Correspondence
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Demand DHS Inspector General Comply with Committees’ Investigation into Handling of Erased Text Messages
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari demanding that his office comply with their requests for documents and transcribed interviews in the Committees’ investigation into potential mismanagement and misconduct in the DHS Office of Inspector General … Continue Reading
August 01, 2022
Thompson, Torres, Demings Inquire on Federal Government Response to Monkeypox Virus
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Vice Chairman Ritchie Torres (D-NY), and Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Subcommittee Chairwoman Val Demings (D-FL) sent letters to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the Federal government’s preparations for and response to the monkeypox virus. In their letter to GAO, the Members ask GAO to examine the … Continue Reading
August 01, 2022
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Release New Evidence on DHS IG’s Handling of Inquiry into Erased Text Messages, Renew Call for IG to Step Aside
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari renewing their call for him to step aside from the investigation into erased text messages related to the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, in light of new evidence obtained by the Committees … Continue Reading
July 26, 2022
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Call for DHS Inspector General to Step Aside from Investigation of Erased January 6 Text Messages
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari and Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Allison C. Lerner requesting that Inspector General Cuffari step aside and CIGIE appoint a new Inspector General to lead the ongoing … Continue Reading
June 07, 2022
Thompson, House Chairs, Congress Urge President Biden to Recalibrate Relationship with Saudi Arabia
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, alongside five Committee Chairpersons called on President Biden to further recalibrate the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, in light of reports that President Biden is considering a visit to the Kingdom in the coming months, and urged the president to forcefully advocate for a more balanced bilateral relationship that benefits everyday Americans and reaffirms … Continue Reading
June 02, 2022
Homeland Democrats Request Briefing on DHS Role In Responding to Uvalde Shooting
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Homeland Security Committee Democrats, led by Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to request a committee briefing on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) role in responding to tragic mass shooting Uvalde, Texas last week and what the Department plans to do, along with its Federal, State, and local partners, to prevent future tragedies. “While details surrounding the horrific … Continue Reading
June 01, 2022
Thompson, Watson Coleman Congratulate New Coast Guard Commandant as First Ever Female Military Service Chief
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Chairwoman of the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee, sent a letter to Admiral Linda Fagan to congratulate her on her swearing in as the new United States Coast Guard Commandant and first female ever to lead a branch of our armed forces. “You take the helm of the Coast Guard at a pivotal moment for our Nation as we combat … Continue Reading
May 10, 2022
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Request Information from DHS IG on Efforts to Conceal Department Employee Misconduct
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari, requesting documents and information related to reported efforts by the Inspector General’s office to delay or conceal findings of domestic abuse and sexual harassment by DHS employees. The letter follows a … Continue Reading
April 28, 2022
Chairs Thompson, Watson Coleman Write TSA on its Plan to Address Rise in Guns at Airport Checkpoints After Member of Congress Again Caught by TSA
(WASHINGTON) – Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, sent a letter to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inquiring about its plan to address the dangerous and alarming rise of individuals bringing firearms to airport checkpoints after a Member of Congress, Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), was caught by TSA bringing a gun to a … Continue Reading
April 21, 2022
Chair Thompson, Vice Chair Torres Lead Bipartisan Letter to MTA Regarding Security Cameras in Wake of NYC Subway Shooting
(WASHINGTON) – Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Vice Chairman of the Committee, led a bipartisan letter to the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) following the New York City Subway shooting in Sunset Park, Brooklyn last week. After it was revealed that security cameras were not functioning on the day of the shooting, the Members request information regarding how the MTA uses funds it has … Continue Reading
March 25, 2022
Chairs Thompson & Barragán Urge DHS to Terminate Contract with Torrance County Detention Facility
(WASHINGTON) – Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, & Operations, sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a management alert from the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) regarding unsafe and unsanitary conditions at the Torrance County Detention … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Homeland Democrats Request Additional Funding to Protect Nonprofits Amid Increasing Threats, Including Houses of Worship and HBCUs
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Homeland Security Committee Democrats, led by Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), sent a letter to House Appropriators urging them to provide significant new funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) in the FY2022 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, given the current complex, diffused, and dynamic terrorism landscape which is heavily motivated by elements of white supremacy. Recently, there has been a spate of bomb threats to Historically … Continue Reading
January 24, 2022
House & Senate Committee Leaders Request GAO Audit of CBP ‘Critical Incident Teams’
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Chairs of the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees, House and Senate Judiciary Committees, and House Oversight Committee sent a letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting it conduct a review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) use of Critical Incident Teams along the southwest border. The letter – sent by 10 Committee and Subcommittee Chairs – was prompted by a complaint from a civil rights organization … Continue Reading
January 24, 2022
Oversight and Homeland Security Chairs Request Information from Customs and Border Protection on Potential Misconduct of Specialized Teams
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), requesting documents and information related to Critical Incident Teams—specialized units within CBP tasked with investigating and collecting evidence of allegations of excessive and deadly use of force by Border Patrol agents. “The Committees … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Thompson, DeFazio, Watson Coleman, Larsen Write Airlines to Urge Them to Require and Pay for Crew Members to Attend TSA’s Self Defense Program
(WASHINGTON) - Committee on Homeland Security Chair Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Transportation & Maritime Security Subcommittee Chair Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA) sent letters to four major airlines urging them to require their crew members to attend TSA's Crew Member Self Defense Program so that they are equipped with the necessary skills to deter and mitigate … Continue Reading
October 25, 2021
Chairs Thompson and Watson Coleman Write TSA to Urge Improved Enforcement of Mask Mandates
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Chairwoman of the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee, sent a letter to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Pekoske seeking answers on how TSA plans to enforce enhanced civil penalties for travelers who do not comply with the Federal requirement to wear masks in transportation settings. Enforcement of these … Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
Chairman Thompson Writes DHS on Mistreatment of Haitian Migrants
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security regarding the continued mistreatment of Haitian migrants by the Department. In the letter, Chairman Thompson again urges the Secretary of Homeland Security to immediately halt repatriation flights to Haiti and to provide Haitians and other migrants an opportunity to apply for asylum. He also urges the Secretary to update use of force … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Chairs Thompson, Meeks Write DHS & State Department to Urge Stop to Repatriations of Haitian Migrants
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State expressing their concern regarding the ongoing repatriation of Haitian migrants and urge a humanitarian moratorium on these repatriations. "[T]housands of Haitians and other migrants have arrived in Del Rio, Texas over the past week and are now seeking shelter … Continue Reading
May 11, 2021
Homeland Security, Transportation & Infrastructure Leaders Write White House National Security Advisor Sullivan on Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack
(WASHINGTON) - Today, leaders of the Homeland Security Committee and the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee sent a letter to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the national security and economic security implications of the Colonial Pipeline Company ransomware attack, which could lead to rising fuel costs and fuel shortages. In the letter, the Members ask for a formal briefing as soon as possible from the interagency task force the White House established in … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
House Committee Chairs Send Letters Seeking Documents About January 6 Attack on U.S. Capitol
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee and Subcommittee Chairs across the House of Representatives sent letters to the White House, federal agencies, law enforcement, and Legislative Branch entities, including the House and Senate Sergeant at Arms, seeking documents and communications relating to the January 6, 2021, domestic terrorist assault on the Capitol. "Our Committees are requesting information relating to the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, which killed five people and injured … Continue Reading