Legislation
House Passes Legislation to Improve Conditions for TSA’s Frontline Workforce
(WASHINGTON) – Today, by a bipartisan vote of 220 to 201, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2022 (H.R. 903), legislation sponsored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, to improve working conditions for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) workforce. The Rights for the Transportation Security Administration Workforce Act of 2022 will provide all 60,000 TSA employees … Continue Reading
May 05, 2022
Thompson, Warren Introduce Legislation to Address Federal Disaster Response Inequities
(WASHINGTON) – Today, in the midst of Hurricane Preparedness Week, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), introduced H.R. 7668/S. 4159, 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. Although low-income communities and communities of color are more likely to … Continue Reading
April 05, 2022
House Passes Five Bipartisan Homeland Security Bills
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives passed five bipartisan homeland security measures. Collectively, these bills not only seek to enhance transparency and accountability regarding substantiated allegations of whistleblower retaliation or misconduct within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and when an investigation of a terrorist incident is completed, but also to improve … Continue Reading
March 09, 2022
House Passes Four Bipartisan Homeland Security Bills
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives passed four bipartisan homeland security measures. These bills address the needs of cities seeking to preserve homeland security capabilities after they stop receiving homeland security grants, seek to ensure DHS law enforcement training programs are accredited, authorize cybersecurity education and training partnerships to support state and local … Continue Reading
February 28, 2022
Thompson, Katko Introduce Legislation to Expand Grant Program to Protect Nonprofits and Houses of Worship
(WASHINGTON) – Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. John Katko (R-NY), Ranking Member of the Committee, announced the introduction of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act of 2022 (H.R. 6825), bipartisan legislation to expand and strengthen the Nonprofit Security Grant Program that helps secure nonprofits and houses of worship against terrorism. In recent years, there has been a surge in threats against nonprofits, … Continue Reading
February 15, 2022
Katko, Thompson Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Combat Human Trafficking
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. John Katko (R-NY), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Countering Human Trafficking Act. This legislation will enhance our nation’s ability to combat human trafficking, make the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) permanent, and increase coordination between DHS components and the Blue … Continue Reading
February 04, 2022
Chairman Thompson Applauds House Passage of the America COMPETES Act
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act of 2022: "I am proud the House passed the America COMPETES Act today – legislation that holds the promise of preserving America’s place as a global economic leader for generations to come. This comprehensive and strategic package of largely bipartisan measures will … Continue Reading
January 25, 2022
House Committee Chairs Statement on Unveiling of the America COMPETES Act of 2022
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the House posted text of the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength Act of 2022. The America COMPETES Act of 2022 includes a historic investment to surge production of American-made semiconductors, tackles supply chain vulnerabilities to make more goods in America, turbocharges America’s scientific research and technological leadership, and strengthens America’s economic and national security at … Continue Reading
November 18, 2021
House Passes Three Bipartisan Homeland Security Bills
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives passed three bipartisan homeland security measures. These bills would encourage made in America DHS uniforms, improve the Department of Homeland Security’s acquisition review process, and improve travel at our airports for non-English speakers, international travelers, and people with vision or hearing impairments. “I am pleased to see the … Continue Reading
October 26, 2021
Committee Advances Slate of 12 Bipartisan Homeland Security Bills
(WASHINGTON) – Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced that the Committee favorably reported twelve critical, bipartisan homeland security bills. “I am proud to see the Committee continue to work together to pass critical bipartisan measures on a broad range of homeland security issues. These bills touch on everything from civil rights and civil liberties to port of entry infrastructure and cybersecurity to acquisitions and … Continue Reading
October 01, 2021
Clarke, Thompson, Katko, Garbarino Introduce Bipartisan Cyber Incident Reporting Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection & Innovation Subcommittee, along with Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Rep. John Katko (R-NY), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Andrew Gabarino (R-NY), Ranking Member of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection & Innovation Subcommittee introduced the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure … Continue Reading
September 29, 2021
House Passes Bipartisan Homeland Security Bills
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives considered a slate of bipartisan homeland security measures, including legislation to improve supply chain security, prevent certain vehicle-based terrorism and targeted violence, ensure the unique needs of children are taken into account in homeland security policies, and improve cybersecurity in K-12 schools. "I am pleased the House came together today to … Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
House Passes Cyber Incident Reporting Legislation, Critical Cybersecurity and Homeland Security Provisions in NDAA
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, lauded passage of numerous bipartisan cybersecurity and homeland security measures in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (H.R. 4350), which passed the House of Representatives yesterday. “I am pleased by the overwhelming bipartisan support in the House for homeland security measures that tackle everything from DHS’ historic morale problems, to … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Homeland Security Committee Passes Legislation to Improve TSA’s Frontline Workforce, Along with Nine Homeland Security Bills
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Committee on Homeland Security favorably reported ten bipartisan homeland security bills, including critical bipartisan legislation introduced by Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson, the Rights of the TSA Workforce Act of 2021 (H.R. 903), that would provide the TSA workforce the same rights afforded to most Federal workers under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. This legislation will also address TSA's attrition problems and further professionalize the … Continue Reading
July 21, 2021
House Passes Thirteen Bipartisan Homeland Security Bills, Including Cybersecurity Grant Program
(WASHINGTON) - The U.S. House of Representatives passed thirteen bipartisan homeland security bills, including critical legislation to authorize a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant program to bolster the cybersecurity of State and local government networks in response to a slew of ransomware and other cyber attacks that have significantly damaged State and local agencies in recent years. Additionally, the House passed measures to improve the country's cybersecurity posture, … Continue Reading
July 02, 2021
Chairman Thompson and Committee Democrats Introduce Major DHS Reform Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, along with Committee Democrats, reintroduced major legislation to reform the Department of Homeland Security to address longstanding challenges and prevent DHS from being used as a political weapon, as was done over the past four years by former President Trump. DHS's role in carrying out the Trump Administration's cruel immigration agenda together with its unwelcomed deployments to U.S. … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Thompson Legislation to Create an Independent, Bipartisan Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack Passes House
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to form a bipartisan, independent Commission to investigate the January 6 domestic terrorism attack on the United States Capitol and recommend changes to further protect the Capitol. The bipartisan legislation, entitled the National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act (H.R. 3233), was sponsored by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and … Continue Reading
May 18, 2021
Homeland Security Committee Passes Slate of Bipartisan Bills, Including Pipeline Security and Cybersecurity Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Committee on Homeland Security favorably reported seven bipartisan homeland security bills, including critical legislation to enhance pipeline security in light of the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack that caused 5,500 miles of gas pipeline to shut down for days. Other measures passed in today's markup include bills to help State and Local governments protect their networks, provide critical infrastructure owners and operators with mitigation strategies against … Continue Reading
May 14, 2021
Cleaver, Thompson, Katko, and 12 Homeland Security Committee Members Introduce Bipartisan Pipeline Security Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), along with Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Committee Ranking Member John Katko (R-NY), and 12 Members of the Committee, re-introduced legislation to support the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) efforts to secure pipelines and pipeline facilities from cyberattacks, terrorist attacks, and other nefarious efforts to target pipeline infrastructure. Since its inception in the aftermath of the September 11th … Continue Reading
May 14, 2021
Chairman Thompson Announces Bipartisan Agreement with Ranking Member Katko to Create Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the Capitol
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced that he has reached an agreement with Ranking Member John Katko (R-NY) to introduce legislation to form a bipartisan, independent Commission to investigate the January 6 domestic terrorism attack on the United States Capitol and recommend changes to further protect the Capitol, the citadel of our democracy. The legislation, entitled the National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on … Continue Reading