Mission of the Health and Human Services Department

Cabinet Member: Xavier Becerra

One of the Cabinet-level departments is the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The mission of HHS is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. The Secretary of HHS during the Biden administration has been Xavier Becerra. Information on Becerra is readily available from the HHS website.

Personal Background and Education

Xavier Becerra was born on January 26, 1958, in Sacramento, California. He is the son of immigrants from Mexico and was the first in his family to graduate from college. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Stanford University in 1980. After finishing his undergraduate studies, he went on to receive his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1984 (HHS, 2023).

Previous Profession and Career

Before becoming the Secretary of HHS, Becerra had a career in public service. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2017, and represented Los Angeles in Congress. During his time in the House, he was a member of the Committee on Ways and Means and served as the Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. After his tenure in Congress, Becerra served as the Attorney General of California from January 2017 until he was nominated for the HHS Secretary position (HHS, 2023).

Schedule for and/or Results of Confirmation Hearings

Xavier Becerra was confirmed as the Secretary of Health and Human Services by the Senate on March 18, 2021. His confirmation hearings were held before the Senate Finance Committee, where he faced questions on a wide range of topics, including the Affordable Care Act, the COVID-19 pandemic response, and his lack of direct experience in the health sector. Despite opposition from some Republicans, he was confirmed with a vote of 50-49, largely along party lines.

Policy Priorities and Proposed Initiatives

As Secretary of HHS, Becerra's policy priorities were expected to align closely with President Biden's health care agenda. This included efforts to bolster the Affordable Care Act, expand access to health care, and address health disparities (HHS, 2022). A significant focus of his tenure was the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccination efforts, public health messaging, and addressing the long-term impacts of the pandemic.