Kqeds The California Report

California Attorney General Xavier Becerrra begins the Congressional confirmation process to become the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services on Tuesday. He's expected to face lots of questions from Senate Republicans, who have pushed to block his confirmation. Guest: Ryan Levi, Journalist and Producer of the Tradeoffs podcast State lawmakers have passed a $7.6 billion COVID relief plan. Among the items in the package, direct payments to the state's lowest earners. Reporter: Katie Orr, KQED The "tougher" test was seen by some as an unnecessary barrier to becoming an American citizen. Now, the Biden administration is going back to the 2008 version that they argue was carefully developed. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED  Governor Newsom said the San Joaquin Valley will get a big boost to its COVID-19 vaccine allocation. It's in part due to the region’s farm workers, who are now eligible for the vaccine. Reporter: Kerry Klein, Valley Public Radio The facility in Santa Barbara County was the site of