U.S. Rep. James Langevin announced today that he has been named the chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology.

In the previous Congress, Langevin served as the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack. The Emerging Threats Subcommittee is a new panel encompassing much of the work of the Nuclear and Biological Attack Subcommittee, plus several new areas of jurisdiction including threats posed by cyber-terrorism.

The Rhode Island Democrat was also appointed to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and is taking a leave of absence from his position on the House Armed Services Committee.