Legislation
Homeland Security, Transportation & Infrastructure, and Judiciary Committee Leaders Introduce Bipartisan Counter-Drone Bill Amid Emerging Threats
(WASHINGTON) - Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) and Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced the bipartisan Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act of 2024. This legislation will renew and reform current legal authorities, set to … Continue Reading
May 14, 2024
Ranking Members Carter, Thompson Introduce CISA Securing AI Task Force Act
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), Member of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, and Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, introduced the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Securing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force Act. This legislation will establish a task force within CISA of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dedicated to addressing safety and … Continue Reading
May 14, 2024
Thompson and Schatz Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve TSA’s Frontline Workforce
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to ensure that all 60,000+ Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees - including frontline Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) - are afforded the same worker rights and protections afforded to other Federal workers under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. The Rights for the Transportation Security … Continue Reading
April 22, 2024
Congressman Dan Goldman Introduces Bill To Codify Department Of Homeland Security Coordination Efforts To Address The Climate Crisis
(WASHINGTON) - As communities around the world commemorate Earth Day 2024, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), and Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02) introduced the ‘Homeland Security Climate Change Coordination Act’ to codify the current efforts of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Climate Action Group by permanently authorizing a ‘Climate Coordinating … Continue Reading
April 19, 2024
Ranking Member Thompson Introduces Legislation to Ensure No Secret Service Protection for Convicted Felons Sentenced to Prison
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Denying Infinite Security and Government Resources Allocated toward Convicted and Extremely Dishonorable Former Protectees Act or the DISGRACED Former Protectees Act (H.R. 8081). This legislation would reform the U.S. Secret Service’s protective mission by automatically terminating Secret Service protection for those who have been sentenced to prison following conviction … Continue Reading
March 05, 2024
Rep. Carter Praises House Passage of Securing the Cities Improvement Act
Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) praised House passage of his bill H.R. 4403, the Securing the Cities Improvement Act. This bill would ensure stability within the Securing the Cities (STC) program and partnerships with at-risk cities. “My bill will help cities build and maintain their security capabilities against nuclear or radiological threats,” said Rep. Carter. “It offers a more targeted and effective approach to national security preparedness and response. This shows that … Continue Reading
November 14, 2023
REPS. GOLDMAN, THOMPSON, CASTRO INTRODUCE BILL TO DISARM CARTELS BY STOPPING TRAFFICKING OF AMERICAN GUNS ACROSS SOUTHERN BORDER
‘Disarming Cartels Act’ Would Curb Trafficking of American-Made Guns to Mexico, Eliminate Power Source for Dangerous Cartels More than 500,000 American-Made Guns Trafficked from United States to Mexico Every Year 70 Percent of Guns Recovered at Crime Scenes in Mexico Come from U.S. (WASHINGTON) - Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today with Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) introduced the ‘Disarming Cartels Act’ to curtail the trafficking of … Continue Reading
September 28, 2023
Thompson, Warren, Ramirez Introduce Legislation to Address Federal Disaster Response Inequities
(WASHINGTON) - Today, during National Preparedness Month, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Rep. Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Vice Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced introduction of the Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act (or FEMA Equity Act) to address systemic inequities in the Federal government’s response to disasters and how it distributes assistance. … Continue Reading
September 22, 2023
Chairman Green, Ranking Member Thompson Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Extend the Overtime Pay Authority for Secret Service Agents
(WASHINGTON) - Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS) introduced the Overtime Pay for Protective Services Act of 2023, which will extend the authority to ensure that United States Secret Service agents are compensated for the additional work that is required of them. “For the brave men and women of the Secret Service, protecting our nation’s leaders isn’t just a job, it’s a calling; and they deserve to be … Continue Reading
September 14, 2023
Thompson Introduces Legislation to Address Ghost Gun Threat
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced legislation to enhance the Department of Homeland Security’s response to the threat posed by ghost guns. Ghost guns are unregistered, untraceable weapons—making them highly desirable to terrorists and other bad actors. Since 2016, there has been a more than 10-fold increase in ghost gun seizures in the U.S. The Bolstering Security Against Ghost Guns Act (H.R. 5460) directs … Continue Reading
July 27, 2023
