Correspondence
Thompson, Cummings, and Conyers Request In-Depth Hearings into Garner, Brown, and Other Deaths
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Reps. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), John Conyers Jr. (D-MI), and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Members of the House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, the Judiciary, and Homeland Security respectively, requested a series of in-depth hearings to examine issues raised by the deaths of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and others, as well as incidents that followed these killings. A link to the letter is below. "We firmly believe that events in Staten Island, … Continue Reading
October 15, 2014
Thompson Inquires CDC on Ebola Policies and Worker Safety
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regarding its Ebola related policies and guidance, including how they are implemented at hospitals and how they address healthcare worker safety. Link to Letter # # # Media Contact: Adam Comis at (202) … Continue Reading
October 02, 2014
Thompson Writes Secretary Johnson on Secret Service Review & Leadership
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson regarding the Secretary's impending review of the U.S. Secret Service and the selection process for a new, permanent director. A link to the letter is below. In the letter, Congressman Thompson states: "The operational deficiencies that have recently come to light and the longstanding cultural problems that have plagued the … Continue Reading
October 01, 2014
Thompson Calls for Secret Service Director to be Replaced by Outsider
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to President Barack Obama regarding the recent White House security breaches and the leadership of the U.S. Secret Service. A link to the letter is attached below. In the letter Congressman Thompson states: "it is now evident that the Secret Service needs a seasoned law enforcement professional who is not a product of the Secret Service to bring about needed reforms. The … Continue Reading
July 22, 2014
Congressman Thompson Urges Compassion for Unaccompanied Children
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to President Barack Obama regarding correspondence sent to the President by Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant on Friday. The Governor expressed his views on the unaccompanied children situation at the southwest border and the prospect that some of the children may be housed at facilities in Mississippi. Congressman Thompson's letter is attached below. In an excerpt of the … Continue Reading
June 10, 2014
Homeland Security Democrats Inquire on DHS Role in Addressing Influx of Unaccompanied Children Entering the U.S.
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, and other Democratic members of the Committee, sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate, the Federal Coordinating Official of the Unified Coordination Group designated by the President to address the influx of Unaccompanied Alien Children … Continue Reading
April 10, 2014
House Members Seek Information on Expansion of TSA Behavior Detection Programs
(WASHINGTON) - Today, four House Committee and Subcommittee Ranking Members sent a letter to John S. Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), questioning the expanded use of Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) through the Targeted Conversation program, which is part of TSA's Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) program. Under the expanded program, passengers who refuse to answer intrusive questions posed by BDOs at airport security … Continue Reading
February 11, 2014
Thompson, Richmond Inquire on Abu Dhabi Preclearance Security Concerns
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA), Ranking Member of the Committee's Transportation Security Subcommittee, sent a letter to John S. Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), regarding TSA's decision to allow passengers arriving in the United States from Abu Dhabi International Airport to bypass passenger screening before boarding a domestic flight. This … Continue Reading
January 13, 2014
Dems Write McCaul on Abu Dhabi Preclearance Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, along with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Committee's Border & Maritime Security Subcommittee, and Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA), Ranking Member of the Committee's Transportation Security Subcommittee, sent a letter to Rep. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, expressing concern about the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) … Continue Reading
December 16, 2013
Top House Dems Urge Leadership to Hold Immediate Classified Briefing on Sensitive IT Documents Subpoenaed by Issa
(WASHINGTON) — Today, the top ranking Democrats on seven House Committees—Oversight and Government Reform, Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, Homeland Security, Intelligence, Education and the Workforce, and Ways and Means—sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi urging them to hold an immediate classified briefing with top Administration cyber security officials about the risks posed by the disclosure of documents relating to the Healthcare.gov website that … Continue Reading
May 02, 2013
Ranking Members Thompson and Waxman Urge President to Establish Blue Ribbon Commission on Chemical Facility Security
(WASHINGTON) - Today Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to establish a Blue Ribbon Commission to examine industrial chemical facility security, in light of the recent tragic explosion at the West, Texas fertilizer plant. The Energy and Commerce Committee and the Homeland Security Committee have jurisdiction over the Chemical Facility … Continue Reading
April 18, 2013
Bipartisan Letter Sent to DHS on Abu Dhabi CBP Preclearance Post
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and other members of Congress, sent a bipartisan letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano regarding the apparent decision to provide Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance operations at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. Link to Letter # # # Media Contact: Adam Comis at (202) … Continue Reading
April 09, 2013
Homeland Dems Refute TSA Explanation of Knife Policy
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA), Ranking Member of the Transportation Security Subcommittee, and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Member of the Transportation Security Subcommittee, sent a letter to John S. Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), reiterating their chief concern that proper procedures and protocols were not followed when TSA announced its … Continue Reading
April 02, 2013
Thompson, Jackson Lee Write Coast Guard on TWIC
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member on the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, sent a letter to Admiral Papp, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard regarding the TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) Reader NPRM (Notice of proposed rulemaking). The letter asks for an extension of the comment period. LETTER # # # Media Contact: Adam Comis at … Continue Reading
March 21, 2013
133 Members of Congress Write to Stop TSA Knife Policy
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), and Michael Grimm (R-NY) led a bipartisan group of 133 members of Congress in sending a letter to John S. Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), expressing serious concern and urging the withdrawal of the recent decision that TSA will start to allow passengers to bring certain knives and sports equipment onboard airplanes. This decision was made without formal engagement with … Continue Reading
February 01, 2013
Thompson Inquires on Potential Sequester Impact on DHS
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, requesting information on how the March 1, 2013 sequester will affect the Department of Homeland Security and each of its components. The sequester would result is across-the-board cuts at the Department that range from 7.6 to 9.4 percent. A link to the letter is below. LETTER # # # Media … Continue Reading
January 15, 2013
Thompson Writes TSA on 'Managed Inclusion' Program
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to John S. Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in response to recent news reports detailing TSA's "Managed Inclusion" program which will use Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) to identify passengers whom appear to pose no threat and usher them into the 'PreCheck' screening line. Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) … Continue Reading
November 15, 2012
Thompson: Committee Jurisdiction and Legislation Must Be The Priority Next Congress
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to three Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairs, Reps. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Candice S. Miller (R-MI), and Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), regarding the next Congress which begins in January. These three Committee members are seen as possible replacements as the Committee on Homeland Security Chair for the 113th Congress. In the letter, Ranking Member Thompson … Continue Reading
October 04, 2012
Thompson, Jackson-Lee Inquire on TSA Insider Threat Policies
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member on the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Transportation Security Subcommittee, sent a letter to John S. Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in response to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report on TSA efforts to address the information technology insider threat—the possibility that TSA employees or … Continue Reading
August 14, 2012
Thompson Seeks Further Inquiry on TSA Racial Profiling Allegations
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, sent two letters regarding news reports of alleged racial profiling conducted by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) at Boston Logan International Airport. Ranking Member Thompson wrote John S. Pistole, Administrator of TSA, urging him to take action and to suspend the Screening of Passenger by Observational Technique (SPOT) program until there … Continue Reading