The Biden administration is staffing up, and many of President Biden’s nominees to lead the departments and agencies that make up the bulk of the executive branch are in the process of being confirmed by the Senate.
These high-level appointees will have the ear of the president as he considers new policy matters and will oversee execution of federal policy in their respective departments—which is why young voters and advocates demanded that Biden’s nominees reflect our generations’ values and priorities.
The nomination of Xavier Becerra, a staunch proponent of universal health care and defender of reproductive health rights as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is a sign that Biden is paying attention to the hard work of young organizers, voters, and others who supported his candidacy.
HHS will have enormous power to act for young Americans, and Becerra—who will be the first Latino HHS Secretary, if confirmed—will have a key role in determining the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring universal access to health care, and protecting reproductive rights.
As HHS Secretary, Becerra can be expected to:
But first, he will need to be confirmed by the Senate—and some Senate Republicans have indicated that they will try to sink the nomination.
Young people deserve an HHS Secretary who will fight for us and our priorities. Tell your Senators to vote YES to confirm Becerra as the next Secretary of HHS.