Katko to serve as House Homeland Security Committee’s top Republican

The U.S. House Republican Steering Committee on Tuesday elected U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) to serve as ranking member on the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee.

“I’m truly honored,” the congressman said. “This assignment is a direct continuation of my life’s work to secure our country and keep Americans safe.”

In this role, Rep. Katko will serve as the committee’s top Republican and will prioritize efforts to fight terrorism, improve border security, and address the nation’s cybersecurity gaps. Previously, the lawmaker was an Assistant United States Attorney who led the organized crime division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Syracuse, N.Y. 

“For nearly 20 years, I served as a federal organized crime prosecutor working cases on counterterrorism, border security and immigration, drug and human trafficking, and political corruption,” said Rep. Katko, who continued such work on the House Homeland Security Committee when he came to Congress in 2015, spearheading initiatives to bolster the United States’ cyber defenses, transportation security, and foreign threat efforts.

With the nation facing unprecedented and evolving threats, Rep. Katko said the government now must take a deliberate and commonsense approach to handling border security and cyberspace and terrorist threats, as well as improve the ability of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify and address national security risks.

“As we approach the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, and as a New Yorker, I will remain focused on ensuring top terror targets are secure and that there is a close partnership with DHS,” Rep. Katko said. “I’m ready to get to work.”