Peter T. King (NY), Chairman

Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Peter T. King, of Seaford, NY, is currently serving his tenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. First elected to represent New York’s Third District in 1992, King was an original member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security before being named Chairman of the Permanent Committee in the 109th Congress. King served as Ranking Member of the Committee for the 110th and 111th Congresses. 

Under King’s previous Chairmanship in the 109th Congress, the Committee took action on a number of prominent homeland security issues, passing important legislation such as: The Border Security and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2005; the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006; the SAFE Port Act; the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007; and Hurricane Katrina “Lessons Learned” legislation.

In the 112th Congress, some of Chairman King's top priorities include: 

- Conducting effective oversight of Department of Homeland Security operations and ways to give the intelligence community and law enforcement agencies the tools they need to identify and combat domestic radicalization; 

- Stopping the Obama Administration’s plans to transfer Guantanamo detainees, like admitted 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his co-conspirators, to the U.S. and put them on trial in civilian courts, and holding hearings on the President’s plans to close Guantanamo;

- Holding hearings on domestic radicalization;

- Working with the Department of Homeland Security to improve cargo security on passenger planes and on cargo-only planes;

- Enacting additional legislation to secure the border and curb illegal immigration;

- Strengthening the Securing the Cities Initiative to protect more Americans from radiological and nuclear devices;

- Bolstering national cybersecurity by fortifying the defenses of federal networks and promoting partnerships with the private sector to protect against cyber attack; 

- Strengthening communications for our nation’s first responders;

- Passing a comprehensive Department of Homeland Security authorization bill to provide DHS with necessary guidance, tools, and resources to help protect our homeland from terrorist attack.

The son of a New York City police lieutenant, King has also been a strong supporter of the war against international terrorism, both at home and abroad.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has said of King: “No one is more dedicated than Pete King to strengthening our homeland security. Pete knows firsthand the suffering and devastation which occurred on September 11th and wants to do everything possible to prevent another terrorist attack from ever taking place anywhere in our country.”

Prior to serving in Congress, King was elected to three terms as the Comptroller of Nassau County. Before serving in county government, Rep. King had extensive experience as a practicing attorney and civic leader. A graduate of St. Francis College, Brooklyn, and the University of Notre Dame Law School, King is also the author of three published novels, Terrible Beauty, Deliver Us From Evil and Vale of Tears, which are based upon his experiences in Congress.

For more information, visit Rep. King's website.