US Senate confirms Xavier Becerra as Biden’s health secretary

Xavier Becerra was confirmed by the US Senate as health and human services secretary on Thursday, clearing the way for him to take the helm of the sprawling department as the United States battles the Covid-19 pandemic. He is the first Latino to hold the role in US history.

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Becerra won confirmation to join Joe Biden’s cabinet on a party-line 50-49 vote. Becerra, who was most recently the attorney general of California, will have a prominent role in the administration’s rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine as Biden aims to have all US adults vaccinated by the summer.

Becerra, who served in the US House of Representatives for 26 years and was a member of Democratic leadership, will oversee an expansion of the Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare.

Republicans opposed his nomination, citing his lack of experience on health matters and his support for expanding the government’s role in providing healthcare and liberalizing immigration policies.

Earlier this month, Becerra’s confirmation prospects became uncertain after his nomination was bottled up in a Senate committee that deadlocked in a 14-14 tie over whether to send Biden’s pick to the full Senate for confirmation.

The Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, maneuvered to remove the nomination from the committee, setting up Thursday’s final vote.

“As America battles the Covid pandemic, his confirmation is long overdue,” the Democratic senator Edward Markey said during debate. He added that Becerra “is committed to reproductive freedom”, a hot-button issue for senators who oppose abortion.

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On Wednesday, the top Senate Republican, Mitch McConnell, urged the Senate to reject the 63-year-old Becerra.

“The distinguishing feature of this nominee’s résumé is not his expertise in health, medicine, or administration,” McConnell said. “What stands out are Mr Becerra’s commitment to partisan warfare and his far-left ideology.”

Becerra will oversee the department’s more than 80,000 employees in the United States and abroad.

The agency is responsible for programs ranging from Obamacare, disease control and health research to the gigantic Medicare and Medicaid healthcare programs for older, poorer and disabled Americans.