Xavier Becerra, President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, declined to name any restriction on abortion that he would support, in response to questions from senators during his Wednesday confirmation hearing. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said that many of his constituents have written to say Becerra has taken “the…

Xavier Becerra, President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, declined to name any restriction on abortion that he would support, in response to questions from senators during his confirmation hearing on Feb. 24. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) said many of his constituents have written to say Becerra has taken…

Eleven Republican senators and 64 Republican House members are urging President Joe Biden to withdraw his nomination of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to serve as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). The members of Congress, led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), sent a letter (pdf) to Biden on Monday to express “grave concerns”…

Senate Republicans are mounting much less opposition to President Joe Biden’s major appointees in 2021 than Democrats did against President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees in 2017. Four of Biden’s top picks have been confirmed quickly by the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, with Vice-President Kamala Harris (D-Calif) providing the tie-breaking vote…