Legislation
Thompson Statement on GOP Border Bill Being Pulled
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on news that the Republican leadership has pulled H.R. 399 from consideration this week: "I am pleased that the Republicans came to their senses and pulled H.R. 399 from consideration this week. They can blame inclement weather all they want - but we all know that it was the storm clouds over this bill and its murky prospects that are the real drivers. … Continue Reading
January 21, 2015
Markup Statement of Ranking Member Thompson - H.R. 399
(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. 399 - the so-called 'Secure Our Borders First Act of 2015': "Mr. Chairman: today's proceedings will set the tone for the 114th Congress. The approach you are taking to advance H.R. 399, the so-called 'Secure the Border First Act'—a measure that could turn out to be one of the most significant pieces of legislation to … Continue Reading
January 21, 2015
Thompson Statement on Republican Border Bill
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on H.R. 399, the so-called 'Secure Our Borders First Act of 2015'. The bill is scheduled to be marked up today. "After working across the aisle on border security legislation just last year, it is extremely unfortunate that Chairman McCaul has quickly abandoned it to placate the most extreme factions of the Republican Conference. To be clear: this new bill … Continue Reading
December 21, 2014
President Signs Critical Cyber Security Bills into Law
(WASHINGTON) - President Obama signed into law Thursday four bipartisan bills that will modernize, strengthen, and improve our nation's cyber security defenses. The measures are the first major cyber security bills to become law in several years. The bills - now law - reflect the work of Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.); House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), Ranking … Continue Reading
December 11, 2014
Landmark Cybersecurity Legislative Package Clears House and Senate
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the final two pieces in a package of critical cybersecurity bills. Taken together, these measures would for the first time codify the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) cybersecurity mission in law and provide long sought-after authority to utilize special hiring authority to improve its workforce to tackle the cybersecurity challenge. The legislation, listed below, are the product of thorough oversight and legislative … Continue Reading
December 10, 2014
Thompson Aviation Security Bill Clears House and Senate
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the House of Representatives, by a vote of 416 to 5, passed the Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act (H.R. 1204), authored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security. This final vote is to concur with some improvements regarding transparency that the Senate made to the legislation which passed yesterday. The House of Representatives originally passed the bill in December 2013. This legislation authorizes the Aviation … Continue Reading
July 29, 2014
Thompson, Wyden Introduce Common Sense Reforms To Reign in Runaway Over-Classification
(WASHINGTON) - At a time when the federal government spends more than $11 billion classifying more than 80 million documents each year, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced legislation to restore common sense to the classification and security clearance system, while strengthening protections against disclosure of information that could threaten national security. Thompson, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Wyden, a senior member … Continue Reading
July 28, 2014
House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Critical Infrastructure from Cyber Attack
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 3696, H.R. 2952, and H.R. 3107 - bipartisan legislation to strengthen efforts to combat cyber attacks on our critical infrastructure through the distribution of cyber threat information, the development and procurement of new technologies and support for DHS's cybersecurity workforce. Specifically, the House passed H.R. 3696, the National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, introduced by … Continue Reading
January 15, 2014
Homeland Security Subcommittee Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Critical Infrastructure from Cyber Attack
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies passed, by voice vote, H.R. 3696, the National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2013. The bipartisan H.R. 3696 was introduced in December by Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), as well as Subcommittee Chairman Patrick Meehan (R-PA) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY). McCaul, Thompson, … Continue Reading
December 11, 2013
Committee on Homeland Security Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Critical Infrastructure from Cyber Attacks
(WASHINGTON) – Today, U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies Subcommittee Chairman Patrick Meehan (R-PA), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) introduced H.R. 3696, the "National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2013" (NCCIP Act). Cyber hackers and other states seeking to steal, disrupt or destroy our … Continue Reading
December 03, 2013
House Passes Thompson Aviation Security Bill
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1204, the Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act, legislation introduced by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security. This bipartisan bill passed by a vote of 411-3. It authorizes the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) in law to ensure that stakeholders are consulted and included in TSA's aviation security policy efforts, particularly when there are plans to change … Continue Reading
November 22, 2013
Bill Ensures Security is Key to CBP Preclearance
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security's Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, introduced the "Putting Security First in Preclearance Act" (H.R. 3575). This bill would require a security assessment before the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can expand customs preclearance operations to new countries and airports such as Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. It would also preclude a foreign government or person from … Continue Reading
September 23, 2013
Visa Overstays Targeted in Bipartisan Biometric Exit Bill
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), senior member on the House Committee on Homeland Security and former chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, and current chairwoman Representative Candice Miller (R-MI) today announced introduction of H.R. 3141, the Biometric Exit Improvement Act of 2013. A July U.S. Government Accountability Office report stated that there are currently more than one million unmatched arrival records, indicating that the Department of … Continue Reading
September 20, 2013
REP. PAYNE INTRODUCES SAFE IN OUR SCHOOLS ACT
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) introduced H.R. 3158 - the "Secure America for Education in Our Schools Act" or the "S.A.F.E. in Our Schools Act," which would require each State applying for State Homeland Security Grant Program funding to certify that it requires schools to have adequate emergency preparedness plans in place in case of disaster. At the Subcommittee hearing entitled, "Assessing the Nation's State of Preparedness: A Federal, State, and Local … Continue Reading
August 02, 2013
Rep. Gabbard Bill Supporting Wounded Warriors Sent to President for Signature
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved the bipartisan, bicameral Helping Heroes Fly Act (H.R. 1344). This widely supported measure improves airport security screening processes for wounded and severely disabled service members and veterans. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the bill as her first piece of legislation in the House in March and led its unanimous passage fewer than two months … Continue Reading
July 18, 2013
Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Improve TSA's Acquisition Process
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Transportation Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA) joined Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Transportation Security Subcommittee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-SC) in co-sponsoring legislation to improve the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) acquisition process. The legislation was introduced today by Rep. Hudson. H.R. 2719, the … Continue Reading
May 21, 2013
House Passes Gabbard Bill to Support Wounded Warriors
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously (413-0) passed the bipartisan Helping Heroes Fly Act (H.R. 1344), sponsored by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI). This measure will improve airport security screening for wounded and severely disabled service members and veterans by ensuring personal privacy and consistent application of efficient screening procedures. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement … Continue Reading
May 09, 2013
Thompson Introduces Legislation to Extend Terrorism Risk Insurance Program
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the "Fostering Resilience to Terrorism Act of 2013" (H.R. 1945) to extend and enhance the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program for 10 years - which is set to expire next year. Congress enacted the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) in 2002 to increase the availability of terrorism risk insurance to at-risk American businesses by guaranteeing that the government would share some … Continue Reading
April 10, 2013
Thompson, Jackson Lee Join as Original Co-Sponsors of Bipartisan Border Security Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, joined Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael T. McCaul (R-TX) as original co-sponsors of the Border Security Results Act of 2013 (H.R. 1417) - border security legislation that directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a comprehensive border security strategy to gain and … Continue Reading
April 10, 2013
Thompson Introduces Bill to Reform TSA's Contract Screener Program
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Contract Screener Reform and Accountability Act (H.R. 1455). He was joined by Reps. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA). Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Based on data provided by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), over the last five years it has cost American taxpayers an additional $75 million to … Continue Reading