Press Releases
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
September 09, 2013
TSA Announces Expansion of Expedited Screening
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that more passengers will be eligible for expedited security screening through TSA's Trusted Traveler program by the end of the year. Through this update to the program, TSA will determine if passengers are of low risk based on variety of factors including information they already provide when purchasing their tickets. Passengers who are chosen for expedited screening will be able to pass through screening … Continue Reading
August 02, 2013
Report: TSA Worker Credentialing Office 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 Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Adjudication Center - which performs security background checks for Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) applicants, among other programs. TWIC cards allow individuals to gain access to secure areas of our … Continue Reading
August 01, 2013
Thompson Commends Obama for Chemical Facility Security Executive Order
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement regarding news that President Obama issued an Executive Order on Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security this morning outlining a national effort to identify chemical facilities, which pose a safety and security risk to citizens, communities, and national security: The President should be commended for taking urgent action on this critical issue and … Continue Reading
July 30, 2013
Report: TSA Must Apply Misconduct Policies Uniformly
(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 entitled "Transportation Security: TSA Could Strengthen Monitoring of Allegations of Employee Misconduct (GAO-13-624)" on how employee misconduct is handled by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). "Over a decade after being established, it is frustrating that TSA still does not have … Continue Reading
July 19, 2013
Thompson Statement on TSA PreCheck Announcement
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement regarding news from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that it will expand its Trusted Traveler program, known as PreCheck. Members of the general public who enroll in PreCheck are expected to benefit from expedited screening procedures. PreCheck enrollment centers will start opening in the fall of 2013 and will charge $85 for PreCheck screening … Continue Reading
July 12, 2013
Thompson Statement on Departure of Secretary Napolitano
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the resignation of Secretary Janet Napolitano as Homeland Security Secretary: I want to thank Secretary Napolitano for her over four years of service as the leader of the Department of Homeland Security. As a member of President Obama's Cabinet, she has been a steady hand helping lead the 240,000 men and women who serve in the Department through natural … Continue Reading
July 10, 2013
Ranking Member Thompson Hearing Statement – "Assessing Attacks on the Homeland: From Fort Hood to Boston"
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following prepared remarks for the full Committee hearing entitled Assessing Attacks on the Homeland: From Fort Hood to Boston: Today, we will explore five terrorist incidents that have occurred within the United States since the attacks of September 11, 2001. In June 2009, Carlos Bledsoe shot two people at an Army recruiting center in Little Rock Arkansas. He was found … Continue Reading
July 01, 2013
Report Shows Reform Needed for TSA Contract Screening Program
(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 Screening Partnership Program" (OIG-13-99): "This report from the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General shows that TSA has failed to accurately and precisely document the factors considered prior to … Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Thompson Statement on Senate Passage of Immigration Reform
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the Senate's passage of its Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill (S. 744) today: I am pleased that the Senate has come together in a bipartisan manner to finally pass a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill. After this strong, bipartisan vote in the Senate, I urge the House Republican Leadership to quickly take up comprehensive legislation - the … Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Report: DHS Must Do More to Meet its Cybersecurity Responsibilities
(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 cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security. The report, entitled "DHS Can Take Actions To Address Its Additional Cybersecurity Responsibilities" is an audit of the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), the office in DHS which houses the … Continue Reading
June 11, 2013
Thompson Statement on NSA Surveillance Programs
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement regarding the recently exposed NSA surveillance programs: The leaked information that exposed the NSA surveillance programs has shown that the war on terrorism has become a justification for the collection and retention of an unprecedented amount of information. While the intelligence value of this massive amount of data is unclear, it is clear that our … Continue Reading
June 05, 2013
TSA Behavior Detection Program Not Objective, Lacks Strategic Plan
(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 he requested: "Transportation Security Administration's Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques" (OIG-91-13). The IG found that Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques (SPOT) program did not have a … Continue Reading
June 05, 2013
Thompson Statement on TSA Announcement Keeping Knives Prohibited Onboard Planes
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement regarding news from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that small knives and certain sports equipment will be kept on the prohibited items list. Ranking Member Thompson, along with other members of Congress, have written to John S. Pistole, Administrator of TSA, on two occasions recently to urge him to refrain from implementing a previously … Continue Reading
May 31, 2013
Improper Oversight of CBP Helicopter Conversion Has Led to Delays, Higher Costs
(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 Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) acquisition and conversion of its H-60 helicopters, entitled "DHS' H-60 Helicopter Programs" (OIG-13-89). Within DHS, the helicopters are used by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) … Continue Reading