Washington, D.C. – Today, Xavier Becerra, former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, former California Attorney General, former Congressman, and staunch advocate for affordable health care, advanced to California’s general election for governor. He now faces off against Trump acolyte Steve Hilton, who will blindly follow Trump’s agenda and make care more expensive for Californian families. Becerra has spent decades fighting to expand and protect affordable health care. As a 12-term member of Congress and later the California Attorney General, he not only championed the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but he also defended it in court against repeated GOP attacks. Most recently, as HHS Secretary under President Biden, he oversaw the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, implementing groundbreaking drug price negotiations that helped millions of working families save money on lifesaving medications. He also helped secure enhanced premium tax credits, which enabled millions of Americans to afford coverage. And in Congress, as a member of both Democratic congressional leadership and the influential House Ways and Means Committee, Becerra championed, shaped, and wrote key portions of the ACA.
“There is no more important issue facing Americans and Californians today than the affordability and accessibility of health care, and Xavier Becerra’s career as a health care champion is long and storied,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “He was a key figure in passing the ACA in Congress, and as Attorney General of California, he led the legal fight to stop Donald Trump from gutting the law in the courts. As HHS Secretary, he helped pass landmark legislation to give Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices and to expand health care tax credits so more Americans could afford coverage. By the time Secretary Becerra left office, the U.S. had the lowest uninsured rate in our nation’s history, and big drug companies were forced to the negotiating table for the first time in American history.”
“Xavier Becerra is an undisputed health care champion and is exactly the type of leader California needs as Donald Trump and Republicans destroy American health care to pay for tax breaks for billionaires,” said Protect Our Care President Brad Woodhouse. “The Golden State needs a leader like Secretary Becerra who has taken the fight to Donald Trump and Republicans and who will fight like hell for the health and well-being of every Californian. California primary voters made the right choice tonight. Secretary Becerra’s experience will serve him well in defending Golden Staters from Trump and Republicans ripping away their care to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. Now it’s time to get to work.”
Xavier Becerra Has a Lengthy Track Record as a Health Care Champion:
- Becerra helped lower health insurance premiums for millions of Americans, implementing the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act’s premium tax credits that saved millions of families thousands of dollars annually on health care premiums and ensured that families paid no more than 8.5 percent of their income towards coverage.
- Becerra helped cap drug costs for seniors and people with disabilities, implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s requirement that Medicare Part D plans cap annual out-of-pocket spending to $2,000 by 2025 for more than 50 million Americans.
- Becerra protected seniors and people with disabilities from prescription drug hikes, implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s rebate program, allowing Medicare Part B enrollees to pay less for dozens of drugs.
- Becerra implemented the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug negotiation program, which will save taxpayers billions of dollars and lower costs for millions of seniors and people with disabilities taking some of the most popular and expensive prescription drugs by as much as 80 percent.
- Becerra slashed insulin costs, implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s cap on insulin prices at $35 — saving seniors up to $1,500 annually.
- Becerra helped provide free vaccines to over 10 million seniors, implementing Inflation Reduction Act requirements that Medicare Part D enrollees have access to covered vaccines at no cost.
- Becerra expanded health care savings for low-income seniors and people with disabilities, implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s expansion of the Medicare Extra Help program to help cover premiums, deductibles, and copayments.