Press Releases
GAO: Federal Hiring Security Clearance Guidelines Need Revamp
(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 security clearance requirements for federal civilian positions, entitled "Security Clearances: Agencies Need Clearly Defined Policy for Determining Civilian Position Requirements" (GAO-12-800). In the report, GAO found that there are essentially no agreed upon standards for … Continue Reading
June 29, 2012
GAO: DHS Can Improve on Critical Infrastructure Protection 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 he requested on critical infrastructure protection, entitled "Critical Infrastructure Protection: DHS Could Better Manage Security Surveys and Vulnerability Assessments" (GAO-12-378). The report assesses the extent to which the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Protection and … Continue Reading
June 27, 2012
FEMA Must Implement Delayed Personnel Management Systems
(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 Federal Emergency Management Administration's (FEMA) credentialing system for the qualification and certification of its workforce through experience, training, and demonstrated performance. The report, entitled "FEMA's Progress in Implementing Employee … Continue Reading
June 20, 2012
Thompson Hearing Statement on Hearings on Radicalization in the Muslim Community
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following prepared remarks for the full Committee hearing on The American Muslim Response to Hearings on Radicalization within their Community: Today's hearing is the fifth hearing in this Committee's series on radicalization in the American Muslim community. Since this Committee's first hearing on radicalization, the Obama Administration has taken several steps in dismantling al … Continue Reading
June 15, 2012
New TWIC Policy Means A Less-Costly and Burdensome Option for Nation's Port and Transportation Security Workers
(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 announcement today, by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), that the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) renewal policy will be revised - starting in August - to provide a new less-costly and burdensome option for the Nation's transportation and port security workers: I … Continue Reading
June 11, 2012
CBP Border Drone Program Suffers from Budget and Planning Shortfalls
(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 U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) - drones - which are intended to provide reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting, and acquisition capabilities across all CBP areas of responsibility. CBP began using UAS … Continue Reading
June 08, 2012
Thompson Statement Opposing FY2013 DHS Appropriations Act
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on passage of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (H.R. 5855): The DHS Appropriations Bill for FY2013 does not fully meet nor adequately fund our nation's homeland security needs. This is why I opposed and voted against this partisan piece of legislation. Homeland Security grant programs, while increased over … Continue Reading
May 31, 2012
Thompson Marks Start of Hurricane Season
(WASHINGTON) - Today marks the beginning of the annual Atlantic Hurricane Season. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, noted the occasion as he released a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Disaster Assistance Employee (DAE) program. The report, entitled Disaster Assistance Workforce: FEMA Could Enhance Human Capital Management and Training (GAO-12-538) found significant … Continue Reading
April 26, 2012
Thompson Floor Statement Opposing CISPA Rule
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered the following statement (with video) on the House Floor for consideration of H. Res. 631, the Rule providing consideration for H.R. 3523, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA): I rise in opposition to this Rule and the underlying bill. At the beginning of this Congress, expectations were high for meaningful progress on cybersecurity. Speaker … Continue Reading
April 26, 2012
FPS Needs Better Coordination with Federal Partners
(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 quality of coordination between Federal Protective Service (FPS) personnel and state and local law enforcement agencies. The report, entitled "Federal Protective Service: Better Data on Facility Jurisdictions Needed to Enhance Collaboration with State and Local Law Enforcement" … Continue Reading
April 26, 2012
Second Thompson Floor Statement Opposing CISPA
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered the following statement (with video) on the House Floor for consideration of H.R. 3523, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA): Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3523. I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues on the Intelligence Committee to foster greater sharing of cyber threat information. Having been involved in homeland security issues … Continue Reading
April 25, 2012
Rep. Thompson to Offer Bipartisan CISPA Amendments to Fix Fatal Flaws
April 25, 2011 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statements regarding missing privacy safeguards and the lack of critical infrastructure protection in legislation slated for consideration during 'Cyber Week'. Ranking Member Thompson will be testifying this afternoon before the House Rules Committee in support of three amendments to CISPA (H.R. 3523) that address these issues. Two of the amendments … Continue Reading
April 18, 2012
Thompson Statement - Markup of Cybersecurity Bill H.R. 3674 - the Precise Act
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following prepared remarks for the full Committee markup of H.R. 3674 - the PRECISE Act of 2011: Today, we are considering long-awaited cybersecurity legislation. At the last Full Committee mark-up, I stated the view that for this legislation to be effective, it must do three things: Address the growing cyber threat to critical infrastructure networks; Promote and enhance … Continue Reading
April 17, 2012
Thompson Statement on Secret Service Incident in Colombia
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding the U.S. Secret Service incident in Cartagena, Columbia and the impending investigation: Although the Secret Service has been forthcoming and helpful in this matter, we must ensure all facts are uncovered and proper investigation takes place. We must determine what happened in Colombia, if the President's safety was ever jeopardized, … Continue Reading
April 05, 2012
Canceling FPS IT Contract Saves Taxpayer Money
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released the results of an audit of a Federal Protective Service contract in a report entitled "FPS' Exercise of a Contract Option for the Risk Assessment and Management Program (RAMP)" (OIG-12-67). The contract was canceled after an investigation by the Committee's minority staff. To date, $41 million has been spent on the Risk Assessment and Management Program (RAMP). RAMP was intended to be … Continue Reading
March 28, 2012
Thompson Amendment Will Improve Emergency Alerts in Rural Areas
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, successfully offered an amendment to H.R. 3563, the Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2011 during a full Committee Markup of the Committee on Homeland Security. The amendment, which was agreed to by unanimous consent, will aim to improve reception of emergency alerts to areas with underdeveloped telecommunications infrastructure. Congressman Thompson delivered the following … Continue Reading
March 22, 2012
DHS Must Recover Improper Payments to Contractors
(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 improper payments at the Department and how to prevent them in the future. The report, entitled "Department of Homeland Security's Compliance with the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010" (OIG-12-48) found that in FY2011, DHS had $210 … Continue Reading
February 28, 2012
TWIC Report Shows Long Road Ahead
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the Department of Homeland Security's Final Report to Congress on The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Reader Pilot Program. The 2006 SAFE Port Act required DHS to issue the final regulations for the TWIC readers by April 2011 but these regulations have yet to be issued and current TWICs will soon expire and need reissuance. Based on a 3 year pilot, the … Continue Reading
February 17, 2012
Thompson: Grant Guidance Shows Rash and Shortsighted Budget Cuts
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency's release of its Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Preparedness Grant Guidance. Pursuant to the end-of-the-year spending law, a paltry $1.3 billion was appropriated for homeland security grant programs. The grant guidance sets forth how these funds have been allocated by the Secretary of Homeland Security, based on … Continue Reading
February 16, 2012
Katrina Recovery Report Shows Slow Project Completion
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report on the closeout status of Public Assistance projects as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The report, entitled: Efforts to Expedite Disaster Recovery in Louisiana, found that as of July 2011, FEMA had obligated $10.2 billion in Public Assistance grants to support Louisiana's recovery projects - which are supposed to have 48 month deadlines. However, in the 6 years since … Continue Reading