Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra
Chairman of the House Democratic Conference
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	John Larson
Vice Chairman of the House Democratic Conference
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	John Larson
Succeeded by	Joseph Crowley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 34th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Lucille Roybal-Allard
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 31st district
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Hilda Solis
Succeeded by	Gary Miller
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 30th district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Matthew Martínez
Succeeded by	Henry Waxman
Member of the California State Assembly from the 59th district
In office 1990–1992
Preceded by	Charles Calderon
Succeeded by	Dick Mountjoy
Personal details
Born	January 26, 1958 Sacramento, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Carolina Reyes
Alma mater	Stanford University
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Xavier Becerra (/hɑːviˈɛər bᵻˈsɛrə/ hah-vee-AIR; born January 26, 1958) is an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 34th congressional district, representing Downtown Los Angeles in Congress since 1993. Becerra, a member of the Democratic Party, is currently Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

Born in Sacramento, California, Becerra is a graduate of Stanford University, receiving his J.D. from Stanford Law School. He worked as a Lawyer at the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts, before returning to California in 1986 to work as an Administrative Assistant for State Senator Art Torres. He served as Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice from 1987 to 1990 before he was elected to the California State Assembly, where he served one term from 1990 to 1992.

Becerra was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992, previously representing California's 34th congressional district from 1993 to 2003 and California's 31st congressional district from 2003 to 2013. During his tenure in the House, he has served as Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus from 1997 to 1999, Vice Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus from 2009 to 2013, and was a member of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.

Early life, education and law career

Born in Sacramento, California, Becerra is the son of working-class immigrants who immigrated from Jalisco, Mexico.^[1] As a young child Becerra grew up in a one-room house with his three sisters.^[2] He graduated in 1976 from C.K. McClatchy High School located in central city Sacramento.^[3] He attended University of Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain from 1978 to 1979, before earning his B.A. in Economics from Stanford University in 1980, becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college.^[4][5] He received his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School in 1984 and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1985.^[6] He was initially a lawyer, working on cases involving individuals with mental impairment for the Legal Assistance Corporation of Central Massachusetts.^[7]

Early political career

Becerra worked as an Administrative Assistant for California State Senator Art Torres in 1986.^[8] He served the Deputy Attorney-General in the California Department of Justice under Attorney General John Van de Kamp from 1987 to 1990.^[9]

After incumbent State Representative Charles Calderon decided to seek a seat in the California Senate, Becerra launched a grassroots campaign for the California State Assembly, defeating Calderon's Senate aide Marta Maestas in the Democratic primary.^[10] He later went on to beat Republican Lee Lieberg and Libertarian, receiving 60% of the vote.^[11] Becerra served one-term in the State Assembly representing California's 59th district from 1990 to 1992.^[12]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

1992

In 1992, 25th District Congressman Edward Roybal announced his retirement after 30 years in Congress. Becerra entered the race for the seat, which had been renumbered as the 30th District after redistricting.

He won the Democratic primary with a plurality of 32% of the vote.^[13] In the general election, he defeated Republican nominee Morry Waksberg 58%–24%.^[14]

1994–2010

In 1994, he won re-election to a second term with 66%,^[15] the lowest re-election winning percentage of his career. After, he never won re-election with less than 72%. His district was renumbered as the 31st District after the 2000 census.

2012

After redistricting, most of Becerra's old district became the 34th District. Becerra announced he would run there; it includes his home.^[16] He defeated Republican Stephen Smith 85.6% to 14.4%.^[17]

Tenure

Becerra is a prominent member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, of which he served as chairman during the 105th Congress.^[18] He was featured on The Colbert Report's Better Know a District on August 17, 2006.^[19]

On September 29, 2008 Becerra voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 because he "wanted to see direct protections for responsible homeowners" in the bill.^[20]

Becerra considered running for Democratic Caucus Vice Chair for the 110th Congress; however, he deferred to John Larson when DCCC chairman Rahm Emanuel decided to run for Caucus Chair, the position Larson had been running for. Instead, Becerra was appointed assistant to the Speaker of the House for the 110th Congress.

