COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY

Congress formally established the Homeland Security Committee as a standing committee in 2005 to ensure that the American people were protected from terrorist attacks. The committee focuses on legislation and oversight related to the security of the United States.

As a former prosecutor in the state of New York, Ranking Member Katko’s commitment to defending the homeland began long before his swearing-in to Congress, as he worked numerous cases on counterterrorism, border security and immigration, and drug and human trafficking. Under Ranking Member Katko’s leadership, the committee will proactively and aggressively combat authoritarian nation states that seek to strategically undermine our way of life, rightfully recognize cybersecurity as the pre-eminent national security threat of our time, and protect the sovereignty and integrity of our territorial borders.

The Committee on Homeland Security will stand strong against all forms of terrorism – both abroad and here at home. Breakdowns in the sharing of intelligence will not be tolerated. This work will require a thoughtful, not knee-jerk, debate to addressing domestic misinformation to prevent radicalization while still respecting civil liberties.

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.