Pro-Abortion HHS Secretary Nominee Xavier Becerra Grilled in Capitol Hill Hearings

On Capitol Hill, California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra, known for his radical pro-abortion stance, is appearing before the Senate for the first of what will be two hearings regarding his nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

For the cause of life, Xavier’s appointment could be disastrous as he strongly supports abortion and has continued Vice President Kamala Harris’ legal crusade against David Daleiden, the undercover journalist who uncovered Planned Parenthood’s alleged sale of aborted preborn remains for profit.

In an open letter opposing Becerra’s nomination, 60 pro-life leaders wrote, “As organizations committed to the protection of unborn children and their mothers from abortion and representing millions of pro-life Americans, we write to you in opposition to the nomination of Xavier Becerra to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. Becerra is an enemy to every pro-life policy and law and has demonstrated complete disregard for the religious and moral convictions of those opposed to the brutal act of abortion. His radical record in public office as California’s Attorney General and member of Congress leads our organizations to ask you to reject Mr. Becerra’s nomination.”

The letter continued, “As Attorney General, Mr. Becerra went out of his way to attack pro-life policies and conscience protections. He led the charge against the Title X Protect Life Rule which, under the prior administration, successfully defunded Planned Parenthood of $60 million. Despite the Supreme Court already siding with the Little Sisters of the Poor in an earlier case, Mr. Becerra took the nuns and similar groups to court to force them to violate their consciences. However, perhaps most ironically, Mr. Becerra has argued in opposition to following an existing federal law against forcing healthcare entities to provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortion (the longstanding Weldon Amendment) calling the enforcement of such provisions ’illegal’. Notably, if confirmed Mr. Becerra would be responsible for overseeing the Title X program, establishing the federal preventive service mandates that infringed on the conscience rights of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and enforcing the Weldon Amendment.”

Becerra is perhaps best known for continuing the legal battle against David Daleiden and the Center for Medical Progress. His campaign may succeed in deterring any future investigations into Planned Parenthood or any other abortion related business.

“Xavier Becerra has been portrayed as moderate, but he is infamous among pro-lifers for his decades-long record as a vocal pro-abortion advocate. In Congress and as attorney general of California, Becerra not only joined pro-abortion efforts — he led them. President Biden could not have picked a more eager pro-abortion activist to head HHS and we urge senators to reject his nomination,” Marjorie Dannenfelser, the President of Susan B. Anthony List, said.

In a statement, Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action for America, said, “President Biden’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, has spent his entire career fighting for socialized health care, catering to the abortion industry, trampling on Americans’ religious freedom, and pushing the policies of liberal dark money groups. If confirmed, he would bring his extreme agenda to HHS. Heritage Action is working to expose the radical personnel and policies being advanced by this administration, and we are urging every Senator to reject Becerra’s nomination.”

In addition to influencing Title X, Becerra will be given control over much of the COVID-19 government response, which is also worrying some Republicans and others. Becerra is a politician and doesn’t have any medical expertise, except as a courtroom litigator.

“I’m not sold yet,” Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, said. “I’m not sure you have the necessary experience or skills to do this job at this moment.”

At this point, if confirmed he would be “a pandemic-era secretary with no public health experience,” as Kaiser Healthcare Network stated in a recent article.

But for some, that’s apparently enough. Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, stated, “If you look at his body of work, he is not your traditional attorney. His body of work in the health area is substantial. And I think that counts.”

“Curiously, the President’s candidate to run the Department of Health and Human Services is the famously partisan attorney general of California,” Senator Mitch McConnell said in a floor speech last month. “His recent experience in health policies seems largely limited to promoting abortion-on-demand and suing groups like the Little Sisters of the Poor, which dare to live out their religious convictions.”

Constituents concerned about Becerra’s potential appointment can contact the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

Photo from Sipa USA/REUTERS