[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Nomination of Xavier Becerra

  Mr. President, I rise today to speak in support of the nomination of 
my friend California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to serve as 
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
  As we all know, as we all feel, our Nation is going through one of 
the toughest health crises in our history. The COVID-19 pandemic has 
taken an incredible toll on our country. Every State has been impacted. 
Every community has suffered, especially working-class communities and 
communities of color, like the very neighborhoods that Attorney General 
Becerra and I grew up in. These communities are hurting and people are 
dying at alarming rates, and they desperately need someone who knows 
these communities to their core.
  Throughout his career, Xavier Becerra has always fought to improve 
the lives of his constituents. As the first Latino attorney general of 
California, he made it his mission to tackle the structural 
inequalities in our healthcare system. As has been referenced already, 
Attorney General Becerra was the leading force behind the lawsuit to 
protect the Affordable Care Act. Yes, he had the audacity to maintain 
protections for people with preexisting conditions and for those 
suffering from a mental illness. Over the course of this past year, he 
has also fought to protect frontline healthcare workers from further 
exposure to COVID-19.
  Xavier Becerra's parents emigrated from Mexico, just like my parents 
did, with a dream of building a better life for themselves and their 
family. Just a few days ago, I spoke in this Chamber about my family's 
history and journey in this country. A hard-working short-order cook 
and housekeeper raised the son who now serves in the U.S. Senate. The 
same is true for Xavier Becerra's family. He, the son of a construction 
and clerical worker, is on the verge of becoming the most important 
health official in our Nation. That is the American dream.
  But, unfortunately, tragically, over half a million Americans have 
had their dream cut short by COVID-19, over half a million lives lost 
and millions more lives upended by this pandemic. We need to act with 
urgency to end this crisis--urgency.
  But as I rise today to address this Chamber, urgency is severely 
lacking. While millions of Americans continue to struggle, our 
Republican colleagues are dragging things out, playing politics with 
the confirmation of Attorney General Becerra, one of the most qualified 
nominees to lead the Department of Health and Human Services that this 
Chamber has ever considered. They have distorted his record.

  Let me point out that many Members of this Senate have worked 
alongside Xavier Becerra here in Congress for decades. Republicans and 
Democrats know Xavier Becerra is both a thoughtful leader and someone 
who is always willing to listen to both sides of an argument. He built 
an outstanding reputation in the House, both as a legislator and as a 
colleague.
  As attorney general of California, overseeing the largest department 
of justice in the Nation, second only to the U.S. Department of 
Justice, Xavier showed no fear in working across the aisle. In fact, he 
partnered with Republican attorneys general to increase access to 
lifesaving drugs to treat COVID-19. He worked across the aisle to 
protect drug discounts for health centers.
  I can't help but point out the obvious. In fact, I am prepared to 
make this abundantly clear to the American people. The cynical delays 
and political games that we see being played are not actually about Mr. 
Becerra's qualifications. He is just as qualified as any of his 
predecessors. Sadly, Xavier Becerra is being held to a different 
standard--a different standard than other nominees this Chamber has 
supported and confirmed over the last 4 years, including our most 
recent Health and Human Services Secretary.
  Let me also say this. As some of the first Latinos in our respective 
positions, both Xavier and I are not unfamiliar with being held to a 
different standard. It is a different standard today that is so stark 
that our colleagues are willing to delay his confirmation through the 
night. Yes, in the middle of a global health pandemic, Republicans are 
holding up the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. They 
are holding up the first Latino nominee to head this critical agency 
during a pandemic that has disproportionately devastated the Latino 
community.
  It is time to let Xavier Becerra get to work. I urge my colleagues to 
end the delay on Xavier Becerra's confirmation for Secretary of Health 
and Human Services.
  Thank you, Mr. President.

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