the names of those recorded and the specific dates of the recordings;[87]the charges were refiled with the names and dates in July 2017.[88]

In 2019, Becerra threatened "legal action" against reporters who had received records of California law enforcement officers who had been convicted of crimes during the past decade.[89]

In December 2020, Becerra was faulted by state district attorneys for not taking leadership to help stop unemployment fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, in what was described as the "biggest taxpayer fraud in California history".[90]In January 2021, investigators said the total fraud was over $11 billion, with $19 billion in claims still under investigation.[91][92][93]Most of this money will likely never be recovered, prosecutors said.[90][94][95]

Lawsuits against Trump administration

edit

Defense of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

edit

In addition to his numerous legal challenges against the Trump administration, a significant aspect of Xavier Becerra's tenure as California Attorney General was his defense of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy before the United States Supreme Court. This defense was crucial for the approximately 650,000 Dreamers across the United States, with more than a quarter of them residing in California. In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a ruling that upheld the DACA policy, marking a significant victory for these Dreamers. The California Department of Justice, under Becerra's leadership, played a pivotal role in this outcome. In November 2019, Becerra led a coalition of 21 attorneys general to defend DACA against the Trump Administration's attempt to terminate it. The Court found that the administration's actions to end DACA were unlawful.[62][96]

Defense of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

edit

As the Attorney General of California, Becerra led the multistate lawsuit to defend, and ultimately save, the Affordable Care Act (ACA),[97]culminating in the significant Supreme Court ruling in California v. Texas on June 17, 2021. In this capacity, he led the legal challenge against efforts to dismantle the ACA, emphasizing the Act's critical importance in providing healthcare to millions of Americans, especially those with pre-existing conditions. Becerra's staunch defense of the ACA at the Supreme Court highlighted his commitment to ensuring accessible healthcare for all. His efforts were pivotal in upholding the ACA, a decision that affirmed the continuation of essential health protections and services across the United States.[63][98]

Additional federal litigation

edit

In February 2019, Becerra, Governor Gavin Newsom, and 15 other states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the president'sdeclaration of a national emergencyto fund a wall at the southern U.S. border.[99]As of September 26, 2019, Becerra had sued the Trump administration 62 times in total.[100]

The Trump administration opened 1 million acres in California tofrackingand drilling in December 2019.[101]Under the new policy, theBureau of Land Managementproposed new lease sales for oil and gas extraction along "California'sCentral ValleyandCentral Coast,touching eight counties and including 400,000 acres of public land ".[102]California officials and agencies, including Becerra, filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management in January 2020.[103][102]

Despite the multiple lawsuits against the Trump administration filed with other state attorneys general, Becerra had not joined antitrust efforts against any major tech companies. His office would not disclose whether it had examined any tech companies and had not endorsed any joint investigations with other states.[104]On December 9, 2020, it was reported that Becerra's office had joined 47 other states and theFederal Trade Commissionin an antitrust lawsuit againstFacebook, Inc,headquartered in California.[105][106]

Ballot drafting

edit

As Attorney General of California, Becerra was tasked with writing ballot titles and summaries that appeared on voter information guides and ballots in both the 2018 and 2020 elections. Proponents accused Becerra multiple times of writing biased descriptions that violated the law, which requires "a true and impartial statement of the purpose" of measures. In one of many unsuccessful lawsuits against Becerra, a state judge wrote that attorneys general have "wide latitude" in how they write ballot descriptions. Critics said the responsibility to write the ballot title and summary should be transferred to a different, non-partisan office.[107][108]

Secretary of Health and Human Services (2021–2025)

edit

Nomination and confirmation

edit

After Joe Biden's election as president inNovember 2020,Becerra was considered a candidate forUnited States attorney general.[109][47]TheNew York Timesreported in early December 2020 that Biden would nominate Becerra asSecretary of Health and Human Services.[110]His nomination to lead the Health and Human Services Department has been criticized by pro-life and conservative leaders led byStudents for Life of America,citing his "absence of health care experience and his disregard for people of faith".[111][112]Becerra's nomination was deadlocked by theSenate's Finance Committeeon March 10, 2021.[113]One day later, on March 11, 2021, Becerra's nomination was discharged from the Finance Committee by the entire Senate, in a vote of 51–48.[114]He was confirmed by the Senate in a vote of 50–49 on March 18, 2021, with all but one Democrat present and one Republican,Susan Collins,voting in favor.[115][116]This was the narrowest vote for any of Biden's cabinet positions. On March 22, 2021, Becerra was sworn in to be the new secretary.[117]

Tenure

edit
Secretary Becerra with First LadyJill Bidenand Secretary of Veterans AffairsDenis McDonough,June 4, 2021

