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Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City) has been all but officially named to the House Homeland Security Committee, where she will join her neighbor Rep. Pete King (R-Seaford), a former committee chairman who heads the counterterrorism subcommittee.

Rice had requested being placed on the Homeland Security as one of three committees she was interested in serving on. The other two are Financial Services and Foreign Affairs. She will be named to a second committee later.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) today announced Rice's nomination, along with nominations for 26 other Democrats, by the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. The full Democratic Caucus will vote on the nominations next week, making the assignments official.

Rice, the former Nassau County District Attorney, said being on the Homeland Security Committee will help her serve her constituents better. She preferred that assignment over being named to the House Judiciary Committee, given the history of terrorism in New York.

Republicans had first pick on all committees since they are in the majority and control the House.

(Newsday)