Lawsuits by Becerra and Pennsylvania's attorney general Josh Shapiro forced the sisters to go back to court to defend their religious exemptions, and the Supreme Court sided with the Little Sisters in July.
Mancini said that "If his record is any indication, Becerra will weaponize the more than trillion-dollar budget of the Department of Health and Human Services to attack or disadvantage those with whom he disagrees, and advance unpopular pro-abortion policies."
"From his new role, we expect Mr. Becerra will continue his attack on the civil liberties of those with whom he disagrees," said Kristin Waggoner, general counsel with the group Alliance Defending Freedom.
Pro-life groups on Thursday also stated their disappointment that no Democrats opposed Becerra's nomination - including Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) who was endorsed by Democrats for Life.
"We are deeply disappointed in @Sen_JoeManchin and @SenBobCasey for their votes today," Democrats for Life tweeted.
"Becerra is infamous in the pro-life movement, well known for his record of attacking pro-life policies protecting unborn life, as well as assaulting the conscience rights of pro-life Americans," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List, in a statement. "President Biden could not have picked a more eager and enthusiastic partner to destroy pro-life policy and expand abortion on demand."
Meanwhile, Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of both Planned Parenthood and its lobbying arm, tweeted she "[c]ouldn't be more excited" to have Becerra lead HHS.
During his Senate confirmation hearings, Becerra wouldn't name a single abortion restriction he supported and claimed "I have never sued any nuns," despite his lawsuit that ultimately drove the Little Sisters of the Poor to return to court.
He also defended his push for the abortion pill regimen to be prescribed and dispensed remotely, saying remote health care practice is "something that we should really build on" in response to a question about federal restrictions on the abortion pill regimen.
Supporters of Becerra's nomination pointed to his advocacy for the Affordable Care Act. He also received unlikely support from Republican attorneys general Jeff Landry of Louisiana and Herbert Slatery of Tennessee. Both officials hailed Becerra's work on combatting the opioid crisis.
This story was corrected on March 18 to state that March is Women's History Month.
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