ANA Congratulates Xavier Becerra on Confirmation as 25th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Shannon McClendon
301-628-5391
shannon.mcclendon@ana.org
Zachary Levine
301-628-5071
zachary.levine@ana.org
SILVER SPRING, MD - The American Nurses Association (ANA) congratulates Xavier Becerra on being confirmed by the United States Senate as the 25th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ANA supports Secretary Becerra in this pivotal role for the country at one of the most challenging times in our history and looks forward to working together to ensure nurses and frontline workers are supported and that mass vaccine distribution is available to effectively combat the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“ANA was proud to be one of the first organizations to publicly endorse Secretary Becerra’s nomination,” said ANA President Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We had the opportunity to work with him during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives serving on the Ways & Means Health Subcommittee and witnessed firsthand his commitment to nurses and health care professionals, as well as ensuring that patients have access to affordable health care coverage.”
Secretary Becerra was one of the most influential Democrats during his tenure in the House and served as Vice-Chair for the House Democratic Caucus. He has served as the 33rd attorney general of California since 2017. As a member of Congress, Becerra successfully helped lead efforts to repeal the sustainable growth rate, rescind the per-beneficiary Medicare spending limits on therapy services, promote value-based payment models, lower prescription drug prices, and make health care more affordable and accessible to everyone through his work on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
“As a country we have witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic cripple our health care system and ravage communities of color,” said Grant. “One of ANA’s top priorities is working to improve equity and eliminate disparities and racism in health care. ANA commends President Biden for selecting a historic choice whose own experiences as a person of color will allow him to personally understand the impact of health care disparities and inequities. We look forward to working with Secretary Becerra on this critical issue and all his endeavors to restore the health care system.”
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About the American Nurses Association
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation's 4.2 million registered nurses. ANA advances the profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. For more information, visit www.nursingworld.org.