Press Releases
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
January 17, 2013
Thompson on Nation's Deficient Levee System
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement following a news report released today that many of the country's levees are at risk of failing and endangering lives. The Associated Press (AP) found that the US Army Corps of Engineers, as of January 10, have graded 1451 of the country's 2487 levees in 37 states. AP found that 326 were found to be unacceptable, 1004 were minimally acceptable with … Continue Reading
January 16, 2013
Thompson Statement on "Best Places to Work" Survey
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding the Partnership for Public Service report on The Best Places to Work in the Federal Government: Unfortunately, this survey shows that DHS, once again, ranks as the worst large Federal agency to work for - and ranks at or near the bottom in almost every sub category. In March 2013, DHS will have its 10th anniversary. Surely after 10 years, its … Continue Reading
January 14, 2013
Thompson named as Vice-Chair of Congressional Gun Violence Task Force
(WASHINGTON) - Today, U.S. Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding the need for gun control legislation. Recently, Congressman Thompson was asked by his colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus to serve as Vice-Chairman of the task force focused on reducing and preventing gun violence. As an avid outdoorsman and as an elected official who has seen far too many senseless gun related deaths, … Continue Reading
January 09, 2013
Report Calls for Improved Border Security 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 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he and Congressman Ron Barber (D-AZ) requested on how the U.S. Border Patrol manages resources in the critical southwest border region, specifically in the Tucson Sector. The report, entitled "Border Patrol: Key Elements of New Strategic Plan Not Yet in Place to Inform Border Security Status and … Continue Reading
December 06, 2012
GAO Report Shows Problems with TSA SPP 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 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Screening Partnership Program (SPP), a program in which airports can opt-out of having federalized screeners in favor of privatized ones. The report is entitled "Screening Partnership Program: TSA Should Issue More Guidance to Airports and … Continue Reading
December 05, 2012
Thompson Announced as Homeland Security Ranking Democrat
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and the Democratic Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives announced that Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) will be returning as Ranking Democrat of the Committee on Homeland Security for the 113th Congress. Congressman Thompson has led the Democrats on the Committee since 2005. Congressman Thompson released the following statement on the announcement: I am honored to be chosen to continue to lead my colleagues on this … Continue Reading