Before the opening of the 111th Congress, Emanuel accepted a position as White House Chief of Staff in the Obama Administration. Larson succeeded Emanuel as caucus chair, and Becerra won his bid to succeed Larson as Vice-Chair. He defeated Marcy Kaptur of Ohio by a vote of 175–67.^[21]

In 2011, Becerra successfully ran for a second-term as Vice-Chair to serve during the 112th Congress.

During the 111th Congress and 112th Congress, Becerra served on several high profile committees. On March 24, 2010 Becerra was appointed to serve on the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (often called Bowles-Simpson/Simpson-Bowles). On August 11, 2011 Becerra was selected to serve on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (also known as the Super Committee). And on December 23, 2011 Becerra was appointed to serve on a bicameral conference committee to find bipartisan solutions on the middle class tax cuts, unemployment insurance, and the Medicare physician payment rate.

Taxes

Becerra has consistently expressed opposition to Social Security and Medicare cuts and tax provisions seen to benefit outsourcers.^[22] He argued against the Job Protection Act and Recession Prevention Act of 2012 which would extend certain tax provisions enacted in 2001 and 2003 under G.W. Bush, on which Becerra voted against despite it passing through the House.^[23] He has consistently voted against budget plans that would protect tax cuts for higher income brackets by cutting Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, and vital federal services.^[24] He supported legislation like the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.

Immigration

As a Representative from California, immigration is a pertinent issue for Rep. Becerra because of its proximity to the border and the large number of undocumented immigrants in California. Rep. Becerra is a strong advocate for immigration reform and is a strong supporter of the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform.^[25] Additionally, Rep. Becerra supports the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program put in place by President Obama.^[26]

Women's Issues

Becerra is pro-choice and supports the right of access to abortion.^[27] On May 31, 2012, Becerra voted against H.R. 3541, the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA), which would have imposed civil and criminal penalties on anyone knowingly attempting to perform a sex-selective abortion. The bill also would have required healthcare providers to report known or suspected violations to law enforcement, including suspicions about a woman's motives for seeking an abortion.^[28] Becerra received a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America in 2012.^[29][30] Becerra voted in favor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 which made the 180-day statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay lawsuit regarding pay discrimination reset with each new paycheck affected by that discriminatory action.^[31][32]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Ways and Means
  • Subcommittee on Oversight
  • Subcommittee on Health
  • Subcommittee on Social Security
• Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Hispanic Caucus (Former Chair)
• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

Party leadership

Becerra considered running for Democratic Caucus Vice Chair for the 110th Congress; however, he deferred to John Larson when DCCC chairman Rahm Emanuel decided to run for Caucus Chair, the position Larson had been running for. Instead, Becerra was appointed assistant to the Speaker of the House for the 110th Congress.

Before the opening of the 111th Congress, Emanuel accepted a position as White House Chief of Staff in the Obama Administration. Larson succeeded Emanuel as caucus chair, and Becerra won his bid to succeed Larson as Vice-Chair. He defeated Marcy Kaptur of Ohio by a vote of 175–67.^[33]

In 2011, Becerra successfully ran for a second-term as Vice-Chair to serve during the 112th Congress. During the 111th Congress and 112th Congress, Becerra served on several high profile committees. On March 24, 2010 Becerra was appointed to serve on the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (often called Bowles-Simpson/Simpson-Bowles). On August 11, 2011 Becerra was selected to serve on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (also known as the Super Committee). And on December 23, 2011 Becerra was appointed to serve on a bicameral conference committee to find bipartisan solutions on the middle class tax cuts, unemployment insurance, and the Medicare physician payment rate.

Other political ambitions

2001 run for L.A. Mayor

Becerra ran for mayor of Los Angeles in 2001. He finished with 6 percent of the primary vote, finishing behind businessman Steve Soboroff, Councilman Joel Wachs, former California State Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, and the eventual winner, then-City Attorney James Hahn.

