Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28), the only Democrat appointed to the powerful House Committee on Appropriations from Texas, New Mexico or Arizona, announced today that he received appointments to the Subcommittee for Homeland Security and the Subcommittee for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies for the 114th Congress.

“Our nation’s transportation infrastructure is at a crucial crossroads where we must decide the most efficient way to allocate federal dollars to improve crumbling bridges and roads badly in need of updates—the safety of Americans depends on it,” Congressman Cuellar said. “As America receives threats from all over the world, our nation must also prioritize Homeland Security to keep our citizens and the ideals we stand for safe, and improve our international policies—particularly with our neighbor and biggest trading partner, Mexico. It’s critical that we take swift action in both of these areas, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in each subcommittee and from both sides of the aisle to make that happen.”

As a member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, Cuellar will review funding for the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the Office of Domestic Preparedness Funding.

The Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies reviews funding for highways, airports, railways, bridges, and other infrastructure, as well as housing and urban development projects.

This will be Cuellar’s third year on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, tasked with oversight of the Federal budget, review of proposed expenditures, and crafting the legislation that outlines annual spending for government agencies.