WASHINGTON California Attorney General Xavier Becerra emerged relatively unscathed Tuesday from the first of two hearings this week on his nomination to be health and human services secretary, as Democrats brushed aside Republican assertions that his experience is insufficient for the post.
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<p><img width="350" height="219" src="/media/5935948/hhs emblem 350x219.jpg" alt="HHS emblem (Health & Human Services)" class="ImageFloatRight"/>Numerous pro-life organizations are on record disapproving of the president's nominee for HHS secretary.</p>
Republicans had teased that they would try to sink his nomination by painting him as inexperienced and overly supportive of Medicare-for-All proposals. But the committee's GOP members hardly tagged Xavier Becerra during his second day of hearings.
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The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to lead the Department of Agriculture Tuesday afternoon.
Vilsack, who led the department for eight years under President Barack Obama, was confirmed 92-7 Tuesday, and is the ninth member of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet to receive Senate confirmation.
Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders voted against him, becoming the first non-GOP senator to vote against one of Biden’s Cabinet nominees. Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott were the additional “no” votes.