Press Releases
Thompson Statement on DHS Secretary Nomination
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on news that the President will nominate Kirstjen Nielsen to be Homeland Security Secretary: “I am pleased that the President will finally put forward a nomination for Secretary of Homeland Security after letting the critical national security position remain vacant as the nation faced multiple major hurricanes and a domestic terrorism attack. I am … Continue Reading
October 06, 2017
Ranking Member Thompson Joins CODEL to Puerto Rico
(WASHINGTON) - Tomorrow, Saturday October 7th, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, will join a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Puerto Rico to survey hurricane damage and the government response. “It is clear that the real story of what is happening in Puerto Rico is not coming through. Our fellow citizens are in a humanitarian crisis and need our help. Most of the island is without adequate access to food, water, and power and we … Continue Reading
October 05, 2017
Republicans Join Democrats in Voting Against Trump’s Border Wall Requirements
(WASHINGTON) - The House Committee on Homeland Security yesterday took two votes that unanimously rejected key features of President Trump's Border Wall plan. This occurred while the Committee was considering H.R. 3548 - also known as the Taking Americans' Land to Build Trump's Wall Act. While Democrats squarely oppose President Trump's Wall, Committee Republicans joined Democrats in rejecting the notion that Mexico should pay for Trump's Wall and rejecting President Trump's own requirements … Continue Reading
October 02, 2017
Thompson Statement on Las Vegas Shooting
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the mass shooting in Las Vegas last night: “Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Las Vegas and all who were affected by the terrible mass shooting last night. We are forever thankful to the first responders who put their lives on the line to help those in need. Mass shootings have been too common in recent years and it is clear … Continue Reading
September 30, 2017
Statement on Trump's Saturday Morning Tweets Attacking Puerto Rico
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump’s abhorrent tweets attacking Puerto Rico: "The President's tweets today attacking the Puerto Rican people and the Mayor of San Juan are abhorrent, baseless, and are beneath the dignity of the office of the Presidency. Although unsurprising and quite predictable, it is pathetic that the President has decided to attack - with the not … Continue Reading
September 27, 2017
Thompson: Federal Response in Puerto Rico Woefully Inadequate
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the current situation and federal response in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following Hurricanes Irma and Maria: “It is painfully clear that the devastation in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands point to a woefully inadequate federal response after the islands received direct hits from two major hurricanes. If not immediately … Continue Reading
September 22, 2017
Thompson Statement on DHS Notifying States of Election Targeting
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the news that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has notified each state and territory whether or not their election systems were targeted during the 2016 election: “Russia’s priority in undermining confidence in our democratic institutions was clear during last year election and will only growing stronger. To counter this, there must be a … Continue Reading
September 13, 2017
Thompson Statement on DHS Kaspersky Directive
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that the Department of Homeland Security has issued a binding directive barring Kaspersky Lab software from Federal networks: “The 2016 election brought home the ongoing cyber threat posed by Russia and, since then, questions about the risks of Federal IT networks using this Russian-based firm’s software have intensified. To date, DHS had only … Continue Reading
September 11, 2017
New Report Analyzes Government Progress on Key Homeland Security Mandates
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, commemorated the sixteenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks by releasing a detailed review of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) progress at meeting critical homeland security mandates set forth in The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53). This staff report analyzes the status of DHS efforts regarding ten of the most prominent … Continue Reading
September 05, 2017
Thompson Statement on Trump Administration Ending DACA
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news the Trump Administration will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: "Just when you thought this President and his craven Administration couldn't stoop any lower, they now go after the most vulnerable. This is an atrocious and heartless decision to end a program that gave hope to nearly a million, brought them out of … Continue Reading
August 31, 2017
Thompson: Administration Must Focus on Harvey Recovery, Not Wasteful Wall
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Customs and Border Protection announcement of awards for border wall prototypes: "Today's border 'wall' announcement from DHS to advance the President's pet project is incredibly tone deaf as flood waters from Hurricane Harvey still ravage Texas and Louisiana. The Department of Homeland Security's top priority should be its emergency response … Continue Reading
August 16, 2017
Republicans Unwilling to Address Domestic Terrorism
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement in response to Chairman McCaul’s response to Committee Democrats’ request for hearings on domestic terrorism: "Chairman McCaul's response to Democrats' request yesterday for hearings on domestic terrorism is completely inadequate. The September 12 hearing to cover worldwide threats is an annual hearing that was scheduled prior to the domestic terrorism … Continue Reading
August 13, 2017
Thompson Calls for Immediate Action to Address Domestic Terrorism
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the domestic terrorism in Charlottesville, Virginia. "Yesterday's extremist activity in Charlottesville was terrorism, plain and simple. If Muslim men were the aggressors, my Republican colleagues would be decrying an act of terror. Instead we hear from many of them the same platitudes we have heard after too many recent domestic terrorism … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Thompson Marks 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement marking the 10th Anniversary of enactment of H.R. 1, The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-53). On August 3rd, 2007, President Bush signed H.R. 1, originally written and sponsored by then-Chairman Thompson. “Ten years ago, under the leadership of the new Democratic Congress, major legislation was enacted to make … Continue Reading
July 31, 2017
Report: No Shown Need for Immigration & Border Hiring Surge
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member on the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) special report on challenges that DHS is facing hiring law enforcement officers mandated by President Trump's Executive Orders. In the report, Challenges Facing DHS in Its Attempt to Hire 15,000 Border Patrol Agents and Immigration Officers, the IG found: U.S. Customs and Border … Continue Reading
July 28, 2017
Thompson Statement on Sudden DHS Secretary Vacancy
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the need for leadership at the Department of Homeland Security following the abrupt departure of Secretary John Kelly: “Unfortunately, as with most major decisions in this Administration, it is clear that this was rushed and not well thought out. The President and Republicans insisted the DHS Secretary be confirmed on day one but now the President … Continue Reading
July 27, 2017
Republicans Reject Resolution to Determine What the Trump Family & Brand is Costing Taxpayers
(WASHINGTON) - The House Committee on Homeland Security rejected a Resolution of Inquiry (H.Res. 447) sponsored by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) that would have directed the Department of Homeland Security to provide all information related to payments it made for Trump Organization or Trump family travel in furtherance of Trump Organization business. In January, President Trump established a revocable trust to hold the Trump Organization for the "exclusive benefit of Donald J. Trump." … Continue Reading
July 27, 2017
Election Security Task Force Receives First Briefing
(WASHINGTON) - The Congressional Task Force on Election Security, chaired by Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Robert Brady (D-PA) received its first information gathering briefing to inform its work on securing our election systems. The Task Force was briefed by the Brennan Center For Justice on its new report: Securing Elections From Foreign Interference. Brennan Center experts offered specific … Continue Reading
July 26, 2017
Thompson Statement on Border Wall Funding in So-Called ‘Security Minibus’
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the inclusion of funding for President Trump's border wall in H.R. 3219 - “Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018”: “Including funding for the President’s wall makes it clear that this bill is not about making America secure. It is absurd that that the Republican Majority is rushing to pass legislation to fund the President’s pet project … Continue Reading
July 21, 2017
Report: TSA Unable to Scientifically Validate Behavior Detection Program
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the potential scientific validation of the Transportation Security Administration's behavior detection program. In the report requested by Ranking Member Thompson and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Transportation and Protective Security Subcommittee, GAO found: TSA does … Continue Reading