Summary

The committee conducts oversight and handles legislation (and resolutions) related to the security of the United States. The committee has authorization and policy oversight responsibilities over the Department of Homeland Security.

Senate counterpart: Senate Committee on Homeland Security 

Subcommittees:

  • Border Security and Enforcement
  • Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection
  • Emergency Management and Technology
  • Oversight, Investigations and Accountability
  • Transportation and Maritime Security

Chair: Mark Green, Tennessee (R)
Ranking Member: Bennie Thompson, Mississippi (D)

Majority Staff Director: Stephen Siao
Minority Staff Director:  Hope Goins
Meeting Location: H2-176 Ford House Office Building Washington, DC 20515;  (202) 226-8417

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Web Links

News

MIDDLE EAST…Islamic State leader killed as US attacks Syria hideout
Associated Press, Ghaith Al-Sayed et al. – February 3, 2022

The leader of the violent Islamic State group died in a U.S. military raid Thursday, blowing himself up along with members of his family as American special operations forces assaulted his hideout in northwestern Syria, President Joe Biden said.

It was the second time in less than three years that the U.S. took out a leader of the group that at the height of its power controlled more than 40,000 square miles stretching from Syria to Iraq and ruled over 8 million people.

U.S. officials called the operation a “significant blow” to the organization, which has been trying for a resurgence with attacks in the region, including an assault late last month to seize a prison in northeast Syria holding at least 3,000 IS detainees.

The raid targeted Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, who took over as head of the militant group on Oct. 31, 2019, just days after leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died during a U.S. raid. Al-Qurayshi, unlike his predecessor, was far from a household name, a secretive man who presided over a far diminished version of the group and didn’t appear in public.

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Committee Press Releases and News

Press Releases and news can be found here at the committee website.

Recent news can be found here at the committee website.

Chairman Thompson Statement on Border Patrol’s Mistreatment of Migrants at the Border
Government Website – September 20, 2021

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on reports of U.S. Border Patrol’s treatment of migrants along the border.

“Video and photos coming out of Del Rio showing U.S. Border Patrol’s mistreatment of Haitian migrants along the border are horrific and disturbing. This mistreatment runs counter to our American values and cannot be tolerated. I call on Secretary Mayorkas to take immediate action to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that all migrants are treated in accordance with the law and basic decency, as this Administration has promised to do since day one.”

About

Overview

Role of the Committee
The committee conducts oversight and handles legislation (and resolutions) related to the security of the United States. The committee may amend, approve, or table homeland security related bills. It also has the power to hold hearings, conduct investigations, and subpoena witnesses. Additionally, the committee has authorization and policy oversight responsibilities over the Department of Homeland Security.

Rules of the Committee
The committee meets on the first Wednesday of each month while the House is in session. It is not permitted to conduct business unless a quorum is present, which the rules define as one third of its members. A majority of members are required for certain actions including: issuing a subpoena, entering executive session, and immunizing a witness. Committee members have access to classified information but must adhere to stringent access control procedures.

History of the Committee
In the 109th Congress, the House Select Committee on Homeland Security was established on June 19, 2002, pursuant to H. Res. 449 (adopted by voice vote). The Committee was composed of nine members of the House: Mr. Armey, Chairman; Mr. DeLay; Mr. Watts of Oklahoma; Ms. Pryce of Ohio; Mr. Portman; Ms. Pelosi; Mr. Frost; Mr. Menendez; and Ms. DeLauro.

The mandate of the Select Committee in the 107th Congress was to “develop recommendations and report to the House on such matters that relate to the establishment of a department of homeland security.” The Select Committee accomplished its mandate on November 22, 2002, when the House concurred in the Senate amendment to H.R. 5005 by unanimous consent and cleared H.R. 5005 for the President. The bill was presented to the President on November 22, 2002, and was signed on November 25, 2002, becoming Public Law number 107-296, the “Homeland Security Act of 2002”.

The termination date of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security was “after final disposition of a bill including the final disposition of any veto message on such bill,” which occurred on November 25, 2002.

The second select committee was formed in 2003 at the beginning of the 108th Congress as a select committee with Rep. Christopher Cox of California as its Chairman and Jim Turner of Texas as its Ranking Member. The creation of the committee was necessitated by the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. As an executive branch department, the newly formed Department of Homeland Security required congressional counterparts to facilitate legislative action and oversight.

The committee was made permanent when it was elevated to standing status by a vote of the House of Representatives on January 4, 2005 on the opening day of the 109th Congress, again with Rep. Chris Cox as its first permanent Chairman. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi was the Committee’s first permanent Ranking Member. Chris Cox, however, resigned from Congress in July 2005 to become the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Rep. Peter T. King of New York was named as his replacement as Chairman for the remainder of the 109th Congress.

As Congress switched parties at the beginning of the 110th, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson was the Chairman of the Committee and Rep. Peter King was the Ranking Member. Congress switches parties again at the beginning of the 112th, and King became the Chairman, and Thompson the Ranking Member. As Congress switched parties at the beginning of the 116th Thompson again resumed the chair. The Committee continues to operate in a bipartisan manner, passing almost all of its legislation out of the Committee unanimously.

