Elizabeth G. Taylor Executive Director February 22, 2021 Board of Directors

Ann Kappler Chair The Honorable The Honorable Prudential Financial, Inc. Chairman Ranking Member William B. Schultz Vice Chair Committee on Finance Committee on Finance Zuckerman Spaeder LLP United States Senate Miriam Harmatz Secretary , D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 Florida Health Justice Project

Nick Smirensky, CFA Treasurer The Honorable Patty Murray The Honorable New York State Health Foundation Chair Ranking Member L.D. Britt, MD, MPH Committee on Health, Education Committee on Health, Education Eastern Virginia Medical School Labor and Pensions Labor and Pensions Ian Heath Gershengorn Jenner & Block United States Senate United States Senate

John R. Hellow Washington D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, PC (Ret.)

Michele Johnson Tennessee Justice Center Dear Chairman Wyden, Ranking Member Crapo, Chair Murray,

Arian M. June and Ranking Member Burr, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Jane Preyer Environmental Defense Fund (Ret.) On behalf of the National Health Law Program, we write to

Lourdes A. Rivera encourage you to support Xavier Becerra's confirmation as the Center for Reproductive Rights next Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. Munger, Tolles & Olson Human Services (HHS). As long-time advocates for the health

Ronald L. Wisor, Jr. rights of low-income individuals and families, we know that Hogan Lovells Attorney General Becerra has the skills, drive, and empathy to Senior Advisor to the Board Rep. Henry A. Waxman guide HHS. Waxman Strategies

General Counsel Marc Fleischaker Attorney General Becerra has taken on threats to health care Arent Fox, LLP with vision and boldness, both as a Member of Congress and as Attorney General of . Throughout his career, he has championed access to health care for those who need it most: low-income individuals and families; Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC); people with disabilities; children; women; immigrants; members of the LGBTQ-GNC community;

1444 I Street NW, Suite 1105 · Washington, DC 20005 · (202) 289-7661 3701 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 750 · Los Angeles, CA 90010 · (310) 204-6010 1512 E. Franklin Street, Suite 110 · Chapel Hill, NC 27514 · (919) 968-6308 www.healthlaw.org

people with limited-English proficiency; and those at the intersections of multiple identities. AG Becerra possesses both a keen understanding of the law and a deep recognition of the challenges faced by everyday people. While a Member of Congress, AG Becerra sponsored and supported the Affordable Care Act. As Attorney General of California, he has led the fight against the latest effort to have the federal courts strike down the law. He has worked to block federal regulations and policies that encourage discrimination in health care delivery – especially against women, LGBTQ-GNC individuals, and those seeking reproductive health care.

The challenges facing this nation are multifold, both acute and long-simmering. The pandemic has exposed flagrant flaws in our health care system and painfully revealed America's entrenched health inequities. President Biden was wise to nominate Xavier Becerra to be his lieutenant in addressing them. There is much work to do, and we are confident that AG Becerra will face those challenges with thoughtfulness and fearless energy. As an organization with deep roots in California, we will miss his leadership in Sacramento, but we look forward to working with him in this new capacity. We encourage the Senate to confirm his nomination swiftly and resolutely.

If you have any questions, please contact Kim Lewis ([email protected]) or Mara Youdelman, Managing Attorney (Washington D.C.) ([email protected]).

Sincerely,

Elizabeth G. Taylor Executive Director

Kim Lewis Managing Attorney, California

2