Rep. Payne, Jr.’s Bill to Support First Responders Passes U.S. House of Representatives
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr.’s bill to support first responders passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. His bill, the First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act or H.R. 3254, amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to exempt emergency equipment with breakthrough technologies from a cumbersome approval process. Specifically, it would create a consistent standard for grant applications to … Continue Reading
July 13, 2023
Committee Advances Bipartisan, Bicameral Thompson Bill to Expand Mental Health Support for DHS Law Enforcement
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement after bipartisan, bicameral legislation he introduced along with Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) to increase mental health resources for law enforcement personnel at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was advanced by the Committee. The DHS Suicide Prevention and Resiliency for Law Enforcement Act (H.R. 2577) would create the DHS Law Enforcement … Continue Reading
June 07, 2023
Thompson Introduces Legislation to Address Troubles at DHS Inspector General’s Office
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced introduction of the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Transparency Act to address years of troubling reports calling into question the quality, effectiveness, and transparency of the DHS Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) oversight activities as well as its management. H.R. 3846 aims to improve the management of the Office, along with the … Continue Reading
May 25, 2023
Congressman Thompson Introduces Legislation to Improve Local Emergency Management Training
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced introduction of legislation to help local governments improve their capability to respond to disasters as natural disasters continue to grow in frequency and intensity and place greater strain on local emergency management personnel. The Emergency Management Support Act (H.R. 3626) ensures local emergency management personnel will routinely receive professional training … Continue Reading
May 18, 2023
Ranking Member Thompson Introduces Legislation to Provide TSA Sustained Funding for Security and Pay Improvements
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced introduction of H.R. 3394, the Fund the TSA Act, legislation he authored to ensure the Transportation Security Administration has sustained funding to pay for security operations and pay improvements and address the agency's budget shortfalls. H.R. 3394 provides the funding necessary for recent improvements the Biden Administration and Congress have made to labor rights … Continue Reading
May 11, 2023
Ranking Member Thompson Statement Opposing Passage of Extreme MAGA Republican Child Deportation Act
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement in opposition to the passage of H.R. 2, the Child Deportation Act: “The extreme MAGA Republican Child Deportation Act is a cruel, unworkable, and extreme bill. It is little more than a messaging bill for House Republicans to exploit the challenging conditions at the southwest border. It seems designed to create more chaos at our borders, … Continue Reading
April 13, 2023
Thompson, Peters, Garbarino, Hawley Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Expand Mental Health Support for DHS Law Enforcement
(WASHINGTON) – Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase mental health resources for law enforcement personnel at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The legislation would create the DHS Law Enforcement Mental Health and Resiliency Program to oversee and streamline the delivery of enhanced mental health and wellness services for DHS law enforcement officers … Continue Reading
December 08, 2022
Chairman Thompson Lauds Homeland Security Provisions in NDAA, Including Measures to Protect Houses of Worship, Bolster Nation’s Cybersecurity
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, lauded passage of critical homeland security measures included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which passed the House of Representatives today and will be sent to the President’s desk for his approval after Senate passage. Measures included in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act include a bill authored by Chairman Thompson to protect … Continue Reading
August 01, 2022
New Rep. Demings Legislation Introduced to Counter WMDs
(WASHINGTON) – Today Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) introduced new legislation (H.R. 8610) with House Homeland Committee Chair Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) to modernize the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, and to formalize and expand the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Health Security. The Office of Health Security is critical to U.S. efforts to counter pandemics … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
House Passes Critical Homeland Security Measures in NDAA, Including to Improve TSA’s Workforce, Address Inequities in Disaster Response, Protect Houses of Worship from Terrorism
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, lauded passage of dozens of homeland security measures in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7900), which passed the House of Representatives today. They include measures to improve pay and working conditions for TSA’s frontline workforce, address systemic inequities in Federal disaster assistance programs, and protect non-profits and houses of … Continue Reading