Press Releases
Thompson Statement – Hearing with Secretary Johnson
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following prepared remarks for the full Committee hearing with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson - The Secretary's Vision for the Future - Challenges and Priorities: Welcome, Mr. Secretary. I am pleased that our Committee is the first in Congress to hear your vision for DHS. I understand that the day after being sworn in as the Fourth Secretary of the Department of … Continue Reading
February 19, 2014
Thompson Statement on DHS License Plate Reader Solicitation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement regarding news that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pulled its solicitation for a National License Plate Recognition Database using license plate reader technology: I am pleased that DHS realized its error and has withdrawn the solicitation for a 'National License Plate Recognition Database'. The solicitation called for a large amount of … Continue Reading
January 23, 2014
Thompson Statement on Privacy Board Report Recommendations for NSA Metadata Program
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the report issued today from the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board: I applaud the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board on the release of its first report - it is a testament to the necessity of having a fully-operational, resourced, and independent board for the first time. I am pleased by the contribution that the Board has made … Continue Reading
January 17, 2014
Thompson Statement on Proposed NSA Reforms
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement in reaction to President Obama's speech today and proposed reforms to the National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs: The reforms to the NSA surveillance programs announced today are a good first step. The President's Review Group indicated that the programs are not useful, possibly not lawful, and therefore need substantial change. This is why I … Continue Reading
January 15, 2014
Hearing Statement of Ranking Member Thompson
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following prepared remarks for the full Committee hearing entitled A False Narrative Endangers the Homeland: Today's hearing seeks to examine whether U.S. policy to address unrest in the Middle East, the splintering of Al Qaeda, and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan and Iraq, adversely affect homeland security in the United States. Such an examination must begin with an … Continue Reading
January 13, 2014
Cruise Ship Safety and Security Improving Two Years After Costa Concordia Tragedy
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on cruise ship safety and security and the reporting of crime on these vessels. The report, requested by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), is released on the two year anniversary of the grounding of the cruise ship Costa Concordia, which resulted in 32 deaths. The safety and security of cruise … Continue Reading
January 06, 2014
Test Blog Post
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer eleifend a dui gravida tincidunt. Nulla vitae convallis mauris, consectetur tempus nisl. Ut et sodales nisi. Mauris sem massa, interdum id gravida ut, tempus ultricies mauris. Praesent feugiat imperdiet pellentesque. Pellentesque vel tortor sem. Curabitur et sapien sed lorem venenatis dapibus. Sed tincidunt vel orci eu euismod. Ut convallis erat ac purus hendrerit volutpat. Aenean a convallis velit. Sed vulputate id ligula eu … Continue Reading
December 20, 2013
Thompson Statement on Secret Service Report
(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) report on the U.S. Secret Service (USSS). The report, entitled "Adequacy of USSS Efforts to Identify, Mitigate, and Address Instances of Misconduct and Inappropriate Behavior" (OIG-14-20) details 14 recommendations to improve USSS processes for addressing misconduct in the wake … Continue Reading
December 19, 2013
Thompson Statement on NSA Review Group Report
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the report issued by the Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technology: I applaud the service of the Review Group on Intelligence and Surveillance Technologies. The report issued on Wednesday outlines several recommendations and it's my hope that Congress takes notice and acts quickly to amend Section 215 of the Patriot Act and enacts … Continue Reading
December 12, 2013
Thompson: DHS Financial Audit a Step in the Right Direction
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement regarding news that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has received its first clean, unqualified financial audit. However, the audit also found material weaknesses with DHS' internal control over financial reporting. DHS is currently responsible for managing more than $60 billion every year to carry out its mission. I would like to applaud DHS on … Continue Reading
November 13, 2013
TSA Behavior Detection Program Should be Defunded
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Government Accountability Office released its much anticipated report on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) program. The report entitled "Aviation Security: TSA Should Limit Future Funding for Behavior Detection Activities" (GAO-14-159) found, again, that the available evidence and data show that this program cannot be proven effective. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the … Continue Reading
November 13, 2013
Thompson Statement: Hearing on ACA Security/Privacy
(WASHINGTON) - Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following remarks for the full Committee hearing entitled Cyber Side-Effects: How Secure is the Personal Information Entered into the Flawed Healthcare.gov?: I understand that this hearing will discuss the Department of Homeland Security's role in the Affordable Care Act. The role played by DHS is two-fold. First, the Department is responsible for verifying that anyone … Continue Reading
October 17, 2013
Thompson Statement on DHS Secretary Nomination
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on news that the President intends to nominate Mr. Jeh Johnson as Secretary of Homeland Security: I would like to congratulate Mr. Jeh Johnson on his nomination by the President to be the fourth Secretary of Homeland Security. His experience in counterterrorism and cybersecurity will be an asset to the nation. Having served in the Department of Defense, … Continue Reading
September 26, 2013
Report: TSA Needs Proper Strategy for Body Scanner Roll Out
(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 (TSA) deployment of advanced imaging technology (AIT) - also known as full body scanners - to our airports' security checkpoints. The IG found that while TSA followed a deployment schedule, it did not develop a … Continue Reading
September 18, 2013
DHS Must Measure and Track Its Recruitment
(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 recruiting and employment at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The report, entitled "DHS Recruiting and Hiring: DHS Is Generally Filling Mission-Critical Positions, but Could Better Track Costs of Coordinated Recruiting Efforts" (GAO-13-742) found that while DHS and some of its … Continue Reading
September 13, 2013
DHS Needs Centralized Social Media Policy
(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 social media at DHS entitled "DHS Uses Social Media To Enhance Information Sharing and Mission Operations, But Additional Oversight and Guidance Are Needed" (OIG-13-115): "In recent years, social media have become useful and efficient tools for the government to … Continue Reading
September 13, 2013
Report: DHS Needs to Fix and Improve Radio Program
(WASHINGTON) - The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) released a report on radio management at DHS entitled "DHS Needs to Manage Its Radio Communication Program Better" (OIG-13-113). The report found that DHS's management of its radio communications program is ineffective. DHS currently manages approximately 200,000 pieces of radio equipment and 3,500 radio infrastructure sites - together valued at $1 billion. Most of this equipment is held by CBP, ICE, USSS … Continue Reading
September 12, 2013
Report: TSA Progressing on Mass Transit Security
(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 mass transit security entitled "Research and Development Efforts to Secure Rail Transit Systems" (OIG-13-111). The report by the DHS IG shows that TSA has successfully created a series of small and efficient working groups to address security gaps in our nation's … Continue Reading
September 11, 2013
Affordable Care Act Data Hub is Ready and Secure
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, received a letter from the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stating that it has, ahead of schedule, completed testing of and received security authorization for the Federal Services Data Hub which will serve as a tool to assist the public in applying for health care under the Affordable Care Act. Privacy and security … Continue Reading
September 11, 2013
Thompson Statement on the 12th 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 twelve anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks: Today we come together to commemorate and honor those who lost their lives twelve years ago. While our nation has rebuilt, the pain of that day is still with us as it was on that day. While our nation was forever changed, we remain dedicated to our core values and beliefs … Continue Reading