Soon after officially becoming the secretary of health and human services, Becerra released a statement praising theAffordable Care Actand encouraging people to keep enrolling in its health care program.[118]Becerra also became Secretary during the height of theCOVID-19 pandemic,of which his cabinet department the U.S. Health and Human Services was mainly responsible for mitigating the pandemic's effects to the American public.[citation needed]

Becerra is credited for his critical efforts to preserve reproductive rights[119]across the country,[120]to expandMedicaidandCHIPpostpartum coverage for more than half the states in the nation[121]and slashing disparities in access to public health tools—particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[122]He has consistently cited curbing health care costs, advancing women's health, and tackling gaps in who has access to health care as big priorities—along with protecting public health.[123]

Medicare Drug Price Negotiations

edit

Becerra was instrumental in implementing Medicare drug price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This landmark initiative aims to reduce prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries by allowing direct price negotiations for high-cost medications.

In 2023, Becerra and HHS finalized negotiations for 10 high-cost drugs, including Eliquis, Jardiance, and Xarelto, achieving discounts of 38% to 79%. These lower prices, effective in 2026, would have saved Medicare $6 billion in 2023 alone.[124]Building on this success, Becerra announced 15 additional drugs for negotiation in 2025, with reduced prices set to take effect in 2027. These medications, including Ozempic, Ibrance, and Vraylar, account for $41 billion in annual Medicare Part D spending and treat conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and asthma.[125]

Additional Matters

edit

Becerra has overseen one of the biggest reform efforts of sub-agencies in HHS's history, including at the Food and Drug Administration[126]and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[127]

Becerra has been criticized as health and human services secretary for being absent in the public eye during the pandemic, for confusing messaging by federal public health authorities and for the subsequent loss of public trust, and for his collaborative management style while serving as secretary; his defenders said he was given an unclear role as secretary.[128]Becerra was similarly criticized following his agency's response to the2022 monkeypox outbreakamid issues with health policy communication and what was widely considered a slow response; White House officials said that Becerra sought to scapegoat the states rather than take responsibility for the subpar response.[129]

On October 6, 2022, Becerra was tasked by President Biden with expeditiously reviewing theSchedule Iclassification ofCannabis.[130]

In 2023,The New York Timespublished investigations regarding immigrant child laborers who are working in violation of child labor laws across the U.S. According to the Times' reports, "Again and again, veteran government staffers and outside contractors told the Health and Human Services Department, including in reports that reached Secretary Xavier Becerra, that children appeared to be at risk".[131]The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for the welfare of these children.

Personal life

edit

Becerra is married to physician Carolina Reyes, and they have three daughters.[132]He is a member of theInter-American Dialoguethink tank, based in Washington, D.C.[133]Becerra is Roman Catholic.[134]

Election history

edit

California State Assembly

edit
1990California State Assembly59th districtelection[135][136][137]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra 9,098 34.80
Democratic Marta Maestas 7,352 28.12
Democratic Diane Martinez 6,703 25.64
Democratic Larry Salazar 1,509 5.77
Democratic Bill Hernandez 1,482 5.67
Total votes 26,144 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra 34,650 60.87
Republican Lee Lieberg 19,938 35.03
Libertarian Steven Pencall 2,331 4.10
Total votes 56,919 100%
Democratichold

