Biden HHS nominee to Emphasize Encounter as GOP gears up for Battle

It is predicted to be a tense two weeks, with lots of Republicans already waging battles against him to get his staunchly liberal recording.

If supported, Becerra would create history since the first Latino to conduct the section.

Becerra has experienced 40 talks with senators from the lead-up into the hearings, such as with average Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, according to two sources knowledgeable about the verification procedure. On Mondayhe met the two standing members of their committees, Republican Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina and Mike Crapo of Idaho, a source near the process said, including that Becerra was received well by members from both sides of the aisle.

However, Becerra faces a rocky road to confirmation because Republicans broadly oppose him.

If Democrats wish to go alone, they will require the complete support of the caucus in addition to the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris, however it is not clear they will have it. Va., confirmed to ABC News that he's now undecided on whether to encourage Becerra's nomination.

Manchin, a moderate Democrat who has climbed to prominence at the evenly split Senate, threw a wrench to Democrats' attempts to chair another Biden nominee a week when he declared he wouldn't encourage the nomination of Neera Tanden to function as manager of the Office of Management and Budget.

The group of lawmakers, including 11 senators and a lot more members of the home, contended that Becerra is inexperienced and ill-prepared to direct the bureau.

"Mr. Becerra's insufficient health care experience, excitement for substituting personal health insurance with government-run Medicare-for-all, and adopt revolutionary policies on immigration, diplomatic, and religious freedom, leave him unfit for any position of public confidence, and notably for HHS Secretary," the lawmakers wrote.

Republican resistance to Becerra was mounting since Biden declared his nomination in December.

GOP senators stage to Becerra's prosecutorial record, including attempts to battle bans on abortion, as a significant red flag. Becerra prosecuted a renowned case challenging the legal exemption produced by the Little Sisters of the Poor, who contended that they did not have to give access to contraceptives under the Affordable Care Act.

"His latest experience in wellness policies appears largely restricted to boosting abortion-on-demand and suing teams such as the Little Sisters of the Poor, which dare to endure their spiritual convictions."

Planned Parenthood, which supports Becerra's affirmation, defended him as a"national leader in fighting back against the Trump government's efforts to roll back reproductive and sexual health access" at a memo Monday in the political arm of the company, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

"Becerra is your staunch reproductive and sexual health and rights winner we must undo the harm done, and extend access to care," the company said.

Republicans also cited issues with Becerra's lack of expertise. Becerra served 12 terms in Congress before committing to his job as California Attorney General, but his focus has not been on public health, Republicans said.

"If you take a look at the 3 chief buckets of HHS, then he doesn't have expertise in these," Cassidy said.

Murray will point to cases where Becerra took on pharmaceutical companies and opioid manufactures, and also worked to cover healthcare coverage for anyone who have preexisting conditions as proof he is equipped for the job.

"She will concentrate on the urgency of seats this nominee to direct a service that is absolutely essential to our COVID response," the aide said.

Democrats have contended that Becerra has extensive expertise in healthcare policy, initially as a congressman who oversaw parts of Medicare and as a suspect of Obamacare as attorney general, with this role to add fresh concentrate on the matter.

They have also emphasized his job with a Republican attorney general from Louisiana, who he awakened with final year to attempt and pressure the Trump government into reducing the price of Remdesivir, a remedy for coronavirus.

"Xavier Becerra has years of healthcare coverage expertise, worked with Republicans and Democrats to enlarge access to COVID remedies and accept on opioid manufactures while contributing to the most significant state department of justice in the nation, also has a solid record of fighting to lower prices for patients," Andrew Bates,'' Biden's spokesperson, said in a statement.

"That is why Biden picked this examined, qualified leader to be in the forefront of this pandemic response and also to help lower drug rates. We anticipate his hearings and confirmation votes"

Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat on the Senate Health committee, stated he does not believe experience is actually the problem for Republicans.

"They probably don't enjoy the fact he was vigorous in defending, and sothe Affordable Care Act."

Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at the CATO institute, a conservative think tank, also told ABC News that lots of those GOP objections to Becerra have been"culture war" issues.

"Becerra is quite liberal about abortion rights, he's quite pro-immigration, it's precisely the exact same kind of cultural signature stones which Republicans have employed for their foundation for a very long time to rev it up," Tanner explained. "This is to get a performance if you are a Republican and you are thinking'who will I look at in the cupboard to score some things and describe the Biden government as being too far to the left?'"

GOP senators will probably cite Becerra's dogged pursuit of suits ambitious former President Donald Trump to create such appeals.

"His appointment could sow additional branch at a time our nation needs to heal and could endanger lives in a time our taxpayers need life-saving vaccinations, treatments, and also the freedom to worship and work together," the lawmakers wrote.

However, Biden is standing with his selection. White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended Becerra Monday and encouraged the Senate to immediately confirm the president exceptional nominees.

"Attorney General Becerra, who helped play a part in receiving the Affordable Care Act through, brings decades of healthcare coverage expertise to the table. As attorney general of California he battled together with Republican counterparts to enlarge accessibility to COVID treatments," Psaki explained.

External social justice associations also back the nomination.

"To be able to emerge in this outbreak with fitter, stronger, more resilient communities, we are in need of a Secretary of HHS who's fought , and will prioritize healthcare accessibility and equity for all people in the usa," the groups wrote.

In accordance with his opening statement, Becerra will concentrate on his private ascent in the house of immigrants into his position since California attorney general, in which he worked to shield the Affordable Care Act. He will also assert he's prepared to fill what's grown into one of the most vital vacancies from the Biden government as the pandemic continues to dictate lots of Biden's legislative priorities.

"The COVID pandemic has killed 500,000 Americans, a lot alone with their households. That isn't the America my parents might consider possible," Becerra will state, according to a copy of his opening statements obtained by ABC News. "I know that the enormous challenges facing us and our solemn duty to be faithful stewards of a service which touches virtually every part of our lives. I am humbled by the undertaking. And, I am prepared for this."

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Senate Finance Committee will question himbut the latter will probably vote to place his nomination Through the Senate floor.