Source: Wikipedia

Members

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Mark Green, Tennessee
Michael McCaul, Texas
Clay Higgins, Louisiana
Michael Guest, Mississippi, Vice Chair
Dan Bishop, North Carolina
Carlos A. Giménez, Florida
August Pfluger, Texas
Andrew Garbarino, New York
Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia
Tony Gonzales, Texas
Nick LaLota, New York
Mike Ezell, Mississippi
Anthony D’Esposito, New York
Laurel Lee, Florida
Morgan Luttrell, Texas
Dale Strong, Alabama
Josh Brecheen, Oklahoma
Eli Crane, Arizona

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Bennie Thompson, Mississippi
Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas
Donald Payne Jr., New Jersey
Eric Swalwell, California
Lou Correa, California
Troy Carter, Louisiana
Shri Thanedar, Michigan
Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island
Glenn Ivey, Maryland
Dan Goldman, New York
Robert Garcia, California
Delia Ramirez, Illinois, Vice Ranking Member
Rob Menendez, New Jersey
Yvette Clarke, New York
Dina Titus, Nevada

Contact

Email: To attend hearings

Locations

Committee on Homeland Security
U.S. House of Representatives
Chairman Bennie G. Thompson
H2-176 Ford House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-226-2616

Web Links

Legislation

Bills

Source: Committee website

Markups

Source: Committee website

Hearings

Source: Committee website

Subcommittees

Border Security and Enforcement

Source: Wikipedia

The Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement is a subcommittee within the House Homeland Security Committee. The Subcommittee focuses on: border and port security in the northern and southern land, air, and maritime domains; international aspects of border security; DHS policies and operations facilitating lawful trade and travel; CBP staffing and resource allocations at and between air, land, and sea ports of entry; and ICE and USCIS border security activities. Subcommittee maintains oversight of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Clay Higgins, Louisiana
Michael Guest, Mississippi
Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia
Tony Gonzales, Texas
Morgan Luttrell, Texas
Josh Brecheen, Oklahoma

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Lou Correa, California
Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas
Shri Thanedar, Michigan
Robert Garcia, California
Delia Ramirez, Illinois

Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence Subcommittee

Source: Wikipedia

The Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence is a subcommittee within the House Homeland Security Committee. The Subcommittee’s focuses are:

  • DHS’s effectiveness in fulfilling its homeland security and counterterrorism mission, operations, and preparedness;
  • The ability of DHS to identify and deter threats through the collection, analysis, and dissemination of homeland security information and intelligence across federal, state, local, and private sector partners
  • Strengthening the protective, investigative, and cyber missions of USSS
  • The protection of federal facilities; and enhancing training, resources, and support for law enforcement.

The Subcommittee maintains legislative oversight of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Protective Service, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Office of Operations Coordination.

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: August Pfluger, Texas
Dan Bishop, North Carolina
Tony Gonzales, Texas
Anthony D’Esposito, New York
Eli Crane, Arizona

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island
Lou Correa, California
Dan Goldman, New York
Dina Titus, Nevada

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection

Source: Wikipedia

The Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation is a subcommittee within the House Homeland Security Committee. Established in 2007 as a new subcommittee, it handles many of the duties of the former Commerce Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity.

The Subcommittee focuses on: protecting federal networks; strengthening critical infrastructure security and resilience; and advancing cooperation between the federal government and non-federal owners and operators of the critical infrastructure that underpins our national security, economy, and way of life. The Subcommittee maintains oversight of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the cybersecurity missions and operations of other DHS components.

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Andrew Garbarino, New York
Carlos Gimenez, Florida
Mike Ezell, Mississippi
Laurel Lee, Florida
Morgan Luttrell, Texas

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Eric Swalwell, California
Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas
Troy Carter, Louisiana
Rob Menendez, New Jersey

Emergency Management and Technology

Source: Wikipedia

The Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology is a subcommittee within the House Homeland Security Committee. Established in 2007 as a new subcommittee, it handles many of the duties of the former Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology. The Subcommittee focuses on: emergency preparedness, response, mitigation, resilience, and recovery; DHS grant programs; homeland security research and development; and protecting against and mitigating Weapon of mass destruction(WMDs) and health security threats. Subcommittee maintains oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), the Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD)[a] Between 2019 and 2023, it was known as the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery.

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Anthony D’Esposito, New York
Nick LaLota, New York
Dale Strong, Alabama
Josh Brecheen, Oklahoma

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Troy Carter, Louisiana
Donald Payne Jr., New Jersey
Dan Goldman, New York

 

Oversight, Investigations and Accountability

Source: Committee Website

The Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Subcommittee maintains oversight of DHS Headquarters, the Office of the Secretary, the Management Directorate (MGMT), the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (PLCY), and the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The Subcommittee focuses on: the organization, administration, and management of DHS; the policies, processes, and programs of DHS for contracts, acquisitions, human capital, civil rights and liberties, and privacy; the strategy, policy, and planning efforts of DHS in leading and supporting its offices and components; and oversight and investigations of DHS operations and homeland security issues.

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Dan Bishop  NC-09
Marjorie Taylor Greene GA-14
Mike Ezell MS-04
Dale Strong AL-05
Eli Crane AZ-02

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member: Glenn Ivey MD-04
Delia Ramirez IL-03
Shri Thanedar MI-13
Yvette Clarke

Transportation and Maritime Security

Source: Committee Website

The Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee maintains oversight of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The Subcommittee focuses on: enhancing the security of U.S. transportation systems; the security of passengers, cargo, airports, and aircraft within the global aviation system; the security of the surface transportation system including mass transit, railroads, highways, and pipelines; and USCG port and maritime security operations.

Republican Members (Majority)
Chair: Carlos Gimenez | FL-26
Clay Higgins LA-03
Nick LaLota NY-01
Laurel Lee FL-15

Democratic Members (Minority)
Ranking Member:  Shri Thanedar | MI-13
Donald Payne NJ-10
Robert Garcia CA-42

More Information

Issues

Source: Committee website

Campaign Finance

Source: Open Secrets webpages