Monday night, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) was appointed to serve as a member on both the House Committee on Homeland Security (CHS) and the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) for the 117th Congress.

“I am honored and excited to represent the 11^th District of Texas on two fantastic committees tasked with defending the security of our nation at home and abroad,” said Congressman August Pfluger. “The most important role of the federal government is protecting our citizens from national security threats, and both of these committees will allow our district to have a seat at the table regarding immigration and border security, counterterrorism, cyber security, energy, and international trade. I will also be directly involved in advancing America’s position against global threats like China, Russia, Iran and other rogue actors, and defending American energy on the international stage.

“With over 1,254 miles of shared border between Texas and Mexico, military intelligence training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, critical border security support operations, and a robust energy and agriculture sector throughout our district, these are more than policies, they are personal. I am thrilled that these committee assignments directly relate to protecting the critical oil and gas infrastructure and agriculture production in the 11^th District. I look forward to working under the leadership of Ranking Members Katko (NY-24) and McCaul (TX-10), as well as Chairmen Thompson (MI-02) and Meeks (NY-05), as we hit the ground running to ensure the United States remains the safest, most prosperous nation in the world.”

“With a history of protecting and defending our nation as a combat pilot in the U.S. Air Force, August brings expertise and perspectives from which the committee will benefit greatly,” said Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member John Katko. “He has seen the myriad of threats facing our nation and knows that a relentless and aggressive posture is the only option. Situated near the southwest border, his district has witnessed firsthand the damaging impact of weak security and enforcement policies on border state communities. August will be a critical player in advancing the committee’s mission as we build upon the progress made on securing our borders and support our border security professionals. I am thrilled to welcome August to the Committee on Homeland Security and look forward to his leadership on these pressing issues.”

“I am pleased to welcome August Pfluger to the House Foreign Affairs Committee,” stated House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul. “Rep. Pfluger has great depth of experience in national security and foreign policy, including a distinguished twenty-year career flying combat missions in the Middle East as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force and serving on the National Security Council. He will be an important voice on our committee and I look forward to working closely with him to advance U.S. interests around the world.”

The 11th District of Texas is essential to the advancement of American national security because of its robust military intelligence training operations and abundant natural resources. Home to the top oil and gas producing region in the Nation and millions of acres of farm and ranch land, this district supplies food, fuel, and fiber to power our country and feed the American people. In San Angelo, Texas, Goodfellow Air Force Base trains every branch of our military in world-class intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance measures. The 11^th District also plays a key support role in border security operations through the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Station in San Angelo, that detects terrorists and weapons of mass destruction across 17 counties in West Texas, and the National Air Security Operations Center in San Angelo, that deploys and operates unmanned and fixed-wing aircraft along the border.

The Committee on Homeland Security was created by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002 in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. The Committee on Homeland Security is directly involved in border security, intelligence, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and the enforcement of immigration laws. The Committee was first formed as a Select, non-permanent Committee to provide Congressional oversight over the development of the Department of Homeland Security. The Committee was made permanent when it was designated as a Standing Committee of the House on January 4, 2005, the first day of the 109th Congress. It is led by Chairman Bennie Thompson (MI-02) and Republican Ranking Member John Katko (NY-24).

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs Republicans, led by Chairman Gregory Meeks (NY-05) and Republican Ranking Member Michael McCaul (TX-10), considers legislation that impacts the diplomatic community, which includes the Department of State, the Agency for International Development (USAID), the Peace Corps, the United Nations, and the enforcement of the Arms Export Control Act