Underwood Named Ranking Member of House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security

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

As a member of the subcommittee since 2021, Underwood has made delivering federal resources that protect the public health and safety of Illinois families a top priority.

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.

The Subcommittee on Homeland Security, where Underwood will now serve as Ranking Member, develops the budget for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security—the federal agency responsible for border security, immigration and customs, cyber security, 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 increased migration at the border, unprecedented natural disasters, and increased security threats posed by foreign adversaries.

###