On the recordMarch 22, 2021
On March 18, I voted against the confirmation of Xavier Becerra to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Mr. Becerra has no substantive experience in public health policy, and he has proven himself to be an extremist on the few occasions he has engaged on health care issues. In October 2017, he told FOX News, ``I've been a supporter of Medicare for All for the 24 years that I was in Congress.'' As attorney general of California, he filed over 100 lawsuits against the Trump administration, including leading a group of attorneys general in opposing Texas's legal challenge to Obamacare in Texas v. Azar. He also won lawsuits to reclassify gig economy companies like Uber and Lyft as employers. In response, California's Prop 22 was drafted, with a description saying it ``changes employment classification rules for app-based transportation and delivery workers.'' Becerra's office, which has authority to summarize ballot measures, seemingly tried to sabotage Prop 22 by changing its summary to say it ``exempts app-based transportation and delivery companies from providing employee benefits to certain drivers and delivery workers.'' Californians passed Prop 22 anyway, with over 58 percent support. Mr. Becerra's history suggests he will use this Cabinet post for political activism, not for advancing our Nation's public health. For that reason, I opposed his confirmation. ____________________
