Press Releases
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
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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
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