Underwood Named Acting Ranking Member of House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) announced that she has been named Acting Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security for the 119th Congress. Underwood remains the only Black woman to serve in the role in our nation’s history.

As a member of the subcommittee since 2021, and Acting Ranking Member since 2024, Underwood has made delivering federal resources that protect America’s national security a top priority.

The Subcommittee on Homeland Security, where Underwood serves as the most senior Democrat, funds the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—the federal agency responsible for border security, immigration and customs, cybersecurity, disaster prevention and management, and defending our nation against terrorism.

Underwood’s leadership comes at a crucial time in our nation’s history where we are seeing changing migration patterns at the border, unprecedented natural disasters, and increased security threats posed by foreign adversaries.

The House Committee on Appropriations is responsible for funding the federal government's vital activities to keep the United States safe and invest in families and communities across the country. Through the 12 appropriations bills that the Committee considers each year, Committee members work on behalf of the American people to ensure the government is funded. Democrats on the Committee have secured wins in recent FY24 funding legislation prioritizing access to nutritious foods for moms and their babies, increase funding to secure our borders and support legal pathways to immigration, childcare, support for small businesses, addressing the opioid crisis, and more.

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