Press Releases
Thompson Thanks DHS Dep. Sec. Lute for Her Service
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement thanking Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute for her service after announcing she will leave the Department in May: I want to thank Deputy Secretary Lute for contributions to the Department of Homeland Security and her years of public service as she plans to leave the Department next month. In particular, she deserves much praise for … Continue Reading
April 15, 2013
Thompson Statement on Boston Bombings
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement in response to the bombings in Boston Massachusetts today during the Boston Marathon: Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Boston and anyone affected by today's tragic bombing. This bombing seems to be - and is being treated as an act of terrorism. This is another reminder that we are under the threat of terrorism and must remain … Continue Reading
April 04, 2013
GAO: National Security Information Sharing Entities Duplicate Efforts
(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 information sharing and field-based federal entities - centers and task forces - that share terrorism and other information. The report, entitled "Information Sharing: Agencies Could Better Coordinate to Reduce Overlap in Field-Based Activities" (GAO-13-471) found that there are many instances … Continue Reading
March 27, 2013
Reps. Gabbard, Richmond Praise TSA Announcement on Expedited Screening for Wounded Warriors
(WASHINGTON) - Today, The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that our nation's Wounded Warriors will be allowed expedited screening as they travel through our nation's airports. Starting immediately, Wounded Warriors, when scheduled in advance with TSA, will be escorted through the security checkpoint and will be eligible for expedited screening through TSA PreCheck. This means that both active duty members of the military and veterans with severe injuries will no … Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Report on 'Fast and Furious' Highlights Problems at DHS & ICE
(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 (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report on DHS's involvement in 'Operation Fast and Furious'. The report, entitled "DHS Involvement in OCDETF Operation Fast and Furious" (OIG-13-49), found that DHS and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) senior officials had no awareness of the methodology … Continue Reading
March 13, 2013
Thompson Statement: DHS Cybersecurity
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following prepared remarks for the full Committee hearing entitled DHS Cybersecurity: Roles and Responsibilities to Protect the Nation's Critical Infrastructure: Each week brings new reports of cyber breaches. Hackers are becoming more sophisticated. They are hitting Americans where we live, work, and play at an unprecedented rate and in new and very troubling ways. Last month, … Continue Reading
March 11, 2013
Bipartisan Group to Inquire on TSA Prohibited Items Policy Change
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, along with Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Michael Grimm (R-NY), announced that they will be sending a formal bipartisan letter to John S. Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), raising serious objections regarding his recent decision and announcement that TSA will start to allow passengers to bring knives and certain sports equipment onboard … Continue Reading
March 05, 2013
Thompson Statement on TSA Policy Change for Prohibited Items
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding the Transportation Security Administration's announcement today of a policy change for prohibited items: I am very concerned by TSA's decision to modify its prohibited items list and allow knives and other carry-ons that can be used as weapons through airport security. Although TSA maintains that box cutters and large knives will continue to … Continue Reading
February 26, 2013
Report Shows Communities Along Southwest Border are Safe
(WASHINGTON) - Today the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on crime and violence data along the U.S. side of the southwest border, entitled Southwest Border Security: Data Are Limited and Concerns Vary about Spillover Crime along the Southwest Border (GAO-13-175). The report, requested by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Committee's Border and Maritime Security … Continue Reading
February 25, 2013
Report Shows DHS Making Progress on Cybersecurity
(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 (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report on the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure control systems - which includes the backbone of our nation's utilities. The report, entitled "DHS Can Make Improvements to Secure Industrial Control Systems" (OIG-13-39), found that the Department of Homeland … Continue Reading
February 20, 2013
Federal Agencies Need More Robust Facility Security 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 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested on the security of federal facilities. The report, entitled "Facility Security: Greater Outreach by DHS on Standards and Management Practices Could Benefit Federal Agencies" (GAO-13-222), is an analysis of security policy at federal agencies for facilities which are not protected by … Continue Reading
February 13, 2013
Homeland Security - Sequester Must Be Prevented
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the impact the upcoming budget sequester may have on the Department of Homeland Security and its components. Recently, Ranking Member Thompson wrote a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano asking for more information on this matter. The letter and its response are attached below. This letter brings into sharp focus the … Continue Reading
February 12, 2013
Rep. Thompson Statement on Cybersecurity Executive Order
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the Executive Order signed by the President today, and mentioned at the State of the Union Address, regarding improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity: With the President's signing of this executive order, the Administration has built a framework to foster an effective partnership between our government and the private sector to ensure that … Continue Reading
February 07, 2013
Port Security Radiation Portal Monitors Need Better Management and Planning
(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 (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report on the nation's port security efforts. The report, entitled "United States Customs and Border Protection's Radiation Portal Monitors at Seaports" (OIG-13-26) found that while the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) … Continue Reading
February 01, 2013
Rep. Thompson Statement on Immigration Reform
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding immigration reform and the President's speech on the topic this week: I agree with the President that immigration reform is long overdue. I also realize that border security is inextricably linked to immigration matters and will be an integral part of any reform proposal. Crafting an approach that addresses security as well as … Continue Reading
January 31, 2013
TSA Passenger Screening Canine Teams Need Validation and Proper Assessment
(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 Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Passenger Screening Canine teams. The report is entitled "TSA Explosives Detection Canine Program: Actions Needed to Analyze Data and Ensure Canine Teams Are Effectively Utilized". "TSA has not determined whether Passenger Screening Canine … Continue Reading
January 29, 2013
EEOC to Investigate Employment Practices at TSA
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after receiving notice from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that it will conduct a program evaluation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The EEOC is undertaking this evaluation of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) process and procedures at TSA in response to a request from Ranking Member Thompson following the … Continue Reading
January 29, 2013
Secret Service Report Leaves Questions Unanswered
(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 (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report on the United States Secret Service incident in Colombia last year. The report, entitled "Adequacy of USSS' Internal Investigation of Alleged Misconduct in Cartagena, Colombia" (OIG-13-24), was intended to be an audit of the Secret Service response and … Continue Reading
January 23, 2013
Thompson Announces Subcommittee Ranking Members – and Welcomes New Democratic Members
January 23, 2013 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the subcommittee Ranking Members for the Committee for the 113th Congress and announced the Democratic membership of the Committee. The Committee officially organized for the 113th Congress this morning. Subcommittee Ranking Members: Border and Maritime Security - Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) Counterterrorism and Intelligence - Rep. Brian Higgins … Continue Reading
January 18, 2013
Thompson Commends TSA For Screening Machine Replacement
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement following news that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) intends to cancel its contract with Rapiscan because it could not comply with a Congressional mandate for passenger privacy. TSA will begin removing the remaining 174 machines and replace them with ones that comply with the mandate. Since September of 2009, TSA has spent over $40 million on … Continue Reading