Press Releases
DHS Needs Full-Year Funding to Address High-Risk Programs
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) high-risk list (GAO-15-290). GAO, every two years, releases a report to call attention to government agencies and program areas that are high-risk due to their vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or are most in need of transformation. This year, three areas relating to homeland security … Continue Reading
February 11, 2015
Thompson Hearing Statement – Countering Violent Islamist Extremism: The Urgent Threat of Foreign Fighters and Homegrown Terror
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following remarks for the full Committee hearing on Countering Violent Islamist Extremism: The Urgent Threat of Foreign Fighters and Homegrown Terror: I would like to express my condolences to the family of 26 year old Kayla Mueller, an American aid worker who was taken hostage by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. U.S. officials have confirmed she was killed by the terrorist … Continue Reading
February 04, 2015
Thompson Statement on Anthem Breach
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement following news that Anthem, a major provider of health insurance, was hacked resulting in a data breach of personal information of its customers. The Anthem insurance company breach is another in a long line of breaches that continue to have a deep and disheartening effect on consumer behavior and the smooth flow of commerce both here at home and … Continue Reading
February 03, 2015
DHS Funding Games Impact Local First Responder Grants
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the current state of funding for the Department of Homeland Security and the impact on grant funding. Earlier today, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson released a statement on the matter. As Secretary Johnson underscored today, the appropriations crisis that the Department of Homeland Security is enduring has wide-scale impacts well beyond … Continue Reading
February 02, 2015
Thompson Statement on FY 2016 Budget Request for DHS
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the President's FY 2016 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security: I commend the President for his efforts to return the budget and appropriations process to regular order, and to force Congress to deal with the disastrous and arbitrary sequestration cuts that threaten our national security and domestic priorities. Overshadowing … Continue Reading
January 27, 2015
CBP Must Improve Supply Chain Security Policies
(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 on the Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) role in supply chain security. Since August 2007, CBP has been required to ensure that all U.S.-bound maritime cargo containers be scanned at foreign ports before being placed on vessels headed to the U.S. In the report, entitled "Supply Chain Security … Continue Reading
January 23, 2015
TSA Should Reverse Decision to Redact 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 redacted Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) report released today on the "Audit of Security Controls for DHS Information Systems at John F. Kennedy International Airport" (OIG-15-18). This report contains findings and recommendations for improving security controls for the Department of Homeland Security's … Continue Reading
January 21, 2015
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Air Marshal
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on news that the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled in favor of a former air marshal whistleblower: I'm pleased that the Supreme Court maintained the whistleblower protection Congress intended under the Homeland Security Act. The 240,000 employees of the Department of Homeland Security need to know that their employee rights are protected if they come forward … Continue Reading
January 14, 2015
Thompson Welcomes New Democratic Members and Subcommittee Ranking Members
January 14, 2015 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, announced the subcommittee Ranking Members and the new Democratic membership of the Committee for the 114th Congress. Subcommittee Ranking Members: Border and Maritime Security - Rep. Filemon Vela (D-TX) Counterterrorism and Intelligence - Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection & Security Technologies - Rep. Cedric L. … Continue Reading
January 13, 2015
Chairmen, Ranking Members Release Statements on President's Cybersecurity Information Sharing Proposal
(WASHINGTON) - The Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the House Committee on Homeland Security on Tuesday issued these statements responding to the president's proposed cybersecurity information sharing bill: Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security said: The cyber threat is ever-evolving. The Obama Administration is to be commended for working to keep pace and tackling some of … Continue Reading
January 13, 2015
Thompson Floor Statement Opposing the Consideration of the GOP's DHS Spending Bill
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered the following remarks on the House floor against H.Res. 27 - Providing Consideration for H.R. 240, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act: Just over one month ago, I stood on this floor urging the Majority to allow Members of this chamber to fund the Department of Homeland Security in the Omnibus. The Majority did not listen. In the past month, even as the … Continue Reading
January 12, 2015
Thompson Statement on Republican Homeland Security Funding Bill
WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the House Republicans' Homeland Security funding bill for FY2015: The Republican's Homeland Security spending bill released Friday is yet another example of the Republicans playing politics with homeland security. The House Majority has escalated their political gamesmanship by including poison pill amendments to stop immigration reform that will not be … Continue Reading
January 07, 2015
Thompson Statement on the Terrorist Threat and the Need to Fund DHS
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the terrorist threat and funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Every day there are reminders of the diverse nature of the terrorist threat that we face. Today it was the deadly terrorist attack in Paris. Yesterday it was a bombing of an NAACP office in Colorado Springs, and just last month it was the Sony cyber attack. These incidents … Continue Reading
January 06, 2015
Thompson, Cummings, Conyers Issue Statement Renewing Call for Police Reform Hearings
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Reps. Elijah E. Cummings, John Conyers Jr., and Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Members of the House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, issued a joint statement reiterating their request for a series of in-depth hearings into the issues raised by the deaths of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and others, as well as the role Congress can play in implementing broader criminal justice reform. As we begin the 114th Congress and … Continue Reading
December 18, 2014
Thompson Statement on Secret Service Panel Report
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the United States Secret Service Protective Mission Panel report (executive summary): For far too long the Secret Service has suffered from systemic problems and a failure of leadership. The independent review panel's findings indicate that the Secret Service needs new direction. I echo the sentiments of Secretary Johnson—the Secret Service must commit … Continue Reading
December 12, 2014
TSA Uses Discredited Behavior Detection Program to Provide PreCheck Screening
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) PreCheck program. The report, titled "Aviation Security: Rapid Growth in Expedited Passenger Screening Highlights Need to Plan Effective Security Assessments" (GAO-15-150), found that TSA developed and expanded a program (Managed Inclusion) that relies on Behavior Detection Officers to determine who gets PreCheck screening. GAO found that TSA did so to reach … Continue Reading
December 11, 2014
Thompson Statement Opposing CRomnibus
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement in opposition to the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 83) also known as the CRomnibus. Congressman Thompson spoke on the House floor today to oppose the rule for consideration of the Cromnibus (H.R. 83). This legislation is another gimmicky bill that provides piece-meal funding and undermines critical national security programs. … Continue Reading
December 02, 2014
Hearing Statement of Ranking Member Thompson - Immigration Reform
(Washington) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following opening statement for the full Committee hearing entitled Open Borders: The Impact of Presidential Amnesty on Border Security: Since 1956, Presidents have granted temporary immigration relief to impacted individuals on 39 separate occasions; therefore, it would seem that changes outlined by President Obama on November 20 are not outside the bounds of Presidential … Continue Reading
December 02, 2014
Thompson Statement on Right Wing Plans for Homeland Security Funding
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on a proposal to possibly consider Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding under a continuing resolution. Last month, after years of Congressional inaction, the President announced a series of actions that the Administration will take to begin to fix our broken immigration system. In response, a faction of the House Majority is trying to penalize DHS by … Continue Reading
November 21, 2014
Thompson Announced as Homeland Security Ranking Democrat
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) issued the following statement today after being nominated by the House Democratic Caucus to return as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security for the 114th Congress: I am honored to be chosen by my colleagues to return as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to help protect and secure our nation from all threats. When we work in a bipartisan … Continue Reading