Xavier Becerra (D-CA-31)

Xavier Becerra California District 31

Xavier Becerra, Biography from House.gov

Biography of Congressman Xavier Becerra

First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992, Representative Xavier Becerra serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, is a member of the powerful Committee on Ways And Means and is Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security.

His committee is responsible for formulating our nation’s tax, Social Security, Medicare, trade and income security laws. As Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, Rep. Becerra wields a strong voice in House Democratic leadership, helping to set priorities and drive the legislative decision making process.

He has dedicated himself to promoting issues affecting industries critical to the economic vitality of the Southern California region such as health care, high technology, entertainment, and stimulating free, yet fair, trade.

The first Latino to serve on the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Becerra 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, and to strengthen Medicare and ensure its long-term viability. He currently serves on the Oversight and Social Security Subcommittees. In 2010, Rep. Becerra served on the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

Rep. Becerra is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) where he served as Chair during the 105th Congress (1997-98). The Congressman is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. At the international level, he serves as Vice Chair of the U.S.-Korea Interparliamentary Exchange, and is Co-Chair of the Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus.

In addition to his Congressional duties, Rep. Becerra enjoys his service as a board member for several respected institutions, including the Close Up Foundation, the nation’s largest youth civic education organization that brings more than 25,000 students and teachers to Washington, D.C., annually; and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, which provides scholarships and internship opportunities for the next generation of Latino leaders.

Rep. Becerra also serves on the Smithsonian Board of Regents, a distinguished panel of 17 men and women who oversee the Smithsonian Institution’s expansive collection.

Located entirely in the City of Los Angeles, California’s 31st Congressional District includes all or parts of the neighborhoods of Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Echo Park, Garvanza, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Hollywood, Jefferson Park, Koreatown, Lincoln Heights, Mid City, Montecito Heights, Monterey Hills, Mount Washington, New Chinatown, Pico Union, Silverlake, South Los Angeles, Vernon and Westlake.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Becerra served one term in the California Legislature as the representative of the 59th Assembly District in Los Angeles County. He is a former Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice. The congressman began his legal career in 1984 working in a legal services office representing the mentally ill.

Rep. Becerra is the son of working-class parents and was the first in his family to graduate from college. His mother was born in Jalisco, Mexico and immigrated to the United States after marrying his father. In 1980, Rep. Becerra earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stanford University. He was awarded his Juris Doctorate from Stanford Law School in 1984.

Rep. Becerra is married to Dr. Carolina Reyes. They are the proud parents of three daughters: Clarisa, Olivia and Natalia.

Biography from BECERRA FOR CONGRESS

A staunch advocate for working families, Congressman Xavier Becerra has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1993.   He was elected by his colleagues to serve as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus during the 111th Congress, one of five elected positions on the House Democratic leadership team.  He was re-elected to the House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair position at the beginning of the 112th Congress.  Representative Becerra serves as a senior member of the powerful Committees on Ways and Means which has jurisdiction over this nation’s tax, Social Security, Medicare, and trade laws.

Rep. Becerra represents California’s 31st Congressional District, located entirely within the City of Los Angeles.  His district spans part or all of the neighborhoods of Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Echo Park, Garvanza, Glassell Park, Highland Park, Hollywood, Jefferson Park, Koreatown, Lincoln Heights, Mid City, Montecito Heights, Monterey Hills, Mount Washington, New Chinatown, Pico Union, Silverlake, South Los Angeles, Vernon, and Westlake.

During his tenure in Congress, Rep. Becerra has authored legislation to protect taxpayers, strengthen Medicare, create urban renewal, offer student loan forgiveness to librarians in underserved communities, give law enforcement new tools to solve gun crimes, and start the process toward constructing a National Museum of the American Latino.

The first in his family to attend college, Rep. Becerra graduated from Stanford University in 1980, soon after returning to his alma mater to attend la school, completing his juris doctorate in 1984.

Following law school, Rep. Becerra worked for a legal services agency representing the mentally ill.  He then served as a Deputy Attorney General in California.  In 1990, he was elected to the California State Assembly.

Rep. Becerra is married to Dr. Carolina Reyes, a Harvard Medical School graduate.  They are the proud parents of three daughters.

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