Press Releases
Thompson Statement on the President's Address to the Nation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement following the President's Sunday night address to the nation on keeping the American people safe: "As the President outlined tonight, the threat posed by ISIL and those that may be radicalized by the terrorist organization's extremist ideology is real. The President's strategy is a continuation and strengthening of the hard work we … Continue Reading
December 04, 2015
Hoyer, Lofgren, Thompson Announce Support for Visa Waiver Program Improvement Bill
(WASHINGTON) - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member on the Homeland Security Committee, announced their support for H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015. In light of the recent Paris attacks, Reps. Hoyer, Lofgren, and Thompson worked with senior Republicans to draft this legislation in … Continue Reading
November 23, 2015
Nonpartisan Watchdog Releases Report on BioWatch Terror Surveillance Warning System
(WASHINGTON) - House and Senate leaders today expressed concern after a new report was released by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office on the Homeland Security Department's BioWatch program. The BioWatch program has been affected by false alarms and other problems since its deployment in 2003. As a result of the setbacks, local and state officials where BioWatch systems have been deployed have expressed a lack of confidence in the technology and have admitted they are hesitant … Continue Reading
November 19, 2015
Thompson Statement Opposing GOP Refugee Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered the following prepared remarks on the House Floor in opposition to H.R. 4038, the GOP so-called "American SAFE Act". Ranking Member Thompson offered an alternative, H.R. 4079 - the "Secure Refugee Process Act", a pro-security, pro-compassion bill that would ensure the U.S. continues to maintain the most extensive interagency security screening process in the world. "We … Continue Reading
November 18, 2015
Ranking Members Thompson, Schiff and Lofgren Joint Statement on Syrian Refugee Bill on House Floor Tomorrow
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, released the following statement: For many Americans, the horrendous loss of life and scenes of chaos of the Paris terrorist attacks harkened back to our own … Continue Reading
November 16, 2015
Thompson Statement on Refugee Vetting Process
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the refugee crisis in Syria: The United States has a multi-layered system that vets people seeking to enter the country as refugees. This vetting process takes on average between 18 and 24 months. An individual seeking refugee status in the U.S. cannot step foot in the country until the Department of Homeland Security has made a determination of … Continue Reading
November 03, 2015
Levin, Thompson, Roybal-Allard, McDermott Statement on Customs Offset in Highway Bill
(WASHINGTON) - Today, four key Democratic Members expressed serious concern about a provision in the Senate-approved highway bill being considered by the House Rules Committee that would divert money away from the Customs User Fee Account to help offset the cost of the highway bill. Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Homeland Security Committee Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Lucille … Continue Reading
October 22, 2015
Thompson: Secret Service Needs Reform Now to Address Cultural & Operations Problems
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) Management Alert "Secret Service Staffing and Scheduling Contributed to Officer Fatigue" "The issuance of this urgent management advisory by the Inspector General is an extraordinary act aimed at getting the Secret Service, at the highest levels, to recognize that the agency's … Continue Reading
September 29, 2015
Committee Unveils Foreign Fighter Task Force's Final Report
(WASHINGTON) - The Homeland Security Committee's bipartisan Foreign Fighter Task Force released its final report at a press conference today. The Task Force conducted an extensive, six month review to assess the severity of the threat from individuals who leave home to join jihadist groups overseas and to identify potential security gaps. As world leaders meet at the United Nations today to discuss the foreign fighter threat, the Committee presented 32 key findings and recommendations to … Continue Reading
September 16, 2015
Report Finds Lack of Federal Oversight of Red Cross Disaster Assistance
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the oversight mechanisms of the American Red Cross. The report was requested by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, after unorganized and mismanaged responses to significant natural disasters - including Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The report, entitled "American Red Cross: Disaster Assistance Would Benefit from … Continue Reading
September 11, 2015
Thompson Statement on the Anniversary of September 11
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement commemorating the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks: Fourteen years ago, we faced enormous tragedy and loss. Today we pay homage the victims of the terrorist attacks, honor the heroic actions of the first responders, and recognize the resilience and resolve of the American people. While we have made great strides in the fight … Continue Reading
September 11, 2015
Ranking Member Thompson Announces Support for Iran Nuclear Agreement
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement announcing the support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) reached between the P5+1 nations and Iran: Following thorough consideration, I have decided that I will support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action made with Iran. Although not perfect, the agreement will improve the security of our country and our allies and will curb … Continue Reading
August 28, 2015
Thompson Statement on the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina: Ten years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated our gulf coast and changed our lives forever. The immensity of human suffering that took place - much of it preventable - haunts us to this day. Failures at all levels of government dragged out relief efforts and exacerbated the suffering the storm … Continue Reading
July 29, 2015
Thompson Hearing Statement - Aviation Security Challenged: Is TSA Ready for the Threats of Today?
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following opening statement for the full Committee hearing Aviation Security Challenged: Is TSA Ready for the Threats of Today?: TSA was established by Congress in the wake of the September 11th attacks. It has responsibility for protecting the Nation's surface and aviation transportation systems, and ensuring the free movement of people and goods. Over the years, in protecting … Continue Reading
July 29, 2015
TSA: Managed Inclusion to Be Phased Out
(WASHINGTON) - Today, during a full Committee hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security, the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that he has ordered the phasing out of the Managed Inclusion program. This controversial program allows members of the flying public to receive PreCheck expedited screening at airport security checkpoints based on random or case-by-case, on-site security risk assessments. The phasing out of Managed Inclusion is the … Continue Reading
July 15, 2015
Thompson Hearing Statement - "The Rise of Radicalization in the United States"
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following opening statement for the full Committee hearing entitled The Rise of Radicalization in the United States: Is the U.S. Government Failing to Counter International and Domestic Terrorism: Last month, in the wake of the domestic terrorist attack on nine parishioners at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, I sent the Chairman of this Committee a letter asking … Continue Reading
July 13, 2015
No Case for Countering Violent Extremism Office
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on Committee Chairman Michael McCaul's rushed legislation on countering violent extremism (CVE). The markup scheduled for this Wednesday, July 15th comes before Congress has received testimony on the Department of Homeland Security's CVE efforts, and is opposed by 42 civil rights and religious groups. Wednesday's markup, unfortunately, puts the cart before … Continue Reading
June 22, 2015
Thompson on TSA Administrator Confirmation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Senate confirmation of Vice Admiral Peter V. Neffenger to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration: I congratulate Vice Admiral Neffenger on becoming the sixth Senate-confirmed Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration. I am hopeful that he will bring the depth of experience and leadership that TSA … Continue Reading
June 09, 2015
DHS Must Act on Interoperable Communications Strategy
June 9, 2015 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee, released the below statement regarding a Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) verification review (OIG-15-97-VR) of its 2012 audit of the Department's oversight of interoperable communications (OIG-13-06). In the 2012 … Continue Reading
June 03, 2015
Ranking Member Thompson Hearing Statement - Terrorism Gone Viral: Garland, Texas and Beyond
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following opening statement for full Committee hearing on: Terrorism Gone Viral: Garland, Texas and Beyond: On May 3, the American Freedom Defense Initiative, which is recognized as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, organized the 'Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest' event in Garland, Texas. Two violent extremists, armed with assault rifles and body armor, … Continue Reading