Xavier Becerra is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 25th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services since March 2021. He is the first Latino to hold this position in history. Becerra previously served as the Attorney General of California from January 2017 until March 2021. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Downtown Los Angeles in Congress from 1993 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Becerra was Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus from 2013 to 2017.
Official portrait, 2021
Elijah Cummings, Xavier Becerra, and Robert Matsui at a press conference on civil rights in 1997
Tipper Gore, Becerra, and President Bill Clinton
Becerra speaking to the California Democratic Party State Convention in 2019
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
The United States secretary of health and human services is the head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all health matters. The secretary is a member of the United States Cabinet. The office was formerly Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1980, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was renamed the Department of Health and Human Services, and its education functions and Rehabilitation Services Administration were transferred to the new United States Department of Education. Patricia Roberts Harris headed the department before and after it was renamed.
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
Image: Hobby Oveta Culp
Image: Folsom
Image: Ribicoff