After hours of deliberations, a House panel yesterday selected Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, assigned to oversee the embattled department set up to protect the nation.
"The war against terrorism is a war that's going to determine our survival," said King. "We're all Americans. We're in this together."
King, a seven-term congressman, leapt ahead of more senior competitors to replace Christopher Cox, who now heads the Securities and Exchange Commission.
State Homeland Security officials say King's role as chairman of the 33-member panel would benefit New York particularly as it fights to change the federal funding formula so states considered more at risk of terrorist attacks would get a bigger share of money. King has been a player in that battle.
"I think this is going to be very good for New York and very good for Peter personally because he's invested some time and passion on this subject," said state Sen. Mike Balboni (R-East Williston), chair of the state Homeland Security Committee.
Frank Cillufo, director of the Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University and a Port Jefferson native, said that having experienced 9/11, "King brings a sense of urgency to the mission to get things done in the region and nationally."
King, who was chairman of the emergency preparedness, science and technology subcommittee of Homeland Security, beat out competitors including Don Young, chairman of the Transportation Committee, Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania, a longtime expert on national security, John Linder of Georgia and Dan Lungren of California.
Insiders have said Young's chances were dampened because he initially fought against making the committee permanent. They said Weldon's bid may have lost some steam because he criticized the intelligence committee in his new book.
Each candidate made a 30-minute presentation to the Steering Committee yesterday, but it took hours for the 28-member panel to make its choice. Sources said the battle came down to King and Lungren.
"Somehow they couldn't tell immediately that I was the right person," King joked.
As the new chairman, King faces several challenges.
The Homeland Security Department is made up of 22 agencies created in the wake of Sept. 11 attacks. The massive agency has been plagued with problems, including turf battles, management problems and low morale. "We have to address it," King said.
Recently, the agency has come under fire for its slow response to the Hurricane Katrina crisis. King said he plans to investigate the agency's role and how that relates to the government's response to a terrorist attack. The committee has jurisdiction over FEMA only when there is a terrorist attack.
King said he had learned firsthand how to help deal with disasters from 9/11. "I will do all I can to show that same commitment to rebuild" the Gulf Coast region, he said.