The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Its responsibilities include U.S. security legislation and oversight of the Department of Homeland Security.
Role of the Committee
The committee holds hearings on 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 appropriations and policy oversight responsibilities over the Department of Homeland Security.
The committee has five sub-committees that focus on different aspects of security:
- Subcommittee on Nuclear and Biological Attack
- Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment
- Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity
- Subcommittee on Management, Integration, and Oversight
- Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology
Rules of the Committee
The committee meets on the first Friday 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
The committee was formed in 2002 in conjunction with 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. When the committee was first formed it was a select committee but was elevated to standing status by the House Rules Committee on January 4, 2005 on the opening day of the 109th congress.
Committee Leader (2005-2006)
See Also
External link
Committee on Homeland Security homepage
U.S. Department of Homeland Security homepage
