Press Releases
Report: Oversight of Private Detention Centers Must Improve
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) released a report on the Department of Homeland Security's use of private detention facilities. The report indicates that DHS's use of private for-profit detention will continue, however, this should come with improved and expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) oversight. Five … Continue Reading
November 18, 2016
Thompson: National Security Selections Deeply Troubling
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the President-elect's selections for key national security positions - Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as National Security Advisor, and Rep. Mike Pompeo as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: "Today's announcement by the President-elect of selections for key national security and law enforcement positions … Continue Reading
November 17, 2016
Republicans Cave to Trump In Push For Another CR
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that Republican lawmakers will push through another short term continuing resolution to fund the government through March 2017: "I am dismayed that Republican lawmakers have reneged on their plan to continue negotiating full year funding legislation for FY2017 in order to push another short term continuing resolution at the President-elect's … Continue Reading
November 17, 2016
Audit of Secret Service Reimbursements to Presidential Campaigns to Begin
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) will commence a review of U.S. Secret Service reimbursements to Presidential campaigns for transportation, lodging and other travel-related expenses in connection with providing protection to presidential candidates. Congressman Thompson requested this audit last month and believes it is imperative that we know whether or not … Continue Reading
November 15, 2016
Thompson: Bannon’s Ideology Threatens Communities
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on homeland security implication of President-elect Trump's hiring of Stephen Bannon as White House Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor: "From a homeland security standpoint, the President-elect is off to a very troubling start. After running a divisive campaign, President-elect Trump chose Steve Bannon, a person who has made a career of espousing … Continue Reading
November 15, 2016
Need-to-Know Required for Access to Nation’s Top Secrets
(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-elect Trump may request top secret security clearances for his children: "The President-elect's request of top secret security clearances for his children must be reconsidered. His children are not employed by the federal government, have zero experience in the national security field or the intelligence community, and … Continue Reading
October 28, 2016
Audit Needed of Taxpayer Funds Reimbursed to Trump Campaign
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, requested an audit from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) of taxpayer funds expended to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Campaign. During an election season, certain Federal government entities are required to provide services to presidential campaigns, such as the U.S. Secret Service's candidate protection. The American taxpayer - not the campaign - assumes the … Continue Reading
October 14, 2016
Top House Dems Call for FBI Action on Trump Campaign’s Advance Knowledge of Ongoing Russian Cyber Hacking to Affect Election
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Reps. Elijah E. Cummings, John Conyers, Jr., Eliot L. Engel, and Bennie G. Thompson, the Ranking Members of the House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, and Homeland Security, issued the following statement in response to evidence that the Trump campaign apparently knew months beforehand about the hacking of emails from the account of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta: “Troubling … Continue Reading
October 05, 2016
Government Must Promote Diversity in the Homeland Security Workforce
(WASHINGTON) - Today, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum that provides guidance to promote diversity and inclusion in the national security workforce. More than three million people makeup the workforce that is responsible for protecting the country and advancing our interests abroad, through diplomacy, development, defense, intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security. This summer a report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence found that while the … Continue Reading
October 04, 2016
Implementation of 2015 Cybersecurity Act on the Right Track
October 4, 2016 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Review of the Department of Homeland Security's Implementation of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015. The Act requires the IG to assess agency national security information technology systems that provide access to personally identifiable information (PII). "As we … Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Fed Survey Shows DHS Improving Morale
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the results of the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) conducted by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to measure worker morale and engagement. The results of the survey indicate that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) experienced a 3 point increase in employee engagement over last year as well as an increase in survey … Continue Reading
September 12, 2016
DHS CBRNE Reorg. Request Not Ready for Action
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested on the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Program consolidation proposal: "The GAO's review of the Department of Homeland Security's proposal to consolidate certain activities related chemical, biological, radiological, … Continue Reading
September 11, 2016
Thompson Statement on the 15th 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 fifteenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks: "Today marks the 15th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. On that day, our nation saw terrible death and destruction fueled by terror and hate. Since then we have come together as a nation to protect and rebuild our homeland. Even though we continue to make great … Continue Reading
August 19, 2016
New Zika Cases Show Congress Must Provide Funding Now
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the new cases of Zika in Miami Beach and the lack of funding from Congress: "The new Zika cases in Miami Beach - outside the one square mile initially identified as the Zika zone - confirm once again that Congress must do its job and approve the President's request for much-needed funding to protect Americans from the threat posed by the Zika … Continue Reading
July 15, 2016
Thompson Statement on Nice Attack
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement condemning the attack in Nice, France yesterday: "Today I stand with those around the globe in condemning the terrible attack in Nice. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of France and all affected by this tragedy. This is an unfortunate reminder that we must remain vigilant to defeat the ideologies that fuel this terror and hate. While we wait … Continue Reading
July 15, 2016
NRC Must Do Better In Regulating Sales of Radioactive Materials
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement in response to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report out today on The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and its oversight of the selling of radioactive materials. In the report, entitled "NRC Has Enhanced the Controls of Dangerous Radioactive Materials, but Vulnerabilities Remain," GAO reveals that it was successful in creating a sham company to … Continue Reading
July 14, 2016
TSA Behavior Detection Program Still Flawed, Unproven
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement in response to a Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) verification review of the Transportation Security Administration's Behavior Detection and Analysis (BDA) program, previously known as the Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) program. "Today's verification review from the DHS Inspector General serves … Continue Reading
July 14, 2016
Worldwide Threats to the Homeland: ISIS and the New Wave of Terror - Hearing Statement
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following opening statement for the full Committee hearing on Worldwide Threats to the Homeland: ISIS and the New Wave of Terror: “Unfortunately, today, the Nation finds itself in a period of heated rhetoric fueled by fear. Today, Americans legitimately fear infiltration by the violent ideology espoused by ISIL. Last month’s horrific terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida, underscores … Continue Reading
July 11, 2016
Thompson Statement Opposing FAA Extension
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement opposing the FAA extension: "While I commend the leadership of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for negotiating language to enhance aviation safety, I oppose this FAA extension because of the potential-job-killing provision inserted in the homeland security portion of the package. Understandably, after the airport attacks in Brussels and … Continue Reading
June 17, 2016
Thompson Remembers Charleston Shooting, Renews Call for Hearing on Domestic Terrorism
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement marking the anniversary of the terrorist attack and shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston South Carolina. Today, Ranking Member Thompson also sent a letter to Rep. Michael McCaul, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, requesting a hearing on the threat of domestic terrorism. Despite numerous requests and the clear … Continue Reading