Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Newnan, this week was named chair of the Oversight Subcommittee for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

"Oversight of the intelligence community is key to ensuring the safety of Americans both at home and abroad, and I know that Lynn's experience and expertise will make him a very effective chairman of this subcommittee," said Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers, who chairs the House Intelligence committee.

Westmoreland, who was elected to Congress in 2004 and represent Georgia's 3rd district including Coweta, Fayette, Troup and Henry counties, will head the subcommittee responsible for reviewing waste, fraud, abuse issues and allegations of misconduct in nation's the intelligence agencies like the FBI, CIA and National Security Agency. Congress members are chosen to the select intelligence committee by the Speaker of the House.

"Protecting our national security is one of my top priorities in Congress," Westmoreland said in a statement released Friday.