Legislation
Thompson Introduces Coast Guard Academy Diversity Reform Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the introduction of new legislation to improve diversity and institute other necessary reforms at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. The Coast Guard Academy Improvement Act (H.R. 6905) is a response to the low levels of minority enrollment at the Academy and news accounts of allegations of a discriminatory and racially hostile environment at the Academy. Congressman Thompson … Continue Reading
September 12, 2018
Thompson Introduces HBCU and Homeland Security Partnership Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Homeland Security Partnerships Act (H.R. 6772). Under this legislation, DHS would be required to issue a strategy including yearly goals for enhancing partnerships with HBCUs and minority-serving institutions. This legislation also requires DHS to monitor and report on implementation of the strategy thereby ensuring the … Continue Reading
February 07, 2018
Vela Announces Introduction of the Border and Ports Security Act
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Congressman Filemon Vela (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Border and Maritime Subcommittee, announced introduction of H.R. 4940, the Border and Ports Security Act along with the Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS). This bill, which has the full support of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), would increase U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s capacity to screen passengers and facilitate trade at international … Continue Reading
November 28, 2017
Rep. Watson Coleman Announces Legislation to Enhance Security of Surface Transportation Assets
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, Vice Ranking Member on the House Committee on Homeland Security, announced the Surface Transportation and Public Area Security Act of 2017. If enacted, the legislation would restore, revamp, and resource important programs aimed at securing critical soft targets, such as railroads, buses and the public areas of airports. The bill would also greatly enhance federal partnership with state and local stakeholders to protect these vital transit systems … Continue Reading
November 02, 2017
Thompson Introduces Air Cargo Security Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Air Cargo Security Improvement Act of 2017 (H.R. 4176). This legislation directs the Transportation Security Administration to take a number of steps to enhance air cargo security efforts and requires TSA aggressively move towards addressing current and future threats to air cargo. A foiled overseas ISIS terror plot this summer underscores the need for improving air cargo … Continue Reading
July 20, 2017
House Passes Landmark Department of Homeland Security Authorization
(WASHINGTON) - Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, our nation’s leaders created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to better protect our country. Fifteen years later, the Department still has not been reauthorized by Congress. Reforming and improving DHS through a first-ever comprehensive reauthorization is key to staying ahead of ever-evolving threats. Today, under the bipartisan leadership of House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Ranking Member Bennie G. … Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Bill to Improve Workforce Morale at DHS Passes House
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced House passage of legislation he sponsored to improve morale within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) workforce: the Department of Homeland Security Morale, Recognition, Learning and Engagement Act of 2017 or DHS MORALE Act (H.R. 2283). The DHS MORALE Act will: Authorize DHS-wide employee engagement, leadership development, rotational opportunities, as well as … Continue Reading
May 03, 2017
Thompson, Lowey Introduce Bill to Improve TSA Frontline Workforce
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, along with Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations, introduced legislation to ensure that the more than 44,000 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) who serve on the frontlines at our airports are provided basic Federal workplace protections and rights that are provided to other Federal employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. These protections … Continue Reading
April 06, 2017
Congressman Thompson Introduces Bill To Protect Daniela Vargas
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced a private bill to prevent the deportation of Daniela Vargas, a DACA recipient from Jackson, Mississippi. Ms. Vargas was taken into custody last month by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after participating in a public media event to protest the Trump Administration’s immigration policies. She was released nine days later from a detention center in Louisiana but an … Continue Reading
March 10, 2017
Legislation Introduced to Help Protect JCCs, Non-Profits
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2017 (H.R. 1486) to ensure that non-profits across the country that are at risk of terrorism have the Federal support needed to stay safe. In just the first three months of 2017, there have been a spate of threats against 71 of the nation’s 151 Jewish Community Centers, five Anti-Defamation League locations, and … Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Thompson, Grassley Introduce American Red Cross Transparency Act
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today introduced legislation to give the congressional watchdog arm complete access to American Red Cross records for oversight purposes. The bipartisan, bicameral American Red Cross Transparency Act of 2017 responds to concerns that the Red Cross tried to quash a review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of its practices, successfully limiting the scope of the review, and has failed to be as transparent as … Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
DHS Security Clearance Legislation Passes House
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced House passage of legislation he sponsored - H.R. 697 - the Department of Homeland Security Clearance Management and Administration Act. This bill, which previously passed the House in 2015, makes specific reforms in how the Department of Homeland Security manages its security clearance processes. Specifically, it addresses how DHS identifies positions that warrant clearances, … Continue Reading
December 02, 2016
Bill to Enhance DHS Overseas Operations Passes House
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the House Representatives voted on the Conference Report for S. 2943, the FY2017 Defense Authorization Act. This bill includes bipartisan legislation authored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, to strengthen international border security efforts, including Customs and Border Protection's Preclearance program and Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Visa Security Program. This language requires the Department of … Continue Reading
May 16, 2016
Legislation Introduced to Expand DHS Overseas Efforts to Prevent Terrorist Travel, Add 2000 Officers to CBP Workforce
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced legislation to help prevent terrorist travel and improve security. This new bill will increase the Department of Homeland Security's presence overseas by expanding programs that allow DHS personnel to vet and screen travelers before they come to the United States. The Expanding DHS Overseas Passenger Security Screening And Vetting Operations Act (H.R. 5256) … Continue Reading
February 09, 2016
Thompson, Lowey Introduce Bill to Grant Rights to the TSA Frontline Workforce
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, along with Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations, introduced legislation to ensure that the more than 40,000 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) who serve on the security frontlines at our Nation's airports are provided basic Federal workplace protections and rights that are provided to other Federal employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. They include … Continue Reading
November 02, 2015
Security Clearance Legislation Passes House
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the House of Representative passed the Department of Homeland Security Clearance Management and Administration Act (H.R. 3505) sponsored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security. H.R. 3505 makes specific reforms in how the Department of Homeland Security manages its security clearance processes. Specifically, it addresses how DHS identifies positions that warrant clearances, how it investigates candidates for clearances, and … Continue Reading
July 28, 2015
Bipartisan Legislation Passes House to Address TSA Expedited Screening Vulnerabilities
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the House passage of his legislation, the Securing Expedited Screening Act (H.R. 2127). This bipartisan bill addresses serious security vulnerabilities in how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) carries out expedited airport checkpoint screening. These vulnerabilities were identified by both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector … Continue Reading
July 15, 2015
Thompson Markup Statement on H.R. 2899
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following opening statement for the full Committee markup of H.R. 2899, the "Countering Violent Extremism Act of 2015": "On the Homeland Security Committee, a long-standing concern has been the prospect of an attack being carried out on U.S. soil by an individual inspired by the violent extremist propaganda generated by a domestic or foreign terrorist group. As a result, … Continue Reading
June 23, 2015
Interoperable Communications Strategy Bill to Become Law
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the final version of H.R. 615, the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act, sponsored by Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security's Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee, together with full Committee Ranking Member Thompson, Full Committee Chairman McCaul, and Subcommittee Chairman McSally. H.R. 615 requires DHS to create and submit … Continue Reading
June 23, 2015
First Bill to Address Security Implications of Drones Passes House
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two Democratic-sponsored bipartisan bills: the Homeland Security Drone Assessment and Analysis Act (H.R. 1646) and the Homeland Security University-based Centers Review Act (H.R. 2390). The Homeland Security Drone Assessment and Analysis Act, sponsored by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security's Oversight and Management Efficiency Subcommittee, is the first bill to tackle the … Continue Reading