Rep. Dan Lungren, the Sacramento area's newest congressman, was named Thursday as chairman of a House Homeland Security subcommittee that will focus on safeguarding financial systems, infrastructure and computer networks from terrorist attack.

"I am really looking forward to this," the Gold River Republican said.

"Our job is to make sure any terrorist attack doesn't destroy our economy and that we take steps to protect our computer hardware and software systems," Lungren said. "We've got a couple of years to get it right."

Lungren was elected in November to the 3rd District seat formerly held by Doug Ose. Although he is new to the California delegation as a Sacramento-area congressman, the former state attorney general returned to the House of Representatives with 10 years of seniority from representing the Long Beach area during the 1980s.

Lungren's chairmanship adds further to the growing clout of state Republicans in the House, where nearly a third of the 21 standing committees are headed by Californians.

The Homeland Security Committee's chairman is Rep. Christopher Cox, R-Newport Beach, who praised Lungren for his "command of the critical issues we face."

Lungren's subcommittee has 18 members - 10 Republicans and eight Democrats. Democrats on the subcommittee will be led by a fellow Californian, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Santa Ana.

Among the subcommittee's duties are to develop strategies to protect against terrorist attacks; to set strategies and priorities to protect transportation systems, including ports and borders; and to ensure the security of computer, telecommunications, industrial control systems and other data networks from terrorist attack.

Lungren also will serve on the Homeland Security Committee's subcommittees on prevention of nuclear and biological attack and on intelligence, information sharing and terrorism risk assessment.

The subcommittee chairmanship could have local implications because Lungren said one of its responsibilities will be over safeguarding dams from terrorist attacks. It's that concern that led to the closure of the Folsom Dam road in his district, resulting in the clogging of nearby roads and neighborhoods by displaced commuters.

"We have to recognize that an attack could occur," Lungren said, adding that the subcommittee's job is to ensure through legislation and oversight that a minimum amount of damage would result.

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·         The Bee's David Whitney can be reached at (202) 383-0004 or dwhitney@mcclatchydc.com.