Xavier Becerra
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Xavier Becerra was born in January 1958 in Sacramento, California. He studied abroad at the University of Salamanca in Spain before earning an undergraduate degree in economics from Stanford University. He received a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School. He began his legal career working for a legal aid group in Central Massachusetts.
Becerra was an administrative assistant for a California state senator. He was deputy attorney general in the California Department of Justice for three years. He was elected to the California State Assembly where he served two years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he held office for 19 years. He was appointed by the California governor to be the State Attorney General, succeeding Kamala Harris, who had been elected to the U.S. Senate.
President Biden nominated Becerra to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services. He was narrowly confirmed by the Senate and assumed office in March 2021.
He is married to Carolina Reyes and they have three daughters. Becerra is Catholic.
In the News…
The United States Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration announced investments of nearly $60 million to grow the health workforce and increase access to quality health care in rural communities, including nearly $46 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care – no matter where anyone lives,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we have significantly improved access to health care for the millions of families who live in rural America. Our work doesn’t stop here: with these funds, we can continue working to ensure rural communities have the support they need.”
The American Rescue Plan funding will support 31 awardees to expand health care capacity in rural and tribal communities through health care job development, training, and placement. This funding includes support for critical health workforce needs in rural areas such as dental hygienists, medical or dental assistants, community-based doulas, and other frontline health care workers.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Secretary Becerra? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Xavier Becerra, Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave SW
Washington, DC 20201
