Washington, DC  -  With the strong support of House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, the Republican Steering Committee today appointed Third District Congressman Mike Rogers to the permanent Committee on Homeland Security.

The appointment, which will be Rogers’ third committee assignment after his Armed Services and Agriculture posts, is one of the most important committee slots in Congress. The panel oversees the nation’s third largest cabinet agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and has oversight on key security issues such as emergency response to terrorist attacks; first responder funding; cyber security; immigration and border security; and border patrol.

“I am honored and excited to have the strong support of Speaker Hastert for this committee assignment,” Rogers said. “The homeland security needs of rural Alabama are just as important as those of the big cities, and I look forward to working with my colleagues and Chairman Cox to help further secure our nation’s homeland.”

Hastert said Rogers’ appointment was critical for advancing rural security interests. “As a representative from rural America, Mike Rogers brings a valuable perspective to the Homeland Security committee,” he said. “I worked to get Mike on this committee because he’s one of the hardest working Members in Congress. Combined with his other assignments on the Armed Services and Agriculture committees, I know he will be an even greater asset for his constituents in the Third District.”

Rogers said in addition to sitting on the full committee, he will also be a member of the Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity; and the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology. These bodies have jurisdiction over issues including infrastructure protection; computer and telecommunications security; homeland security grants to first responders and firefighters; and research and development of technology to combat terrorism.