About the Committee

The Committee on Homeland Security was established in 2002 to provide Congressional oversight for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and better protect the American people against a possible terrorist attack. In 2005, the House of Representatives granted the Committee on Homeland Security permanent status; that same year, U.S. Rep. Peter T. King (NY), was named Chairman of the Committee. Under Chairman King’s leadership, Committee Republicans passed several landmark pieces of bipartisan homeland security legislation, including the SAFE Port Act, Chemical Plant Security legislation, and FEMA reform. King served as Ranking Member during the 110th and 111th Congresses before returning as Chairman for the 112th Congress.   

The Committee was chartered to hold hearings and craft legislation for issues specific to homeland security. The Committee meets in historic Room 311 in the Cannon House Office Building, which houses the notable Peace painting (Walter Lofthouse Dean, 1893).

The Committee on Homeland Security has six Subcommittees; each specializing in a subset of the Full Committee’s jurisdiction:

Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security
Rep. Candice Miller (MI), Chairman

Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence
Rep. Patrick Meehan (PA), Chairman

Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies
Rep. Dan Lungren (CA), Chairman

Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL), Chairman

Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management
Rep. Michael T. McCaul (TX), Chairman

Subcommittee on Transportation Security
Rep. Mike Rogers (AL), Chairman