U.S. House of Representatives

edit
1992 United States House of Representatives in California, District 30[138][139]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra 10,417 31.84
Democratic Leticia Quezada 7,089 21.67
Democratic Albert C. Lum 5,128 15.68
Democratic Jeff J. Penichet 4,136 12.64
Democratic Gonzalo Molina 2,320 7.09
Democratic Helen Hernandez 1,908 5.83
Democratic Roland R. Mora 611 1.87
Democratic Esca W. Smith 444 1.36
Democratic Mark Calney 336 1.03
Democratic Ysidro "Sid" Molina 325 0.99
Total votes 32,714 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra 48,800 58.41
Republican Morry Waksberg 20,034 23.98
Green Blase Bonpane 6,315 7.56
Peace and Freedom Elizabeth A. Nakano 6,173 7.39
Libertarian Andrew "Drew" Consalvo 2,221 2.66
Total votes 83,543 100%
Democratichold
1994 United States House of Representatives in California, District 30[140][141]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 18,790 81.51
Democratic Leticia Quezada 4,263 18.49
Total votes 23,053 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 43,943 66.15
Republican David A. Ramirez 18,741 28.21
Libertarian R. William Weilberg 3,741 5.63
Total votes 66,425 100%
Democratichold
1996 United States House of Representatives in California, District 30[142][143]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 21,310 100
Total votes 21,310 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 58,283 72.32
Republican Patricia Parker 15,078 18.71
Libertarian Pam Probst 2,759 3.42
Peace and Freedom Shirley Mandel 2,499 3.10
Natural Law Rosemary Watson-Frith 1,971 2.45
Total votes 80,590 100%
Democratichold
1998 United States House of Representatives in California, District 30[144][145]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 38,925 100
Total votes 38,925 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 58,230 81.25
Republican Patricia Parker 13,441 18.75
Total votes 71,671 100%
Democratichold
2000 United States House of Representatives in California, District 30[146][147]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 53,145 100
Total votes 53,145 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 83,223 83.29
Republican Tony Goss 11,788 11.80
Libertarian Jason E. Heath 2,858 2.86
Natural Law Gary D. Hearne 2,051 2.05
Total votes 99,920 100%
Democratichold
2002 United States House of Representatives in California, District 31[148][149]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 24,231 100
Total votes 24,231 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 54,569 81.15
Republican Luis Vega 12,674 18.85
Total votes 67,243 100%
Democratichold
2004 United States House of Representatives in California, District 31[150][151]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 26,308 89.45
Democratic Mervin Leon Evans 3,103 10.55
Total votes 29,411 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 89,363 80.21
Republican Luis Vega 22,048 19.79
Total votes 111,411 100%
Democratichold
2006 United States House of Representatives in California, District 31[152][153]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 26,904 89.29
Democratic Mervin Leon Evans 3,227 10.71
Total votes 30,131 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 64,952 100
Total votes 64,952 100%
Democratichold
2008 United States House of Representatives in California, District 31[154][155]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 18,127 100
Total votes 18,127 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 110,955 100
Total votes 110,955 100%
Democratichold
2010 United States House of Representatives in California, District 31[156][157]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 20,550 88.03
Democratic Sal Genovese 2,795 11.97
Total votes 23,345 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 76,363 83.82
Republican Stephen Carlton Smith 14,740 16.08
Democratic Sal Genovese (write-in) 3 0.00
Total votes 91,106 100%
Democratichold
2012 United States House of Representatives in California, District 34[158][159]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 27,939 77.43
Democratic Stephen C. Smith 5,793 16.01
Peace and Freedom Howard Johnson 2,407 6.67%
Total votes 36,085 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 120,367 85.62
Democratic Stephen Carlton Smith 20,223 14.38
Total votes 140,590 100%
Democratichold
2014 United States House of Representatives in California, District 34[160][161]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 22,878 73.83
Democratic Adrienne Nicole Edwards 4,473 14.44
Peace and Freedom Howard Johnson 3,587 11.58
No party preference Jonathan Turner Smith (write-in) 48 0.15
Total votes 30,986 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 44,697 72.54
Democratic Adrienne Nicole Edwards 16,924 27.46
Total votes 61,621 100%
Democratichold
2016 United States House of Representatives in California, District 34[162][163]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 71,982 77.58
Democratic Adrienne Nicole Edwards 19,624 21.15
Democratic Kenneth Mejia(write-in) 1,177 1.26
Total votes 92,783 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 122,842 77.18
Democratic Adrienne Nicole Edwards 36,314 22.82
Total votes 159,156 100%
Democratichold

California Attorney General

edit
2018 California Attorney General election[164][165]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 3,024,611 45.82
Republican Steven C. Bailey 1,615,859 24.48
Democratic Dave Jones 1,017,427 15.41
Republican Eric Early 943,017 14.29
Total votes 6,600,914 100%
General election
Democratic Xavier Becerra (incumbent) 7,790,743 63.57
Republican Steven C. Bailey 4,465,587 36.43
Total votes 12,256,330 100%
Democratichold

