United States House Committee on Homeland Security

Committee information

• Date created: January 4, 2005
• Members: Twenty-five members in the 116th Congress (2019–2021)
• Subcommittees: Border and Maritime Security; Counterterrorism and Intelligence; Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection; Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications; Oversight and Management Efficiency; Transportation and Protective Security.

Role

The United States House Committee on Homeland Security is a committee in the House of Representatives tasked with administering and coordinating all matters related to the protection of the nation and the American people. Homeland security is often thought of in the context of fighting terrorism, but the concept is much broader. It includes all aspects of safety, security, and protection for and recovery from hazards and disasters. As such, the House Committee on Homeland Security is responsible for overseeing a wide range of activities and services. These include border security and immigration laws, policies, procedures, and agencies; counterterrorism agencies and activities; cybersecurity and intelligence activities; disaster recovery and resiliency; and any other activities related to ensuring the safety of Americans.

Oversight for bills and appropriations related to the Department of Homeland Security falls under the committee’s jurisdiction. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for a number of key agencies and services, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), US Customs and Border Protection, Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Secret Service, the Federal Protective Service, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the US Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Department of Homeland Security also oversees training for federal law enforcement agents through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and it is responsible for protecting the country from computer cyberattacks.

ICE works to prevent terrorism through the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The agency also works to dismantle transnational crime networks involved in drug trafficking, gang violence, human trafficking, and other serious threats to the nation’s security.

US Customs and Border Protection works to identify and prevent entry of suspected or convicted criminals from other countries. The agency is especially focused on identifying and preventing entry of those with known ties to terrorism. Another key function is identifying and apprehending known criminals who are attempting to escape prosecution in America. This agency also contributes to identifying the illegal transport of drugs as well as the illegal transportation of intellectual property, or items protected by copyright, patents, or trademarks.

Citizenship and Immigration Services is responsible for reviewing and granting requests for legal immigration. Requests for asylum and refugee status also fall under this agency. In addition, the agency is responsible for granting permanent citizenship and naturalizing immigrants as American citizens.

The US Secret Service is a law enforcement agency that provides special protection to the president, vice president, and their families. Secret Service agents also protect former presidents, presidential candidates, and visiting heads of state, as well as anyone designated for protection by presidential order. The Secret Service also conducts investigations related to providing these protective services and investigates financial crimes such as counterfeiting and identity theft.

The Federal Protective Service is charged with protecting the federal and civilian employees at federal offices and facilities. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center trains thousands of federal agents on an annual basis to serve in various capacities. The Transportation Security Administration provides security and screens passengers and luggage at airports. The US Coast Guard conducts operations to identify and prevent illegal drug trafficking and immigration by sea and provides rescue services along the nation’s coasts and other waterways. FEMA directs operations to prevent, respond to, and recover from disasters, whether natural, man-made, or the result of terrorism.

History

The House Committee on Homeland Security is one of the newer committees in Congress. It was formed along with the Department of Homeland Security and other related committees, cabinet positions, and agencies in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Originally intended as a short-term committee, it was made the twentieth permanent US House committee in 2005 when it became clear that there was an ongoing need for Congressional representatives to maintain active participation in and oversight of the department working to secure the American homeland against future terrorist attacks and other emerging threats.

On September 11, 2001, nineteen men associated with the terrorist group Al-Qaeda hijacked four planes bound for the West Coast from Boston’s Logan Airport. In previous hijackings, the intent was to gain attention, collect a ransom, or force the release of prisoners associated with the hijackers’ group. These hijackers were on a suicide mission designed to cripple the American economy, weaken defense capabilities, and terrorize citizens.

