Report: Rep. King to step down as chairman of Homeland committee

Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) will step down as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee in the new Congress, according to reports.

King will give up the spot under the House Republican Conference’s six-year term-limit rule. The New York lawmaker had previously sought a waiver for a one-year extension, which he is now completing.  

{mosads}King shared the news in an interview with the New York Daily News, and expressed concern that New York City retains the same level of security funding from Washington. 

He said that with a push by Congress to reduce government spending and the likelihood that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will leave President Obama’s Cabinet in the second term, New York’s lawmakers needed to be vigilant to ensure that the city and state receive the anti-terrorism resources needed.

“She realized that was where the threat was,” said King of Napolitano’s attention to New York. 

King said he expected to assume the chairmanship of the committee’s Counterterrorism and Intelligence subcommittee. 

“Nothing is definite in politics or government, so if there is a new Homeland Security secretary, I will try to work with them as chairman of the subcommittee, and work with the new chair,” said King in the interview. 

Reps. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Candice Miller (R-Mich.) and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) are expected to seek the Homeland Security gavel. 

McCaul currently serves as chairman of the Homeland Security Oversight, Investigations and Management subcommittee, with Miller heading the Borders and Maritime Security subcommittee and Rogers the Transportation Security subcommittee.