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California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is seen in this 2018 file photo. he is President-elect Joe Biden's nominee to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (CNS photo/Lucy Nicholson, Reuters)
Dec. 23, 2020
Julie Asher
Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON -- Over 40 prominent pro-life leaders called on the U.S. Senate Dec. 21 to reject President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"Mr. Becerra carries a national reputation for his vehement, unwavering support for abortion, including in the ninth month, his staunch convictions in opposition to conscience rights for medical professionals, and his hostile opinions regarding the freedoms of religious organizations, among other issues that are of major concern to us," the leaders said in a letter to senators.
Becerra, who was nominated by Biden Dec. 7, must be confirmed by the Senate. He would be the first Latino to be HHS secretary and would be Biden's chief health care officer.
Pro-life leaders who signed the letter included the heads of March for Life, Students for Life Action, Family Research Council, Susan B. Anthony List, National Right to Life, Live Action, Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, Center for Medical Progress, And Then There were None and National Institute of Family & Life Advocates.
The group cited Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America's 100% rating for Becerra's record on abortion during his 25 years in Congress.
Among other actions as a House member, Becerra voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would prevent abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy when, the bill said, extensive evidence shows an unborn child is capable of feeling great pain."
He also voted against the Conscience Protection Act of 2016, which would have prevented the federal government from denying federal funds to Catholic hospitals and other facilities that refuse to perform abortions.
Becerra also worked in 2009 to get the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act through Congress, leading to its successful passage in 2010. As California's attorney general, he has defended the ACA in court.
Those who support his nomination to head HHS say he has spent his career spent "fighting for underserved communities" and his efforts "to protect the welfare of immigrants and migrants."
Mercy Sister Mary Haddad, who is president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association, called Becerra "a strong partner with CHA in defending the Affordable Care Act and for advocating for greater access to quality, affordable health care coverage for everyone, particularly the most vulnerable."
Currently, he is the head attorney in a group of attorneys general from Democratic-led states defending ACA law against the Trump administration's lawsuit to have it overturned.
A native of Sacramento, California, Becerra was sworn in Jan. 24, 2017, as California's 33rd attorney general. He's the first Latino to hold the office in the history of the state. He succeeded Kamala Harris, now vice president-elect, in the post after she was elected to the U.S. Senate Nov. 8, 2016.
Other objections to Becerra raised by the pro-life leaders is his involvement in litigation to revoke the Little Sisters of the Poor's religious exemption to the ACA contraceptive mandate in the state of California.