House Committee on Homeland Security

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.

Appointment of William Jefferson
William Jefferson (D-La.) was nominated for appointment to the Committee for the 110th Congress, despite allegations that he accepted bribes. On February 28, 2007, Republicans announced on that they would attempt to block any bill appointing Jefferson to the committee. 

Jurisdictional conflict
On May 25, 2007, Republican members of the committee released a letter critical of the jurisdictional crossover between multiple committees with oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The letter asked DHS to provide information on redundant congressional hearings and briefings that demonsrate the impact of the congressional "turf divisions." They called for reforms recommended by the 9/11 Commission Report to establish a “single, principal point of oversight and review for homeland security” in Congress. Two of the committee's 15 Republican members did not sign the letter; Lamar Smith (D-Texas) and Thomas M. Davis III (D-Va.). Smith is the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee and Davis is the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, both of which have claimed jurisdiction over DHS in the past.

Articles

 * Susan Crabtree & Jackie Kucinich, "House Republicans will attempt to block Jefferson's assignment," The Hill, February 28, 2007.

Resources

 * The dKosopedia page on the House Committee on Homeland Security.

=Contact Details=

URL: http://homeland.house.gov/


 * Majority staff office - (202) 226-8417
 * Minority staff office - (202) 226-2616