Rep. Carlos Gimenez Officially Launches Bid for House Homeland Security Chair

He is the first Republican to enter the race after Rep. Mark Green, the current chair, announced he would be retiring to take an undisclosed job in the private sector.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez
Francis Chung/POLITICO/AP

Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida has formally launched a bid to become chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, according to a letter of intent obtained by NOTUS.

The powerful committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Homeland Security. Gimenez wrote that his experience as a firefighter and city manager in Miami has prepared him for the role.

“These roles were not theoretical, they were boots-on-the-ground, real-world experiences that mirror the mission of this Committee: aviation and maritime security, border protection, emergency response, and law enforcement coordination,” he said.