First elected to the House of Representatives in 1992, Rep. Becerra is Assistant to the Speaker of the House and 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 Human Resources 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). 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. Most recently, Becerra was asked by the Speaker of the House and the Democratic Leader to serve on the Smithsonian Board of Regents, which oversees the Smithsonian Institution's expansive collection.

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 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.