Press Releases
Cummings and Thompson Issue Statement on Coast Guard Investigative Service’s Seizure of Whistleblower Communications
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, issued the following statement in response to a Management Alert from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office Inspector General (OIG) entitled, “Coast Guard Investigative Service Search and Seizure of DHS OIG and Congressional Communications”: “Any … Continue Reading
November 01, 2018
Thompson Statement on the President’s Immigration Speech
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President’s fearmongering immigration speech today: “The President’s speech was a political stunt aimed at whipping up fear and xenophobia just days before the election. He and his fellow Republicans in Congress are so desperate to distract voters from their failures on everything from healthcare to foreign policy, they have sunk to new lows with … Continue Reading
October 30, 2018
Thompson: President Trump’s Latest Immigration Policies are Nothing More Than Desperate Political Stunts
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump inciting fear and playing politics with immigration policy just before an election: “The President’s desperate attempts to militarize our southern border and tease out unconstitutional immigration policy are nothing more than political stunts and must be called out as such. A week before the midterm elections, it is clear President … Continue Reading
October 27, 2018
Thompson Statement on Synagogue Shooting in Pittsburgh
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the mass shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: "Today our nation faced another act of senseless violence and hate. I join all Americans in mourning the loss of our fellow citizens. This is unfortunately yet another example of a disturbing uptick in violence and terror against our religious institutions. While we will do … Continue Reading
October 24, 2018
Thompson Statement on Politically Charged Terror Attacks
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on today’s attacks on political figures and the media: “I am thankful that those that were affected by today’s attacks acted with quick vigilance and, at the current time, no one was hurt. We thank the first responders and law enforcement for their quick response and heroism. To be clear, these attacks were acts of terrorism. We must work to counter … Continue Reading
October 17, 2018
Top Democrats Issue Statement on Trump and Pence Claims After DHS Provides Election Security Update
(WASHINGTON) — Today, Reps. Bennie G. Thompson, Elijah E. Cummings, Jerrold Nadler, Adam Smith, and Robert A. Brady, the Ranking Members of the House Committees on Homeland Security, Oversight & Government Reform, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and House Administration, issued a statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided Committee staff with an unclassified/FOUO intelligence assessment on election security issued by the DHS Cyber Mission Center on October 11, … Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
Thompson Statement on Trump Administration’s Cruel ‘Public Charge’ Proposed Rule
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s proposed public charge immigration rule published today that could impact the lives of millions: “This proposal is shortsighted and cruel, focusing on near term political gain and the advancement of the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant agenda over working class families across this country. This rule will punish … Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
Thompson, Vela Statement on DHS Waivers to Disregard Environmental Laws Along Border
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Filemon Vela (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, released the following statement on news that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is issuing multiple waivers to disregard certain environmental laws to rush construction of border wall along the Rio Grande Valley: “The Administration is bucking its responsibility to communities in the … Continue Reading
October 02, 2018
IG Report: DHS Ignored the Law & Lied to Congress on Family Separation Policy
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General report on the Trump Administration’s implementation of its family separation and zero tolerance policies: “The Inspector General’s findings in this report are damning for the Administration. The report confirms that the Administration outright misled Congress and the American people … Continue Reading
September 27, 2018
Election Security Task Force Co-Chairs Call for Congressional Action following DEF CON Voting Village Report
(WASHINGTON) - Today, U.S. Representatives Robert A. Brady (D-PA) and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), co-Chairs of the Congressional Task Force on Election Security, issued the following statement after the Voting Machine Hacking Village at DEF CON, the world's largest hacker conference, released a report demonstrating the serious vulnerabilities to our nation's voting systems: "Hackers at DEF CON have once again ably demonstrated that our voting systems are at grave risk. This year, they found … Continue Reading
September 26, 2018
Thompson Highlights Democratic Provisions in FAA Reauthorization
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following list of Democratic homeland security bills and priorities that were included in the final FAA Reauthorization Act (H.R. 302) that passed the House of Representatives today. Ranking Member Thompson released the following statement on the legislative package: “I am proud to announce that numerous security provisions in today’s legislation were originally ideas … Continue Reading
September 20, 2018
Thompson Statement on One Year Since Hurricane Maria Made Landfall
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement marking the one-year anniversary since Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: “Hurricane Maria was - by almost all accounts - the worst natural disaster this country has seen in over a century. We know that at least 2,975 perished and we know the recovery process will take years. Puerto Ricans, one year later, still … Continue Reading
September 13, 2018
Trump Attempting to Rewrite History Denying the Deaths of Thousands Means He Is Unfit to Serve
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump’s tweet this morning attempting to rewrite history denying the death of 2,975 in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria under his watch: “As we learn from news outlets that President Trump has now reached 5,000 lies and misstatements since taking office, he now lashes out on Twitter with his most hideous lie to date: the denial of the … Continue Reading
September 12, 2018
Top Democrats: Trump Executive Order on Election Interference Won’t Help States Protect Elections Against Future Attacks
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Robert A. Brady (D-PA), Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), and Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) issued the following statement after President Trump signed an Executive Order entitled, "Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a United States Election." "The steps outlined in today's Executive Order are far … Continue Reading
September 12, 2018
Thompson Statement on DHS Transferring Millions from FEMA to ICE
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that the Trump Administration has diverted $10 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) detention program: “This is yet another example of the Trump Administration’s outrageously misplaced homeland security priorities. We have a President who cares more about locking up … Continue Reading
September 11, 2018
Thompson Statement on the 17th Anniversary of September 11
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement commemorating the seventeenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks: “Seventeen years ago, our country was forever changed as we lost 2,996 lives in the face of terror and hate. Although this anniversary will always bring with it the sorrow and pain of that day, it allows us to honor and remember those who lost their lives and recognize the … Continue Reading
September 05, 2018
Thompson Statement on News TSA Will Re-open Air Cargo Security Division
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will re-open its air cargo security division: “Today’s announcement by TSA Administrator Pekoske that he would establish a dedicated air cargo security unit is welcomed news. I have been advocating for TSA to give air cargo security the attention it deserves. Last summer, I issued a staff … Continue Reading
August 29, 2018
Thompson Statement on Trump Calling Hurricane Maria Response ‘Fantastic’
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump’s comments today on the Federal government’s response to Hurricane Maria: “The President’s comments today on Puerto Rico are simply not based in reality. The Federal response to Hurricane Maria cannot, in any fashion, be described as ‘fantastic’. The President contradicts his own Administration’s 2017 Hurricane Season After-Action … Continue Reading
August 28, 2018
Thompson Statement on New Hurricane Maria Death Toll Study
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news reports of a George Washington University study, commissioned by the Governor of Puerto Rico, estimating the death toll from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico at 2,975, now the official death count: “It is depressing that on the week of 13th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we have received yet another study on the death toll from Hurricane Maria … Continue Reading
August 24, 2018
Thompson Announces Expansion of Nonprofit Security Grant Program
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced that, for the first time, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has awarded $10 million in anti-terrorism security grants through its Nonprofit Security Grant Program to institutions outside of jurisdictions funded by the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). Ranking Member Thompson has long advocated to make non-profit organizations and religious … Continue Reading