The Senate narrowly confirmed Xavier Becerra, President Biden’s pick for health and human services secretary, today with 50 Democrats in favor and 49 Republicans opposed.
Becerra, former attorney general for the state of California and Democratic U.S. Representative, is well-known in pro-life communities and beyond for the expansion of his pro-abortion policies and persecution of pro-life groups and individuals. During his time in Congress, he earned a 100% rating from abortion lobbyists such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America for his support of partial-birth abortion and opposition to criminalizing pain caused to an unborn child during the commission of another crime. As a result, his nomination is one of Biden’s most controversial to date.
Reactions to Becerra’s confirmation are diametrically opposed.
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell tweeted:
The Administration claims their top priority is to beat this virus and end the pandemic. But their nominee to run @HHSGov is woefully unqualified. California AG Xavier Becerra is a partisan politician with no expertise in healthcare.
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) March 18, 2021
Likewise, Senator Ted Cruz highlights the lack of experience on which the very nature of the position is founded:
Xavier Becerra has:
✖️No health care experience.
✖️No medical experience.
✖️No scientific experience.
If nominations were based on the qualifications, Becerra would be rejected by the Senate by a vote of 100 to nothing. pic.twitter.com/aJ5qdc5vlr
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) March 17, 2021
But embattled Gov. Gavin Newsom of California offers his congratulations and support:
Congratulations to my friend, @XavierBecerra on this historic appointment!
You’ve spent your entire career fighting for justice— & the last 4 defending the #ACA.
Now you’ll help lead our nation toward quality, affordable healthcare for all as we build back better from #COVID19. https://t.co/q4F4kvQIyr
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 18, 2021
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, which Becerra has long supported, agreed, saying:
Planned Parenthood is excited to congratulate CA’s very own AG @XavierBecerra as the next HHS Secretary. Across his decades of public service, Becerra has been a staunch champion in his work to protect health care access, gender equality, and racial equity. pic.twitter.com/6HkrwI73tn
— Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California (@PPActionCA) March 18, 2021
This is the 20th confirmation of Biden’s 23 Cabinet picks. {eoa}
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