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House to Create Homeland Security Department Committee

A select committee will monitor the new department, ending debate whether existing committees or a new entity should oversee the department.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) -- The House is creating a new committee to oversee the Homeland Security Department that is to take shape this year.

House Republicans agreed to the new panel as part of a package of organizing rules that the entire House will vote on Tuesday when the 108th Congress opens, GOP Conference Chairman Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio, said Monday. Republicans control the House and the rules package is certain to pass.

The new department, which will bring together the functions of the Secret Service, Coast Guard, Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service and other security-related agencies, will begin taking form in March.

Last November, President Bush signed into law the legislation creating the biggest overhaul of government agencies in more than half a century.

There has been some debate over whether congressional oversight of the new department should be handled by existing committees or a new panel.

Pryce said the decision was to create a "select" committee, which, unlike standing committees, is created for a specific investigation or oversight function. The House currently has a select committee on intelligence.

The new panel "will be very instrumental in making sure we do this right," she said.

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