Xavier Becerra Biography
Early Life and Education
Xavier Becerra was born upon January 26, 1958, in Sacramento, California, to working-class immigrant moms and dads from Mexico. Born as the 3rd of 4 kids, Xavier grew up in a small bungalow in Sacramento's north side. His dad, Manuel Becerra, was a building worker, while his mother, Maria Teresa Becerra, worked as a clerical assistant. Observing his parents' effort and their passion to build a strong foundation for their children, Xavier found out the importance of determination and commitment from a young age.
For his education, Xavier attended C.K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento, where he excelled academically and was an active individual in various after-school activities. He went on to participate in Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics in 1980. He also got a law degree, Juris Doctor, from Stanford Law School in 1984, becoming the very first member of his family to get a college degree.
Early Career
Following his graduation from law school, Xavier worked as a personnel attorney for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Los Angeles, where he championed the rights of immigrants and underprivileged neighborhoods. In 1987, he transitioned into civil service by signing up with the workplace of California State Senator Art Torres as a Deputy State Attorney General, where he advocated for civil rights, customer defense, and prosecutions.
Political Career
Xavier Becerra started his political career in 1990 when he was chosen to the California State Assembly, representing the 59th District in Los Angeles. Throughout his two terms in the Assembly, Xavier promoted for education reform, environmental protection, and health care gain access to.
In 1992, Xavier was chosen to the United States House of Representatives, representing California's 30th district (later redistricted to the 34th district). During his period in Congress, which covered over 20 years, he worked relentlessly to champion issues including detailed immigration reform, economic development, and budget-friendly healthcare.
While in Congress, Becerra was a member of the effective Ways and Means Committee and became the very first Latino to serve on the committee. Furthermore, he was the Chairman of your house Democratic Caucus, playing an important role in shaping the Democratic Party's policy agenda. He likewise served as a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Some noteworthy legislation he supported include the Affordable Care Act, the Dream Act, and thorough migration reform.
California Attorney General
In 2017, the then-governor of California,
Jerry Brown, selected Xavier Becerra as the California Attorney General, succeeding Kamala Harris, who was chosen to the U.S. Senate. Becerra was the very first Hispanic individual to hold the position in the state's history. As the Attorney General, Xavier concentrated on concerns such as immigration, criminal justice reform, customer protection, and ecological justice.
Throughout his tenure, Becerra pursued a long list of legal actions versus the Trump administration. He battled versus the administration's policies on migration, such as the travel restriction, household separation at the border, and tries to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Becerra also worked to challenge the administration's environmental policies, including its efforts to deteriorate fuel effectiveness requirements and rollback climate change guidelines.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
In December 2020, following the election of
Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States, Xavier Becerra was chosen to work as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. After a series of confirmation hearings and a vote in the U.S. Senate, Becerra was confirmed as the Secretary on March 18, 2021. In this function, Becerra manages a department that is accountable for protecting public health and providing vital healthcare services, particularly in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Personal Life and Family
Xavier Becerra is wed to Dr. Carolina Reyes, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist. The couple has 3 daughters: Clarisa, Olivia, and Natalia. Throughout his life and career, Xavier has stayed dedicated to advocating for the underrepresented, directed by the values instilled in him from his training in a Mexican-American immigrant family.
Our collection contains 19 quotes who is written / told by Xavier.
Related authors: Jerry Brown (Politician), Joe Biden (Vice President), Lawrence Taylor (Athlete)
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