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^"Becerra points to Latino successes in his first year as HHS secretary".NBC News.March 18, 2022.
  2. ^"BECERRA, Xavier | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives".history.house.gov.RetrievedJanuary 22,2023.
  3. ^"Becerra, Xavier".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  4. ^"CNN.com".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on August 2, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 2,2013.
  5. ^Schmidt, Samantha."For Xavier Becerra, California's attorney general, the fight with Trump is personal".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Archivedfrom the original on November 11, 2020.RetrievedDecember 9,2020.
  6. ^"BECERRA, Xavier".United States House of Representatives.Archivedfrom the original on November 24, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  7. ^ab"BECERRA, Xavier (1958-)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.Archivedfrom the original on November 24, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  8. ^"Trump supporters shut down town hall with California Attorney General Xavier Becerra".Daily News.March 24, 2017.RetrievedDecember 12,2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^Congressional Directory 2011-2012 112th Congress.Government Printing Office. 2012.ISBN9780160886539.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2020.RetrievedOctober 16,2020.
  10. ^"Congressional Directory California Thirty-First District"(PDF).gpo.gov.Archived(PDF)from the original on October 18, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 2,2013.
  11. ^Landler, Mark (December 4, 2008)."The New Team – Xavier Becerra".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on September 7, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 26,2017.
  12. ^"Attorney Search Xavier Becerra - #118517".calbar.ca.gov.Archivedfrom the original on October 18, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 2,2013.
  13. ^"Xavier Becerra Caucus Chairman Representing the 34th District of CA".dems.gov. Archived fromthe originalon September 29, 2013.
  14. ^"108th Congress Directory California Thirty-First District"(PDF).Government Publishing Office.Archived(PDF)from the original on October 18, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 2,2013.
  15. ^"Xavier Becerra (D) House - California, District 34 - Up for re-election in 2012".projects.washingtonpost.com.Archivedfrom the original on January 27, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 2,2013.
  16. ^Acuna, Rodolfo (June 8, 1990)."The Candidate Who Upset Latino Politics: Xavier Becerra owes his victory to the people, not to the blessings of a papacito".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on February 4, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 2,2013.
  17. ^"Member of the State Assembly"(PDF).sos.ca.gov. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 21, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 2,2013.
  18. ^abHubler, Shawn; Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (December 8, 2020)."Xavier Becerra, H.H.S. Pick, Was California's Anti-Trump Attack Dog".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on December 8, 2020.RetrievedDecember 9,2020.
  19. ^CA - District 30 - Democratic PrimaryArchivedOctober 20, 2012, at theWayback Machine(1992) Our Campaigns
  20. ^CA District 30 – General ElectionArchivedSeptember 24, 2015, at theWayback Machine(1992) Our Campaigns
  21. ^CA District 30ArchivedSeptember 24, 2015, at theWayback Machine(1994) Our Campaigns
  22. ^Cook, Rhodes (November 12, 2019).America Votes 33: 2017–2018, Election Returns by State.CQ Press.p. 49.ISBN978-1-5443-5446-0.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  23. ^"Congressman Xavier Becerra To Deliver Hispanic Heritage Month Keynote".loc.gov. August 29, 2007.Archivedfrom the original on March 5, 2016.RetrievedDecember 30,2017.
  24. ^Becerra, Xavier (October 1, 2008)."On the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act".The Becerra Blog.US House of Representatives.Archived fromthe originalon December 11, 2008.RetrievedDecember 6,2008.
  25. ^Allen, Jonathan (November 17, 2009)."Pelosi thrown 'under the bus'".Politico.Archivedfrom the original on November 24, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  26. ^Allen, Jared (November 10, 2008)."Dems back off leadership challenges".The Hill.Archived fromthe originalon November 13, 2008.RetrievedNovember 10,2008.
  27. ^"Larson Applauds Nomination of Xavier Becerra to Serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services".Congressman John Larson.December 7, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on December 14, 2020.RetrievedDecember 8,2020.
  28. ^Bendery, Jennifer (March 24, 2010)."Pelosi Appoints Spratt, Becerra and Schakowsky to Fiscal Panel".Roll Call.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  29. ^James, Frank (August 11, 2011)."Pelosi Chooses Clyburn, Van Hollen, Becerra For Deficits Super Panel".NPR.Archivedfrom the original on November 11, 2018.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  30. ^Shiner, Meredith; Strong, Jonathan (November 23, 2011)."Congress Passes Payroll Tax Cut Deal, Shuts Down for Holidays".Roll Call.Archivedfrom the original on October 28, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  31. ^Lutz, Eric (December 7, 2020)."Biden Reveals COVID Team We're Going to See a Lot of As Crisis Worsens".Vanity Fair.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  32. ^Stolberg, Sheryl Gay; Shear, Michael D. (December 6, 2020)."Biden Picks Xavier Becerra to Lead Health and Human Services".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  33. ^CAPAC Members Denounce Attack on Reproductive RightsArchivedOctober 11, 2012, at theWayback Machine(May 31, 2012) Vote Smart
  34. ^"2013 CONGRESSIONAL SCORECARD".plannedparenthoodaction.org. Archived fromthe originalon January 12, 2013.
  35. ^"2012 Congressional Record on Choice"(PDF).prochoiceamerica.org. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on January 27, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 2,2013.