Obama administration

On January 27, 2008, Becerra formally endorsed U.S. Senator Barack Obama for President.^[34]

Becerra was considered for the position of US Trade Representative in the administration of President-elect Obama. While it was initially reported that he had already accepted,^[35] on December 15, 2008, he announced that he would not accept the position.^[36]

Personal life

Becerra is married to physician Carolina Reyes^[37] and has three children. He owns a home in Chevy Chase, Maryland where he, his wife and three children reside when Congress is in session. He has a home in his district in Los Angeles, California.

References

1. "CNN.com". CNN.
2. "Member of the Week: Xavier Becerra – Representing California’s 31st District". clotureclub.com. August 31, 2011.
3. Congressional Directory 2011-2012 112th Congress. books.google.com.
4. "Congressional Directory CALIFORNIA THIRTY-FIRST DISTRICT" (PDF). gpo.gov.
5. Mark Landler (December 4, 2008). "THE NEW TEAM Xavier Becerra". nytimes.com.
6. "ATTORNEY SEARCH Xavier Becerra - #118517". calbar.ca.gov.
7. "Xavier Becerra Caucus Chairman Representing the 34th District of CA". dems.gov.
8. "108th Congress Directory CALIFORNIA THIRTY-FIRST DISTRICT" (PDF). gpo.gov =accessdate = February 2, 2013.
9. "Xavier Becerra (D) House - California, District 34 - Up for re-election in 2012". projects.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
10. Rodolfo Acuna (June 8, 1990). "COLUMN LEFT / RODOLFO ACUNA : The Candidate Who Upset Latino Politics : Xavier Becerra owes his victory to the people, not to the blessings of a papacito.". latimes.com. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
11. "Member of the State Assembly" (PDF). sos.ca.gov. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
12. "BECERRA, Xavier, (1958 - )". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
13. CA - District 30 - Democratic Primary (1992) Our Campaigns
14. CA District 30 – General Election (1992) Our Campaigns
15. CA District 30 (1994) Our Campaigns
17. United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2012
18. "Congressman Xavier Becerra To Deliver Hispanic Heritage Month Keynote". loc.gov. August 29, 2007.
19. "Better Know a District - California's 31st - Javier Becerra". colbertnation.com. August 17, 2006.
20. Becerra, Xavier (October 1, 2008). "On the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act". The Becerra Blog. US House of Representatives. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
21. Allen, Jared. "Dems back off leadership challenges". TheHill.com. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
22. Xavier Becerra DNC Speech (Sept. 6, 2012) Vote Smart
23. Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012, Floor Speech (Aug. 1, 2012) Vote Smart
24. Representative Becerra Votes Against Budget Plan that Picks Millionaires Over Middle Class (May 10, 2012) Vote Smart
25. Dream Act Statement (Oct. 17, 2012) Vote Smart
26. Rep. Becerra: A New Day for Dreamers (Aug. 15, 2012) Vote Smart
27. "Xavier Becerra on Abortion Democratic Representative (CA-31)". ontheissues.org.
28. CAPAC Members Denounce Attack on Reproductive Rights (May 31, 2012) Vote Smart
29. "2013 CONGRESSIONAL SCORECARD". plannedparenthoodaction.org.
30. "2012 Congressional Record on Choice" (PDF). prochoiceamerica.org.
31. "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 37 Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009". clerk.house.gov. January 27, 2009.
32. Representative Becerra on Equal Pay Day (April 18, 2012) Vote Smart
33. Allen, Jared. "Dems back off leadership challenges". TheHill.com. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
34. "Congressman Xavier Becerra Endorses Barack Obama".
35. Rep. Becerra Offered Trade Representative Post
36. AP (2008). Becerra won't take trade job. Retrieved December 17, 2008.
37. Gold, Matea (March 12, 2001). "Congressman Tests His Winning Streak". Los Angeles Times (Accessed through ProQuest).

External links

• Congressman Xavier Becerra official U.S. house site
• Xavier Becerra for Congress
• Xavier Becerra at DMOZ
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress