Press Releases
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
June 02, 2015
Permanent Administrator Needed at TSA
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the need for permanent, Senate-confirmed leadership at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) following news that the Acting Administrator has been reassigned: Recent operational lapses at the Transportation Security Administration highlight the need for permanent, Senate confirmed leadership. While we value acting appointees for their … Continue Reading
June 01, 2015
Ranking Member Thompson Marks the Start of the 2015 Hurricane Season
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement marking the start of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season: On the opening day of the Atlantic hurricane season, we should remind ourselves that each one of us has an important role to play in ensuring that our families and communities are prepared for what may come before, during, and after a potential storm. This year, forecasters are predicting a below … Continue Reading
June 01, 2015
Thompson Statement on TSA Covert Testing Reports
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement regarding media reports of aviation security concerns uncovered by covert testing by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG): In light of recent media reports regarding covert testing by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, I am extremely concerned with TSA's ability to prevent weapons from … Continue Reading
May 11, 2015
Deficient TSA Maintenance Program Could Lead to Delays & Security Gaps
(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) report on TSA entitled: "The Transportation Security Administration Does Not Properly Manage Its Airport Screening Equipment Maintenance Program" (OIG-15-86). In the report, the IG found that: TSA does not properly manage the maintenance of its screen equipment and not … Continue Reading
April 30, 2015
Report: Federal Building Security Still Needs Improvement
(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 he requested on the securing of federal buildings by the Federal Protective Service (FPS) and United States Marshals Service (USMS). In the report, entitled "Actions Needed to Better Manage Security Screening at Federal Buildings and Courthouses" (GAO-15-445), the GAO found that: Many … Continue Reading
April 28, 2015
Thompson Statement on TSA Administrator Nomination
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the nomination of Vice Admiral Peter V. Neffenger, Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, to be Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA): I want to congratulate Vice Admiral Neffenger on his nomination to become the next Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration. With his decades of public service, I am … Continue Reading
April 20, 2015
Thompson Statement on Airport Access Control Report
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) final report on airport access control released today: Today, after a comprehensive review, the Aviation Security Advisory Committee released its 90-day report on the potential weaknesses for access control security issues for our nation's airports. The ASAC, which was codified last year by legislation I … Continue Reading
April 15, 2015
Thompson Statement on the Second Anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombings
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the two year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings: Two years ago our nation experienced a horrific act of terrorism when three lives were taken and over two hundred were injured in Boston. As we remember those who lost their lives, we also thank the brave first responders who put their lives at risk to keep us safe every day. While the recent … Continue Reading
April 08, 2015
Thompson Statement on Trial Verdict
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement following the news that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been found guilty on all counts related to the Boston Marathon Bombing: Today, Dzokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty on all counts related to the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. The Tsarnaev trial serves as a reminder that violent extremism is a daunting challenge in the cause to keep our country safe and secure. … Continue Reading
March 24, 2015
Thompson Statement on DHS Inspector General's Report
(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) report on their investigation of employee complaints regarding management of USCIS' EB-5 Program: "In this report, the Inspector General provided no definitive determination of wrongdoing and instead found that Deputy Secretary Mayorkas' hands-on and reform-minded … Continue Reading
March 20, 2015
Thompson Statement on Secret Service Appointment
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the news that Department of Homeland Security has announced the appointment of a Deputy Director for the U.S. Secret Service: While I have high expectations for Mr. Magaw in his new role and am pleased that the critical position of Deputy Director of the Secret Service has been filled, I am concerned that the agency has failed to take the recurring … Continue Reading
March 19, 2015
Report Exposes Problems With TSA PreCheck
(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) report on the Transportation Security Administration's PreCheck program. The report, entitled "Allegation of Granting Expedited Screening through TSA PreCheck Improperly" (OIG-15-45) investigated a whistleblower allegation that a former member of a domestic terrorist group … Continue Reading