Press Releases
Thompson Statement on Long Overdue Russian Sanctions
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that the Treasury Department has sanctioned Russian actors for interfering in the 2016 elections and for targeting our critical infrastructure: “The Trump Administration has finally come to its senses and has implemented sanctions for Russia's targeting of our critical infrastructure and interfering in our elections since 2016. Why this took … Continue Reading
March 04, 2018
Thompson Statement on State Department Inaction to Counter Russian Election Meddling
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that the State Department has not spent money allocated to counter Russian interference in our elections: “It is appalling that yet another government agency - now the State Department - seems to be asleep at the wheel in the face of Russia meddling in our elections. Although money was allocated by the Obama Administration for the exact purpose … Continue Reading
February 27, 2018
Brady, Thompson: Trump Abdicating His Oath of Office By Refusing to Act on Election Security
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Task Force on Election Security, House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Robert A. Brady (D-PA), released the below joint statement on the need for election security measures following Admiral Mike Rogers’ testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee today. At the hearing, the National Security Agency (NSA) Director and U.S. Cyber Command … Continue Reading
February 16, 2018
Thompson Statement on Russian Mueller Indictments
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on Special Counsel Mueller’s indictment of Russians for election interference: “Today’s indictments of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities underscore the Russian government’s commitment to interfere in our democratic processes and destabilize our democratic institutions, making implementation of the Congressional Task Force on Election … Continue Reading
February 16, 2018
Thompson Statement on FBI’s Failure to Follow Established Protocols
Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on FBI’s failure to follow established protocols after receiving a report of concern prior to the Parkland, Florida school shooting: “Today, we learned the FBI received a report of Nikolas Cruz’s disturbing behavior and desire to harm others prior to the Parkland, Florida school shooting. Tragically, proper protocols were not followed and the information was never … Continue Reading
February 16, 2018
Hearing on Election Security and Russian Interference Needed
Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) to request a comprehensive oversight hearing on the ongoing efforts by Russia and other foreign actors seeking to interfere in our elections - and to request consideration of the Election Security Act (H.R. 5011). This bill, introduced by Ranking Member Thompson and Members of the Congressional Task Force on Election Security, would authorize … Continue Reading
February 15, 2018
Thompson Statement on Florida School Shooting
Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement in regards to the tragic shooting yesterday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida: “Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the students, faculty, staff, families, and friends who were affected by the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida yesterday. Mass shootings have become all too common, as this tragic event marks our eighteenth school … Continue Reading
February 14, 2018
Election Security Task Force Releases Final Report & Recommendations
The Congressional Task Force on Election Security, chaired by House Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Robert Brady (D-PA) released its FINAL REPORT including ten specific recommendations on what the federal government and states can and should be doing to secure our nation’s elections. Russia’s unprecedented assault on the country’s elections in 2016 - including targeting 21 states’ voting systems - … Continue Reading
February 12, 2018
Thompson Statement on Trump’s Homeland Security Budget Request
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump’s FY 2019 budget request: "The President’s budget request for the Department of Homeland Security prioritizes politics over national security. Instead of focusing on the critical needs of first responders - the boots on the ground that keep our communities safe - the budget would waste $1.6 billion on President Trump’s dream of a … Continue Reading
February 08, 2018
Election Security Task Force Chairs Release Statement on Secretary Tillerson Comments on Russia Already Interfering in This Year’s Elections
(WASHINGTON) - Today, House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Robert A. Brady (D-PA), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Task Force on Election Security, released the below joint statement in reaction to Secretary of State Tillerson’s comments on Russia already interfering in this year’s elections. “Secretary Tillerson confirmed what Congressional Democrats have known since the ODNI released its report on … Continue Reading
February 08, 2018
Homeland Security Dems: FEMA Disaster Contracting Needs Reform
Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, together with all Committee Democrats, including Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee Ranking Member Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ), Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX), James R. Langevin (RI), Cedric L. Richmond (LA), William R. Keating (MA), Filemon Vela (TX), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ), Kathleen M. Rice (NY), J. Luis Correa (CA), Val Butler Demings (FL), and Nanette Diaz … Continue Reading
February 06, 2018
Thompson Cosponsors Bill to Crack Down on Domestic Terrorism
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) was joined by Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), and Reps. Robin Kelly (D-IL), Lou Correa (D-CA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) to introduce legislation aimed at preventing acts of domestic terrorism by white supremacists and other extremist groups. This is a companion bill to legislation first introduced in the Senate by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). A recent FBI-DHS joint intelligence bulletin found white … Continue Reading
January 20, 2018
Thompson Statement on Trump Shutdown
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Trump Shutdown marking the end of President Trump’s first year in office: "It is truly shameful that President Trump marks the completion of his first year in office by overseeing - and being the root cause of - this federal government shutdown. Over the past weeks, it has been clear that the President has brought no shred of leadership to … Continue Reading
January 19, 2018
Thompson Statement on Redacted Travel Ban Inspector General Report
(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 implementation and roll out of President Trump's first travel ban: "The heavily redacted Inspector General's report on the roll out of President Trump's first Muslim ban is a massive indictment of the Administration's senior leadership at the Department of Homeland … Continue Reading
January 16, 2018
Thompson & Nadler: New DHS/DOJ Terrorism Report is Misleading & Perpetuates Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Views
(WASHINGTON) - House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler and House Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson today released a joint statement in response to a misleading report released by the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security regarding terrorism in America. “Today, the Trump Administration released a report that purports to claim that foreign-born individuals commit terror at very high rates. This misleading report relies on manufactured … Continue Reading
January 11, 2018
Trump ‘Shithole’ Comments Show His True Colors
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news reports that President Trump, during immigration policy negotiations, made disparaging comments about Haiti, El Salvador and African countries: “In contrast to President Trump’s self-proclaimed ‘performance’ put on in front of TV cameras at the White House Tuesday, his defamatory remarks against less affluent countries behind closed doors are a … Continue Reading
January 08, 2018
Thompson Statement on DHS Decision to End Protected Status for Salvadorans
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security announced that it will terminate Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from El Salvador: “Today’s decision to cancel Temporary Protected Status for people from El Salvador is just the latest in a string of heartless, xenophobic actions from the Trump Administration. Many of those affected by today’s … Continue Reading
January 07, 2018
Thompson: DACA Not a Bargaining Chip for President’s Fantasy Wish List
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Administration’s immigration and border security demands: "This latest cynical effort to use vulnerable DACA youth as a bargaining chip to secure President Trump's fantasy of a closed immigration system and an unnecessary border wall is a new low for this Administration. These demands are non-starters for Democrats and only show us that the … Continue Reading
December 19, 2017
Democrats Withhold Endorsement of Task Force Report
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Democratic members of the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Task Force on Denying Terrorists Entry to the United States released the below joint statement on their inability to sign-on to the Task Force’s final report. The Democratic membership of the Task Force, led by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), includes Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA). “We as Democratic Members of the Task Force remain steadfast in our commitment … Continue Reading
December 15, 2017
National Association of Secretaries of State Call on Congress to Provide Missing Funds Needed for Election Security
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Congressional Task Force on Election Security, chaired by Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Robert Brady (D-Pa.) and Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) applauded the National Association of Secretaries of State's call for Congress to provide the remaining $396 million in outstanding Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds to assist in updating and maintaining our nation's aging election systems. Russia's unprecedented … Continue Reading