Two of the four hijacked planes were deliberately flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York’s financial district. The initial damage combined with high heat from burning jet fuel caused both buildings to completely collapse shortly after the attack. A third plane was flown into the country’s defense headquarters at the Pentagon in Virginia. The fourth plane was in the air long enough for some of the passengers to learn about the other attacks through cell phone calls with family and friends. They rushed the terrorists, forcing the plane to crash in a field in the western Pennsylvania town of Shanksville. It is believed that plane was intended to crash into the White House or the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

The attacks cost the lives of just under 3,000 people, including 2,600 who died in the World Trade Center buildings. The attacks also cost the US economy an estimated $55 billion, including the cost of lost wages for those who died as well as the value of the buildings, medical costs for survivors, and the cost of repairs to the infrastructure in the attack zones. All air travel was suspended for four days to prevent additional attacks. This closure, plus a fear-driven reduction in air travel and the cost of additional security measures, cost the airline industry an estimated $5 billion. The side effects of the attack increased unemployment, as workers in parts of New York and at airlines were furloughed, adding to the overall weak economy and worsening an existing recession. The attacks also lead to a long-lasting and costly overseas war on terrorism.

These attacks were the first of their kind and raised concerns about future attacks. In the aftermath, President George W. Bush asked Congress to establish a new department to handle all issues of homeland security. Congress responded by establishing a thirteen-member Select Committee on Homeland Security on June 19, 2002. Under the leadership of its first chairman, Christopher Cox, the committee began discussions that would ultimately lead to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. This act established the first major overhaul of the Department of Defense since it was formed by the National Security Act in the years following World War II (1939–1945). It also created the Department of Homeland Security and established its role and functions.

The House Select Committee on Homeland Security had its membership increased and its charter renewed in 2003 by the 108th Congress. On January 4, 2005, by action of the 109th Congress, it was made a regular committee in the House. Throughout its history, the House Committee on Homeland Security has met weekly while Congress was in session.

Subcommittees

The broad responsibilities of the House Committee on Homeland Security resulted in the establishment of a number of subcommittees. These subcommittees are subject to change at the discretion of each new Congress. The committee leadership and majority also changes, based on which political party holds the overall majority in the House. The leadership can also change the number of members on the committee in accordance with the House’s guidelines for committees.

As of the 115th Congress (2017–2019), the House Committee on Homeland Security had thirty-one members and six subcommittees. Each has a dedicated focus on a specific area of the nation’s security and protection.

United States House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security

The Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security oversees the portion of the budget for the Department of Homeland Security that funds the areas responsible for Customs and Border Protection, ICE, the Coast Guard, and Citizenship and Immigration Services. This amounts to slightly more than half of the department’s budget. It gives the subcommittee oversight responsibility for significant aspects of customs and for the security of the country’s borders, including land and sea boundaries and ports. The subcommittee is also responsible for aspects of the visa and citizenship procedures.

United States House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence

The Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence is charged with oversight of the country’s efforts to identify and prevent both domestic and international terror threats. They are especially focused on these efforts through the Department of Homeland Security, but work to facilitate intergovernmental and intragovernmental sharing of information.

United States House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection

The Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection is charged with oversight of the protection of America’s computer networks and other important assets from cyberattacks. This includes working with other agencies to promote the sharing of technology and information among federal agencies, state and local agencies, and the private sector. Oversight of the protection and security of the federal computer network and the nation’s energy grid, water supply, major roads and bridges, and other critical infrastructure falls under the jurisdiction of this subcommittee.

United States House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications

The Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications oversees the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security related to avoiding and preparing for and responding to and recovering from disasters when they do occur. This includes natural disasters, man-made disasters such as large gas leaks or oil spills, and terrorist attacks, including biological and chemical warfare attacks. Areas of oversight include appropriations, training, distribution of resources, and promoting communication and cooperation among all levels of government, emergency responders, and the private sector, where applicable.

United States House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency

The Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency is charged with ensuring that the resources appropriated for the management of the Department of Homeland Security are spent effectively. This includes oversight spending and implementation of policies related to information technology systems, employee management, and financial systems. Their goal is to ensure the department has the resources it needs while protecting the interests of taxpayers.

United States House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security

The Subcommittee on Transportation and Protective Security has oversight of the TSA and its functions. This includes overseeing actions related to the security of passengers, luggage, and cargo on flights coming into or going out of American airports. It also includes security of other means of transportation, such as trains, pipelines, trucks, and mass transportation methods.

Bibliography

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