Homeland Security Committee Overview
The Committee on Homeland Security was created by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002 in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. The Committee was first formed as a Select, non-permanent Committee, to provide Congressional oversight over the development of the Department of Homeland Security. The Committee was made permanent when it was designated as a Standing Committee of the House on January 4, 2005, the first day of the 109th Congress.
The Committee is currently made up of 15 Democratic Members of Congress, led by Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), and 19 Republican Members of Congress, led by Chairman Peter T. King (R-NY).
