Xavier Becerra



Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, has represented the 31st District of California in the House of Representatives since 1993 (map). He was elected vice-chair of the Democratic Caucus at the beginning of the 111th Congress.

Iraq War
Becerra voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Reparations for Japanese Latin Americans
Becerra introduced the House version of the The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act in the 110th Congress which would establish a commission that would determine the facts and circumstances involving the relocation, internment and deportation of Japanese Latin Americans.

===State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) US Becerra voted yes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th time it was introduced ((OpenCongress.org Roll_call/show/1737))

Biography
Becerra was born January 26, 1958 in Sacramento, California. He was educated at Stanford University, and was a lawyer, a staff member for California State Senator Art Torres, Deputy Attorney-General of California, and a member of the California State Assembly before entering the House. In the Los Angeles mayoral election of 2001, he was an unsuccessful candidate, losing to former California State Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, and the eventual winner, the then-City Attorney James Hahn.

According to Becerra's House website biography, he is "the first Latino to serve on [the House Ways and Means] committee, [and] he has used his position to increase opportunities for working families, to improve the Social Security program for women and minorities, to combat poverty among the working poor through our welfare laws, and to strengthen Medicare and ensure its long-term viability."

2006 elections
No major candidates announced their intentions to contest Becerra’s seat in the November 2006 election. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006)

Committees

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Health
 * Subcommittee on Oversight
 * Subcommittee on Social Security
 * House Committee on Budget

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Subcommittee on Human Resources
 * Subcommittee on Social Security

Affiliations

 * On the board of reagents for the Smithsonian Institution

Contact
DC Office: 1119 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-0531 Phone: 202-225-6235 Fax: 202-225-2202 Web Email Website

District Office: 1910 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 560 Los Angeles, CA 90026 Phone: 213-483-1425 Fax: 213-483-1429

Articles and resources

 * Official website


 * Xavier Becerra's Colbert Report interview. (Other Colbert Report interviews with members of Congress.)

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Tiger Beat: Music, Culture, and Politics
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database