Press Releases
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
July 20, 2017
Thompson, Brady Announce Election Security Task Force Members
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Task Force on Election Security - Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Robert Brady (D-PA) - announced the membership of the new Task Force. After Russia meddled in the 2016 election and infiltrated the voting systems in at least 21 states, this Task Force was established to focus on how to bolster the security of election infrastructure ahead of … Continue Reading
July 14, 2017
Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Resolution of Inquiry to Push for Trump Conflict of Interest Investigation
(WASHINGTON) Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Vice Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced a Resolution of Inquiry directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide the Committee on Homeland Security with all information and documents it possesses related to payments made by DHS for Trump Organization or Trump family member travel in furtherance of Trump Organization business. This information could include any documentation of … Continue Reading
July 14, 2017
Ranking Member Thompson Delivers Weekly Democratic Address
(WASHINGTON) – Congressman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered the Weekly Democratic Address. In this week’s address, Thompson highlighted the need to get to the bottom of Russian interference in U.S. elections and highlighted the launch of the Congressional Task Force on Election Security to determine how to protect our nation’s election system in the future. More information on the Task Force can be … Continue Reading
July 11, 2017
Thompson to POTUS: Cancel Russia Cyber ‘Unit’ and Focus on Filling Positions at DHS
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to President Trump demanding he clarify his statements regarding his plan to set up an “impenetrable Cyber Security Unit” with Russia. The plan, announced at the G-20 summit, provoked widespread criticism until the President subsequently suggested he did not “think it can happen.” Meanwhile, there remain numerous vacancies in the Department of Homeland Security and its … Continue Reading
June 29, 2017
Thompson: Administration Not Answering Questions on Travel Ban Implementation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on tonight’s partial reinstatement of President Trump’s revised travel ban: “Just hours before the President’s unconstitutional and misguided travel ban takes partial effect tonight, Administration officials briefing Congress were unwilling or unable to provide meaningful answers about how they determined whom the ban would affect, why the ban would … Continue Reading
June 29, 2017
Pelosi, Thompson, Brady Announce Election Security Task Force
(WASHINGTON) - Today, as the nation prepares to celebrate July 4th, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), and Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Robert Brady (D-PA) announced the formation of a Task Force to ensure the health and security of our nation’s election systems. The Congressional Task Force on Election Security will address the lack of action to protect electoral infrastructure following Russia … Continue Reading