  36. ^"FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 37 Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009".clerk.house.gov. January 27, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on July 7, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 2,2013.
  37. ^Representative Becerra on Equal Pay DayArchivedMay 2, 2012, at theWayback Machine(April 18, 2012) Vote Smart
  38. ^Hollyfield, Amy (October 20, 2018)."SF nuns say they are caught in the crossfire over a battle over birth control".KGO-TV.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  39. ^"High court allows murder charge after fetus is stillborn".Associated Press.December 24, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  40. ^Koseff, Alexei (December 17, 2020)."Trump administration cuts off $200 million for California health care over abortions".SFChronicle.com.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  41. ^Herszenhorn, David M. (May 9, 2016)."As Xavier Becerra Stirs Crowds, Hispanic Democrats See a Running Mate".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on November 25, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  42. ^Landler, Mark (December 5, 2008)."In Trade Post Contender, Political Benefits for Obama".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on June 24, 2016.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  43. ^Allen, Jonathan (December 2, 2008)."Rep. Becerra Offered Trade Representative Post".CQ Politics.Archived fromthe originalon December 7, 2008.
  44. ^O'Connor, Patrick; Grim, Ryan (December 17, 2008)."Why Becerra rebuffed Obama".politico.com.RetrievedDecember 17,2008.
  45. ^Herszenhorn, David M. (May 9, 2016)."As Xavier Becerra Stirs Crowds, Hispanic Democrats See a Running Mate".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedFebruary 21,2024.
  46. ^Matthews, Dylan (June 16, 2016)."Hillary Clinton is choosing her vice president soon. Here are her top choices".Vox.
  47. ^ab"Meet the contenders for Biden's Cabinet".Politico.November 7, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on November 15, 2020.RetrievedNovember 17,2020.
  48. ^Ting, Eric (November 7, 2020)."What happens to Kamala Harris' Senate seat now that she's vice president-elect?".SFGATE.Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2020.RetrievedNovember 7,2020.
  49. ^"One of these people could be Vice President-elect Kamala Harris' successor and California's next senator".Los Angeles Times.November 7, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2020.RetrievedNovember 7,2020.
  50. ^Aschbrenner, Annah; Morin, Rebecca."Who will take Kamala Harris' Senate seat in California? The options are many".USA Today.Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2020.RetrievedNovember 7,2020.
  51. ^Cadelago, Christopher; Lippman, Daniel."Xavier Becerra plots political future after Biden administration".Politico.Politico LLC.RetrievedOctober 27,2024.
  52. ^Singh, Maanvi (April 10, 2024)."Xavier Becerra reportedly mulls cabinet exit to run for California governor".The Guardian.Guardian News & Media.RetrievedOctober 27,2024.
  53. ^Cadelago, Christopher; Lippman, Daniel."Xavier Becerra plots political future after Biden administration".Politico.Politico LLC.RetrievedOctober 27,2024.
  54. ^Zhou, Yujie (April 10, 2024)."'You got spoiled by Covid': HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra appears in Mission ahead of potential run for governor ".Mission Local.Local news for a global city.RetrievedOctober 27,2024.
  55. ^Wire, Sarah D.; Myers, John (December 1, 2016)."Gov. Brown taps California's Rep. Xavier Becerra to be state's first Latino attorney general".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 2, 2016.RetrievedDecember 1,2016.
  56. ^"Essential Politics: Gov. Brown delivers State of the State address, Xavier Becerra is sworn in as California's new attorney general".Los Angeles Times.ISSN0458-3035.Archivedfrom the original on May 14, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 25,2017.
  57. ^Miller, Cheryl (November 7, 2018)."Xavier Becerra Wins Four-Year Term as Attorney General".The Recorder.Archivedfrom the original on April 14, 2019.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  58. ^"Golden State Warrior".The Atlantic.April 18, 2017.
  59. ^Campbell, Alexia Fernández (February 5, 2019)."California's attorney general gave a scathing Spanish-language rebuttal to Trump's speech".Vox.Archivedfrom the original on November 7, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  60. ^"Trump's Final Day in Office Marked by Nine Lawsuits from California AG - CBS Sacramento".CBS News.January 19, 2021.
  61. ^"Trump's Final Day In Office Marked By Nine Lawsuits From California AG - CBS Sacramento".www.cbsnews.com.January 19, 2021.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  62. ^ab"Attorney General Becerra Applauds Landmark Supreme Court Decision on DACA".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.June 18, 2020.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  63. ^ab"On Eve of Oral Arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court, Attorney General Becerra Issues Statement in Defense of the Affordable Care Act".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.November 9, 2020.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  64. ^Liptak, Adam (June 17, 2021)."Affordable Care Act Survives Latest Supreme Court Challenge".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  65. ^"Attorney General Becerra Establishes Bureau of Environmental Justice".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.February 22, 2018.RetrievedDecember 22,2023.
  66. ^Schwartz, John (December 7, 2020)."Xavier Becerra Brings Environmental Justice to Forefront".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  67. ^Weisbrod, Katelyn (December 26, 2020)."In 2018, the California AG Created an Environmental Justice Bureau. It's Become a Trendsetter".Inside Climate News.RetrievedDecember 22,2023.
