/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5fcd7a967fd791b0c8d37285/0x0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,800&ssl=1 "Biden Reportedly Taps California AG Xavier Becerra To Head Health And Human Services")
Topline
President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services according to media reports, a crucial Cabinet position as the coronavirus worsens.
Then-U.S. Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Cali.) listens during a news conference to discuss the rhetoric of … [+]
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Key Facts
The New York Times first reported Becerra had been selected by Biden, and while it has been corroborated by other news outlets, it has not been confirmed by Biden staff.
Becerra, whose parents were born in Mexico, would be the first Latino to lead HHS.
Cuban-born Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Biden’s planned nominee for secretary of homeland security, is so far the only Latino to be selected for a spot in the president-elect’s Cabinet, the Times reported.
Key Background
Becerra spent a dozen terms representing downtown Los Angeles in Congress, where he wielded considerable power leading the House Democratic Caucus, before being elected California AG in 2017. Biden has stated a goal of selecting a more diverse Cabinet than past presidents, and intends to nominate the first woman to head the country’s intelligence apparatus.
Further Reading
Biden Picks Xavier Becerra to Lead Health and Human Services (New York Times)
Biden Names More Cabinet Picks With Focus On Diversity And Climate Change (Forbes)
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