First elected to the House of Representatives in 1992, Rep. Becerra is the only member from Southern California currently serving on the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means.

His committee is responsible for formulating our nation's tax, Social Security, Medicare, trade and welfare laws. Rep. Becerra has dedicated himself to promoting issues affecting industries critical to the Southern California region such as entertainment, high technology, health care, and stimulating free, yet fair, trade. The first Latino to serve on this committee, he 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 through our welfare laws, and to strengthen Medicare and ensure its long-term viability. Rep. Becerra currently serves on the Trade and Social Security subcommittees.

Rep. Becerra is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) where he served as Chairman during the 105th Congress (1997-98). He currently serves as the Chairman of the CHC's Telecommunications and Technology Task Force, as well as Vice Chair of the 289-member Congressional Diabetes Caucus. 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 Chairman of the U.S.-Korea Interparliamentary Exchange.

In addition to his Congressional duties, Rep. Becerra enjoys his service as a board member for several respected institutions, including the Hispanic Outreach Advisory Board for the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA); Pitzer College, a nationally ranked liberal arts and sciences college; 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.

Located entirely in the City of Los Angeles, Rep. Becerra's district (CA-31) includes all or parts of the neighborhoods of Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Echo Park, 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 immigrant parents and was the first in his family to graduate from college. 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 young daughters: Clarisa, Olivia and Natalia. The Becerra family resides in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Eagle Rock

Rep. Xavier Becerra's Official Website

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Source:The College Board