AG Becerra On Verge of Becoming First Latino Secretary of Health and Human Services

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) released the statement below from Co-Chairs Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and Nevada AG Aaron Ford and Executive Director Sean Rankin following President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris nomination of California AG Xavier Becerra for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. While in Congress, Becerra served as Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, providing essential leadership in drafting, and passing the Affordable Care Act. During his tenure as California Attorney General, Becerra led the Democratic Attorney General coalition defending the Affordable Care Act, and health care for millions of Americans including those with pre-existing conditions, from the Republican Attorneys General and the Trump Administration ACA repeal lawsuit. Becerra will be the first Latino Secretary of Health and Human Services in U.S. history.

Statement from Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and Nevada AG Aaron Ford, Co-Chairs of the Democratic Attorneys General Association

“We are so proud of our colleague Xavier Becerra for being selected to lead the Department of Health and Human Services in the incoming Biden-Harris Administration. He has dedicated his career to protecting the people of California, both in the House of Representatives and now as California Attorney General. He will now bring that essential mix of federal experience and state leadership to HHS, where he will play a crucial role in shaping our country’s path forward to confront the COVID crisis and protect and expand access to affordable health care.”

“This nomination is recognition of the decades of hard work, dedication, and leadership by Xavier Becerra and his most recent work alongside the Democratic Attorneys General under the Trump Administration. In Congress, he helped write and pass the Affordable Care Act. As California Attorney General, he spearheaded the Democratic Attorney General coalition in our effort to save the Affordable Care Act at the Supreme Court. In addition to his leadership on health care, Becerra is a critical part of our work as a coalition to hold massive drug companies accountable, safeguard the environment, protect access to contraception and birth control, defend immigrant communities, and fight for families. With Xavier at the helm of HHS, we should all be optimistic about our future and the positive impact the Biden-Harris HHS will have on the everyday lives of millions of Americans.”

Statement from Sean Rankin, Executive Director of the Democratic Attorneys General Association

“As the country confronts COVID-19, prepares to distribute a vaccine, and plans to bolster our health care system, the nomination of Xavier Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services should build confidence in every American that the Biden-Harris HHS will be equipped with a leader who is ready to serve the people on day one. Xavier knows how to step in and lead during a crisis. He helped draft and pass the Affordable Care Act, which provides health care coverage to more than 20 million Americans and protects more than 133 million people with pre-existing conditions. As Attorney General of California, Xavier led his Democratic Attorney General colleagues to defend the ACA in court against the barrage of attacks from the GOP and the Trump Administration. His experience and his leadership makes him the best person for this role and we look forward to a swift nomination in the Senate.”

“As the most diverse coalition of state AGs in history, Democratic Attorneys General are the bench of the Democratic Party and Xavier Becerra exemplifies the steady and diverse leaders this committee supports. We are not the least bit surprised that in the middle of a crisis President-elect Joe Biden is calling on the Democratic Attorneys General, the most effective leaders defending our democracy, to serve in the Biden-Harris Administration.”

“As we look toward a Becerra-led HHS, we know Governor Newsom will select the best person to lead the California Department of Justice, a leader who is committed to equitable justice and using the immense power of the largest state DOJ in the country for the good of the people. We look forward to working with him and progressive allies across California to insure whomever is selected to serve that they fit seamlessly into the Democratic Attorneys General Association and the Democratic Attorney General community that’s worked tirelessly these last four years fighting to protect every community across this country.”