Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth) has been appointed as an original member of the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee. The highly sought-after panel was formed today to transition 22 federal agencies and 170,000 employees into the new Department of Homeland Security.

"I am honored to accept this appointment and am eager to get to work ensuring that the new Department of Homeland Security has the resources it needs to strengthen our nation’s defense against terrorist attacks," said Representative Granger. "As President Bush indicated last night, we have no more important responsibility than defending the safety of our people."

"Kay Granger's experience dealing with first-responders as the mayor of Fort Worth and her congressional leadership on defense, transportation, and health care issues makes her a natural selection for this critical subcommittee. This is a premier assignment and will do some of the most important work of the Congress in the upcoming session," said House Appropriations Chairman C.W. Bill Young.

Granger served as the Mayor of Fort Worth from 1991 to 1995, during which time she chaired the Health Care Task Force for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. She is a former member of the board of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, then the world's third busiest. In Congress, Granger has served on the authorizing committees for defense and transportation and on the Health Care Task Force.

"As a former mayor, I know first-hand the importance of supporting our local fire fighters, policemen, emergency medical personnel, and other first-responders," said Representative Granger. "Their critical missions will be at the forefront of my mind on the Homeland Security Subcommittee."

The Homeland Security Subcommittee will write the annual budget for a department overseeing federal agencies as diverse and critical as the Transportation Security Administration, the Secret Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the FBI's National Infrastructure Protection Center, the Coast Guard, and a host of other branches. In all, Homeland Security is the biggest reorganization of the federal government since the Defense Department was created in 1947 to better coordinate the nation's defense against military threats.

Prior to creation of the Appropriations subcommittee and a House Select Committee, a total of 88 congressional committees and subcommittees had jurisdiction over issues related to Homeland Security. Representative Hal Rogers (R-KY) will chair the new subcommittee.

Granger has served on the powerful House Appropriations Committee since 1999. In addition to Homeland Security, she will retain her positions on the Subcommittees on Military Construction and Labor, Health, and Human Services and Education.