Legislation
Thompson and Kennedy Lead Dems in Introducing Resolution Condemning Trump’s Dangerous FEMA Workforce Cuts
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, introduced a resolution condemning federal workforce reductions that undermine preparedness, response, and recovery, and expressing serious concern regarding proposed future staffing cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA plays a critical role in helping communities … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Ranking Member Thompson Introduces Legislation to Curb Unchecked DHS Mobile Biometric Surveillance and Protect Privacy of American Citizens
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced legislation to rein in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) use of unproven mobile biometric surveillance technology and strengthen protections for American citizens’ privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deployed a mobile phone application known as Mobile Fortify to identify individuals by capturing facial … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Ramirez, Magaziner Lead Bill to Codify Use of Force Policy for the Department of Homeland Security
(WASHINGTON) — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL) and Congressman Seth Magaziner (D-RI) announced legislation to statutorily require a Department of Homeland Security policy on use of force and de-escalation by agents. The DHS Use of Force Oversight Act would also build a mechanism for reporting and oversight. Under the Biden Administration in Feb 2023, DHS elected to implement a use-of-force policy that aligned with the Department of Justice’s policy. However, the Trump … Continue Reading
December 10, 2025
Thompson and Garbarino Introduce Bipartisan 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, and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation (H.R. 6548) to strengthen mental health resources for law enforcement personnel at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The “DHS Suicide Prevention and Resiliency for Law Enforcement Act” would create a department-wide program to oversee and streamline the delivery of … Continue Reading
December 09, 2025
Kennedy Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Transparency, Predictability, and Local Impact of FEMA Preparedness Grants
December 9, 2025 (WASHINGTON) - Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26), a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the DHS Grants Accountability Act, legislation that would guarantee greater transparency, consistency, and data-driven decision-making within the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) homeland security preparedness grants programs. The bill directly addresses long-standing concerns raised by the Government Accountability Office and stakeholders about unpredictable … Continue Reading
August 20, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Introduces Legislation to Mandate Accuracy and Quality Control of Terrorist Watchlist After GAO Audit
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced introduction of legislation he sponsored to ensure good governance of the Federal government’s terrorist watchlist program. After the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted an audit - requested by Ranking Member Thompson - of Federal watchlisting programs, it found that hundreds of U.S. persons may have been mistakenly placed on the watchlist. GAO also found that … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Reintroduces Ghost Gun Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the introduction of 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 … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Thompson and Schatz Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect and Improve TSA’s Frontline Workforce as Trump Tries to Take Away Protections
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) reintroduced bicameral legislation with Republican support to ensure that all 65,000+ Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees - including frontline Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) - are afforded the same worker rights, protections, and pay system afforded to other Federal workers under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. This legislation is … Continue Reading
September 26, 2024
Thompson, Sewell Introduce Legislation to Improve FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Mission
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) announced the introduction of the Deployed Emergency Professionals Lasting Over a Year (DEPLOY) Tax Relief Act (H.R. 9753), legislation to change current tax law to allow Federal Emergency Management Agency reservists - FEMA’s critical, on-call workforce that can quickly deploy when disaster strikes - to be able to work for over a year in a community recovering from … Continue Reading
September 11, 2024
Congressman Goldman Introduces Legislation to Ensure Robust Outreach to Federal Homeland Security Grant Applicants
(WASHINGTON) - Congressman Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) introduced the ‘Enhancing Stakeholder Support and Outreach for Preparedness Grants Act,’ which would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide ongoing stakeholder outreach, education, technical assistance, and support to grantees of the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant programs. Both of these … Continue Reading
June 04, 2024
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
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
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
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