Local Congressman, Xavier Becerra, to the Obama Administration, Sources Say

Although he's not well known internationally, Los Angeles congressman Xavier Becerra is rumored to be President-Elect Barack Obama's choice for the U.S. trade representative. If said rumor is true and he takes it, he would be "responsible for negotiating trade deals and overseeing trade policy," says the Associated Press.

"[Becerra] is vice chair of the Democratic caucus and that is what he is focusing his energies on now,” his press secretary said. The Obama camp has no comment.

Becerra was recently voted in as the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus and is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees trade policy. He voted for NAFTA in 1993, but later said he regretted that move.

Photo: Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., center, speaks to reporters after being elected to be vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, as Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., right, the newly elected Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, and re-elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, left, listen, Tuesday, November 18, 2008 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)