  68. ^"Attorney General Becerra Applauds City of Arvin's New Oil and Gas Ordinance".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.July 17, 2018.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  69. ^"Comments on Arvin Oil and Gas Ordinance." Office of the Attorney General, State of California. Accessed December 22, 2023.https://www.oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/comments-arvin-oil-and-gas-ordinance.pdf.
  70. ^Cabrera, Yvette (February 21, 2020)."This tiny but mighty California bureau is taking on polluters".Grist.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  71. ^"Settlement Order: SCNU v. Fresno - Caglia Settlement." Office of the Attorney General, State of California. Accessed December 22, 2023.https://oag.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019-03-04%20SCNU%20v.%20Fresno%20-%20Caglia%20Settlement%20Order.pdf.
  72. ^"Attorney General Becerra Sues Westlands Water District to Block Unlawful Shasta Dam Project".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.May 14, 2019.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  73. ^"Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief - Shasta Dam." Office of the Attorney General, State of California. Accessed December 22, 2023.https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/people-v-westlands-complaint-declaratory-injunctive-relief-shasta-dam.pdf.
  74. ^"Attorney General Becerra Secures Ruling in Shasta County Halting Westlands Water District Involvement in Illegal Shasta Dam Project".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.July 31, 2019.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  75. ^Smith, Joshua Emerson (September 6, 2018)."Becerra sues feds over Tijuana sewage spilling over border into California".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  76. ^"Attorney General Becerra Announces Critical Win in Protecting Redwood City Salt Ponds".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.October 5, 2020.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  77. ^"Court vacates EPA determination regarding Redwood City's salt ponds".Bay City News.October 5, 2020.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  78. ^"Attorney General Becerra Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration for Failing to Protect Endangered Species in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.February 20, 2020.RetrievedDecember 24,2023.
  79. ^"Attorney General Becerra Secures Preliminary Injunction in Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration Over Failure to Protect California's Ecosystems".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.May 11, 2020.RetrievedDecember 24,2023.
  80. ^Beitsch, Rebecca (May 12, 2020)."Court sides with California, blocking Trump's water diversion".The Hill.RetrievedDecember 24,2023.
  81. ^"Attorney General Becerra Announces Arrest of Naasón Joaquín García, Leader of Religious Organization La Luz Del Mundo, in Major Sex Trafficking Case".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.June 4, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 14,2024.
  82. ^"Mexican megachurch leader gets more than 16 years for abuse".AP News.June 8, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 14,2024.
  83. ^"Attorney General Becerra Announces Takedown of Riverside Street Gang".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.January 17, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 14,2024.
  84. ^"Attorney General Becerra Files Sex Trafficking Charges Against Organized Crime Ring Operating Statewide".State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.September 13, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 14,2024.
  85. ^Childs, Jeremy."Five sentenced in statewide sex trafficking ring discovered by Thousand Oaks detectives".Ventura County Star.RetrievedJanuary 14,2024.
  86. ^Pérez-Peña, Richard (March 30, 2017)."Anti-Abortion Activists Charged in Planned Parenthood Video Case".The New York Times.p. A22.Archivedfrom the original on March 30, 2017.RetrievedMarch 31,2017.
  87. ^Egelko, Bob (June 22, 2017)."SF judge deals setback to prosecutors in abortion sting videos".San Francisco Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on June 22, 2017.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  88. ^Egelko, Bob (July 7, 2017)."California files more charges against antiabortion activists".San Francisco Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on September 11, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 11,2017.
  89. ^Lewis, Robert (February 26, 2019)."California Keeps a Secret List of Criminal Cops But Says You Can't Have It".KQED.Archivedfrom the original on February 28, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 27,2019.
  90. ^abChabria, Anita; McGreevy, Patrick; Winton, Richard (December 3, 2020)."Some California prosecutors say 'tsunami' of prison unemployment fraud fuels street crime".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2020.RetrievedDecember 6,2020.
  91. ^Jan. 25, Patrick McGreevyStaff Writer; Pt, 2021 3:37 Pm (January 25, 2021)."California officials say unemployment fraud now totals more than $11 billion".Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  92. ^"California EDD: Unemployment fraud in state 4 times worse than first reported | abc7news.com".abc7news.com.
  93. ^"California unemployment fraud during pandemic may total $2B, Bank of America says".KTLA.December 7, 2020.RetrievedDecember 16,2020.
  94. ^McGreevy, Patrick; Chabria, Anita; Winton, Richard (December 4, 2020)."California may have sent $1 billion in jobless benefits to people outside the state, D.A.s warn".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 5, 2020.RetrievedDecember 6,2020.
  95. ^Dec. 7, Patrick McGreevyStaff Writer; PT, 2020 Updated 6:23 PM (December 7, 2020)."California unemployment fraud amid COVID-19 pandemic may total $2 billion, Bank of America says".Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  96. ^"Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of Univ. of Cal"(PDF).www.supremecourt.gov.June 18, 2020.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  97. ^"Attorney General Becerra Leads Coalition of 20 States and the District of Columbia Defending the ACA in U.S. Supreme Court".May 6, 2020.
