Legislation
Rep. Thompson Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Close Flight School Loophole
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, along with Reps. Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA) and Patrick Meehan (R-PA), introduced H.R. 1245 - the Flight School Security Act. Under current law, flight instructors, pilot schools and aviation training centers can provide flight training to a U.S. citizen without checking with the Transportation Security Administration as to whether that person poses a homeland or national security … Continue Reading
March 15, 2013
Rep. Thompson Introduces Bill to Keep TSA in Check
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, along with the Democratic members of the Committee's Transportation Security Subcommittee, introduced H.R. 1204 - to authorize the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) into law. ASAC, originally created in 1989 after the Pan American World Airways Flight 103, was created to ensure a proper dialogue between relevant stakeholders and policy makers when establishing robust aviation security … Continue Reading
November 27, 2012
Two Democratic Homeland Security Bills Pass House; One Sent to President
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the House of Representatives passed five bills originating from the Committee on Homeland Security. Two of these were authored by Democratic members - with one having already passed the Senate and will next go to the President's desk for signage. This bill is the "Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act" (H.R. 915), authored by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX). It passed under a recorded vote of 397-4 and will authorize the "BEST" border security program, in … Continue Reading
July 19, 2012
Thompson Introduces Bill to Close Flight School Security Loophole
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the "Flight School Security Act of 2012" (H.R. 6159) to address a glaring security loophole that was revealed at a Transportation Security Subcommittee hearing yesterday. During questioning by Ranking Member Thompson, the Subcommittee learned that while aliens that seek training in U.S. flight schools are subject to security vetting by the Transportation Security … Continue Reading
June 28, 2012
Port and Aviation Security Bills Pass House
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed five Homeland Security bills. The legislation will help the Department of Homeland Security protect our nation's ports and foster better aviation security policy. Two of these bills were sponsored by Committee Democrats. The "Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act of 2011" (H.R. 1447) was sponsored by Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS). This bill would, for the first time, authorize … Continue Reading
June 06, 2012
Thompson TWIC Relief Proposal Unanimously Approved by Homeland Security Committee
(WASHINGTON) - Today, during consideration of a maritime security bill, the Committee on Homeland Security approved legislative language offered by Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), modeled after H.R. 1105, the "TWIC Program Act," to provide an extension of the validity of Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWICs). The language was included as section 206 of the "Securing Maritime Activities through Risk-based Targeting for Port Security Act" or "SMART Port Security Act" … Continue Reading
May 31, 2012
Democratic Homeland Security Bills Pass House
(WASHINGTON) - Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed five critical, bipartisan Homeland Security bills. The legislation will help the Department of Homeland Security protect the border, foster better intelligence and information sharing, and provide greater access to employment opportunities for veterans. Three of these bills were sponsored by House Democrats, including Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security Ranking Member Henry Cuellar … Continue Reading
April 24, 2012
Cyber Week
'Cyber Week' is April 23-27 in the U.S. House of Representatives Below are some helpful links on current events FLOOR DEBATE: Second April 26 Floor Statement Opposing CISPA (with Video) April 26 Floor Statement Opposing CISPA Rule (with Video) Floor Poster - Direct quotes from Republican Task Force PRIMARY CONCERNS: April 25 press release - 'CISPA Missing Critical Infrastructure Protection and Key Privacy Safeguards' April 23 press release - 'CISPA Needs Privacy Safeguards' Letter to … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011
Republicans Pass a DHS Authorization Bill In Name Only
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Committee on Homeland Security completed consideration of the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (H.R. 3116). Despite many Democratic efforts to better the legislation, the Republican majority failed to adopt most of them, resulting in almost every Democratic Member voting against the legislation. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement following his vote … Continue Reading
July 07, 2011
Thompson, Homeland Security Democrats Introduce Boarding Pass Security Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, along with five Democratic members of the Committee, introduced the False Travel Documents Prohibition Act of 2011 (H.R. 2431). The recent incident involving a passenger who was able to board a flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) using a boarding pass and identification that were not his own has highlighted a security vulnerability … Continue Reading
June 24, 2011
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO HELP GUARD AGAINST A WMD ATTACK IN THE UNITED STATES
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, introduced legislation that will begin implementing the recommendations of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission. "The Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2011" (H.R. 2356) would improve U.S. efforts to prevent, protect, respond, and recover from a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) attack in the United States, and is … Continue Reading
June 22, 2011
Richmond Introduces FEMA Recoupment Fairness Act
(WASHINGTON) - Representatives Cedric Richmond (D-LA) and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, introduced legislation to prevent FEMA from recouping overpayments of disaster relief assistance from individuals affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. "The FEMA Recoupment Fairness Act" (H.R. 2265) applies if funds were dispersed because of an error by FEMA and there was no fault by the recipient. It does not apply if there is any evidence … Continue Reading
April 08, 2011
The Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced "The Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act of 2011" (H.R. 1447). This legislation reestablishes and codifies the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) which was created in response to the Lockerbie terrorist bombing in 1988 and later transferred to the Transportation Security Administration in 2001. However, after playing a critical role in the development of … Continue Reading
March 17, 2011
Thompson TWIC Legislation Addresses Upcoming Mandatory Renewal
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, has announced the introduction of H.R. 1105, the Transitioning With an Improved Credential (TWIC) Program Act. This legislation aims to address the upcoming renewal deadlines of TWIC. The TWIC program was created to protect the Nation's maritime transportation facilities and vessels by requiring maritime workers and other workers who need unescorted access to secure port facilities to obtain a … Continue Reading
February 10, 2011
Thompson Calls for Elimination of the Alaskan Native Corporation Carve-Out
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced legislation to place eligible small businesses in the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 8(a) program on an equal footing with Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs). The legislation, H.R. 598, is a companion bill to S. 236, introduced by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO). Congressman Thompson submitted the following statement with the introduction of the legislation: "The … Continue Reading
February 10, 2011
King, Thompson Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reallocate D Block Communications Spectrum to Public Safety
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Peter T. King (R-NY), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, joined by Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and 5 others, introduced H.R. 607, the Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011. This legislation will strengthen the communications capabilities of America's first responders by reallocating the D Block communications spectrum to public safety. Today, President Obama personally called for the reallocation of the D Block to public … Continue Reading