Press Releases
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
May 31, 2013
Thompson Marks the Start of Hurricane Season
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement marking the completion of National Hurricane Preparedness Week and the start of the Hurricane Season. The annual Atlantic Hurricane Season begins tomorrow, June 1st. Before the opening day of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, we must ensure that our families, neighbors, and communities are prepared for what some predict will be a more intense than normal … Continue Reading
May 29, 2013
TSA Announces All AIT Machines are Equipped with Privacy Filters
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement in response to notification from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole that he will not exercise his option to extend the deadline for equipping Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) units with Automatic Target Recognition (ATR). Because of the efforts of Congressman Thompson, a provision requiring the use of ATR was enacted … Continue Reading
May 16, 2013
DOJ Report: Known Terrorists Not Put on Watch Lists
(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 Justice Office of Inspector General (DOJ OIG) audit on how known or suspected terrorists are handled after placed in the federal Witness Security Program (WITSEC). The report, entitled "Interim Report on the Department of Justice's Handling of Known or Suspected Terrorists Admitted into the Federal Witness Security Program", … Continue Reading
May 15, 2013
Report: CBP Must Address Information Security Weaknesses
(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 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) information technology (IT) control systems. The report, entitled "Information Technology Management Letter for the FY 2012 U.S. Customs and Border Protection Financial Statement Audit" found that CBP took some corrective action … Continue Reading
May 09, 2013
Thompson Hearing Statement - The Boston Bombings: A First Look
(Washington) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following prepared remarks for the full Committee hearing entitled The Boston Bombings: A First Look: This hearing has been billed as a first look at the Boston Marathon bombing. While it is appropriate that we examine the events of April 15th, we need to understand and recognize our limitations. First, we must recognize that the events of that day remain under investigation. … Continue Reading
May 08, 2013
Report: TWIC Reader Pilot Results Unreliable
(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 their assessment of the results of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) reader pilot program. The report, entitled "Transportation Worker Identification Credential: Card Reader Pilot Results Are Unreliable; Security Benefits Need to Be Assessed" (GAO-13-198), highlights … Continue Reading