  98. ^"Statement by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on U.S. Supreme Court Decision to Uphold the Affordable Care Act in California v. Texas".HIV.gov.RetrievedFebruary 21,2024.
  99. ^"Governor Newsom, Attorney General Becerra, and 15 Partner States File Lawsuit Challenging President Trump's Contrived Declaration of National Emergency at the Southern Border".California Department of Justice.February 18, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on April 6, 2019.RetrievedApril 6,2019.
  100. ^Eilperin, Juliet; Dennis, Brady; Dawsey, Josh (September 26, 2019)."EPA tells California it is 'failing to meet its obligations' to protect the environment".The Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.Archivedfrom the original on September 26, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 26,2019.
  101. ^Seheeler, Andrew (December 12, 2019)."Trump administration opens 1 million acres in California to fracking, drilling".sacbee.com.The Sacramento Bee.Archivedfrom the original on December 16, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 23,2019.
  102. ^abCanon, Gabrielle (January 17, 2020)."California sues over Trump plan to open land to fracking".USA Today.Archivedfrom the original on January 25, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 23,2020.
  103. ^Willon, Phil (January 17, 2020)."California going to court to stop Trump fracking plans".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on January 22, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 23,2020.
  104. ^McCabe, David (September 26, 2019)."California Attorney General Is a No-Show on Tech Investigations".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on January 6, 2020.RetrievedOctober 31,2019.
  105. ^"California Joins Lawsuit Against Facebook For Predatory, Monopolistic Behavior".KPIX-TV.December 9, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on December 9, 2020.RetrievedDecember 14,2020.
  106. ^Feiner, Lauren; Rodriguez, Salvador (December 9, 2020)."FTC and states sue Facebook, could force it to divest Instagram and WhatsApp".CNBC.Archivedfrom the original on December 13, 2020.RetrievedDecember 14,2020.
  107. ^Walters, Dan (July 27, 2020)."Becerra slants two ballot measure titles".CalMatters.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  108. ^"Editorial: California voters need unbiased ballot information. Instead, Becerra is playing favorites".Los Angeles Times.August 4, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on November 21, 2020.RetrievedDecember 7,2020.
  109. ^"Who Are Contenders for Biden's Cabinet?".The New York Times.November 11, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on November 15, 2020.RetrievedNovember 11,2020.
  110. ^Stolberg, Sheryl Gay; Shear, Michael D. (December 6, 2020)."Biden Picks Xavier Becerra to Lead Health and Human Services".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 6, 2020.RetrievedDecember 6,2020.
  111. ^Richardson, Valerie (December 21, 2020)."Top pro-life leaders urge Senate to reject Xavier Becerra over 'anti-life, anti-religion' bias".The Washington Times.RetrievedJanuary 5,2021.
  112. ^"Republicans see Becerra as next target in confirmation wars".www.msn.com.
  113. ^O'Brien, Jack."SENATE PANEL DEADLOCKS ON HHS NOMINEE BECERRA, SCHUMER MUST PUSH FOR FLOOR VOTE".healthleaders.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  114. ^"On the Motion to Discharge (Motion to Discharge the Nomination of Xavier Becerra to be Secretary of Health and Human Services from the Committee on Finance)".US Senate.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  115. ^Sprunt, Barbara (March 18, 2021)."Senate Confirms Xavier Becerra To Head Health And Human Services".NPR.RetrievedMarch 18,2021.
  116. ^"On the Nomination (Confirmation: Xavier Becerra, of California, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services)".US Senate.RetrievedJanuary 17,2022.
  117. ^"Xavier Becerra Sworn in as Secretary of Health and Human Services".March 22, 2021.
  118. ^"Statement by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on the Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act".HHS.gov. March 22, 2021.RetrievedMarch 24,2021.
  119. ^Stolberg, Sheryl Gay; Savage, Charlie (June 28, 2022)."Biden's Health Secretary: 'No Magic Bullet' for Preserving Abortion Access".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedFebruary 21,2024.
  120. ^"HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra calls post-Roe US 'a tale of two cities'".ABC News.
  121. ^"Biden-Harris Administration Announces More than Half of All States Have Expanded Access to 12 Months of Medicaid and CHIP Postpartum Coverage".October 27, 2022.
  122. ^"Remarks by Secretary Xavier Becerra at the Health Affairs Journal Virtual Symposium on Racism and Health".February 8, 2022.
  123. ^"Snapshot: How HHS is Building a Healthier America"(PDF).www.hhs.gov.RetrievedDecember 23,2024.
  124. ^"HHS Selects the First Drugs for Medicare Drug Price Negotiation".public3.pagefreezer.com.RetrievedJanuary 19,2025.
  125. ^Office, ASPA Press (January 17, 2025)."HHS Announces 15 Additional Drugs Selected for Medicare Drug Price Negotiations in Continued Effort to Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Seniors".HHS.gov.Archived fromthe originalon January 17, 2025.RetrievedJanuary 19,2025.
  126. ^"FDA Provides Update on Proposal for Unified Human Foods Program, including New Model for the Office of Regulatory Affairs".Food and Drug Administration.July 5, 2023.
  127. ^Leo, Leroy (April 4, 2022). Samuel, Maju (ed.)."CDC announces revamp plans, hires outside official for review".Reuters.RetrievedDecember 23,2024.
  128. ^"White House frustrations grow over health chief Becerra's handling of pandemic".The Washington Post.January 31, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 16,2022.
  129. ^"Becerra in the hot seat, again, over monkeypox response - POLITICO".Politico.August 12, 2022.
