Congressman Fong Appointed to Serve on Homeland Security Committee

Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) was appointed to serve on the House Homeland Security Committee for the 119th Congress. This assignment positions Congressman Fong to address issues paramount to the safety of Californians and Americans across the country, including counterterrorism, emergency preparedness, cybersecurity, as well as threats posed by illegal immigration and foreign adversaries such as China.

“I’m honored to have been selected to serve on the Homeland Security Committee,” said Congressman Fong (CA-20). “A secure California is critical to protecting our homeland. From our borders and ports to our cybersecurity and defense assets – we must make public safety a top priority and be ready to confront the ever-evolving threats facing our nation. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee to advance policies that safeguard our communities, strengthen our preparedness, and ensure the security of the American people.”  

“I am proud to welcome Congressman Fong to the Committee on Homeland Security,” Chairman Garbarino said. “Throughout his years of service at the local, state, and federal levels of government, he has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to improving the lives of his constituents and the American people. His experience and perspective will strengthen our efforts to protect our supply chains, safeguard critical infrastructure, combat evolving threats in and out of cyberspace, and enhance public safety. I look forward to working alongside Congressman Fong to keep our homeland secure.”

Background:

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.

The Committee’s areas of jurisdiction include: Border Security and Enforcement; Counterterrorism and Intelligence; Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection; Emergency Management and Technology; Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability; Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events in the United States; and Transportation and Maritime Security.

California is the most populated state in the nation and the fourth largest economy in the world, surrounded by extensive land and sea borders and supported by extensive critical infrastructure. As such, it is an attractive target to foreign adversaries, transnational criminal organizations, and violent domestic and international extremists, routinely facing threats of terrorism, cybercrime, and natural disasters.