  130. ^Biden, Joseph (October 6, 2022)."Statement from President Biden on Marijuana Reform".The White House.
  131. ^Dreier, Hannah (April 17, 2023)."U.S. Was Warned of Migrant Child Labor, but 'Didn't Want to Hear It'".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedApril 17,2023.
  132. ^Gold, Matea (March 12, 2001)."Congressman Tests His Winning Streak".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2020.RetrievedDecember 5,2020.
  133. ^"Inter-American Dialogue | Experts".thedialogue.org.Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2020.RetrievedApril 11,2017.
  134. ^"Opinion | Why Xavier Becerra's critics could never win by attacking his Catholicism".NBC News.February 24, 2021.
  135. ^"Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.June 5, 1990.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  136. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 6, 1990.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  137. ^Griego, Tina (May 31, 1990).""ELECTIONS: ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 59: 2 Candidates on Defensive Over Backers"".Los Angeles Times.Los Angeles.RetrievedJuly 21,2021.
  138. ^"Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.June 2, 1992.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  139. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 3, 1992.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  140. ^"Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.June 7, 1994.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  141. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 8, 1994.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  142. ^"Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.March 6, 1996.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  143. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 5, 1994.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  144. ^"Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.June 2, 1998.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  145. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 3, 1998.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  146. ^"Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.March 7, 2000.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  147. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 7, 2000.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  148. ^"Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.March 5, 2002.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  149. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 5, 2002.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  150. ^"Presidential Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.March 2, 2004.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  151. ^"Presidential General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 2, 2004.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  152. ^"Gubernatorial Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.June 6, 2006.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  153. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 7, 2006.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  154. ^"Statewide Direct Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.June 3, 2008.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  155. ^"Presidential General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 4, 2008.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  156. ^"Statewide Direct Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.June 8, 2010.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  157. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 2, 2010.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  158. ^"Presidential Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.June 5, 2012.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  159. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 6, 2012.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  160. ^"Statewide Direct Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.June 3, 2014.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  161. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 6, 2014.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  162. ^"Presidential Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.June 7, 2016.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  163. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 8, 2016.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  164. ^"Statewide Direct Primary Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.June 5, 2018.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
  165. ^"General Election Statement of Vote"(PDF).California Secretary of State.November 6, 2016.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related toXavier Becerra.
Wikisourcehas original text related to this article:
California Assembly
Preceded by Member of theCalifornia Assembly
from the59thdistrict
1990–1992 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromCalifornia's 30th congressional district
1993–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of theCongressional Hispanic Caucus
1997–1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromCalifornia's 31st congressional district
2003–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromCalifornia's 34th congressional district
2013–2017 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by House Democratic Assistant to the Leader
2007–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Chair of the House Democratic Conference
2009–2013 		Succeeded by
Chair of the House Democratic Conference
2013–2017
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of California
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
2021–2025 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence(ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Cabinet Member Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Cabinet Member 		Succeeded byas Former US Cabinet Member
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xavier_Becerra&oldid=1275755658"