Press Releases
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
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 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 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
February 15, 2012
Thompson Hearing Statement - DHS FY2013 Budget
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following prepared remarks for the full Committee hearing entitled An Examination of the President's FY 2013 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security: Madame Secretary, I expect that you will answer a wide range of questions today about your Fiscal Year 2013 budget request. I certainly have quite a few questions. But before we turn to the FY 2013 request, I think it is … Continue Reading
February 13, 2012
Thompson Statement on FY2013 DHS Budget Request
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on President Obama's FY2013 budget proposal released today for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): The DHS budget request reflects today's fiscal realities and the need for belt-tightening. When Secretary Napolitano comes before the Committee this week, I will be asking her if this belt-tightening will be at the expense of targeted preparedness … Continue Reading
February 07, 2012
Financial Controls Lacking at DHS
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the statement below in response to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report: The Preparedness Directorate's Anti-Deficiency Act Violations for Fiscal Year 2006 Shared Service Administrative Assessments. The report concurred with an independent audit that the Preparedness Directorate (now NPPD) violated the Anti-Deficiency Act when it … Continue Reading
February 03, 2012
Report: Mismanagement Still a Problem at Federal Air Marshals
(WASHINGTON) - Today, a CNN news report details an extensive Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) report on problems at the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS). The report was requested after CNN uncovered illegal employment discrimination and misconduct at a FAMS field office in Orlando in 2010. Throughout the IG's investigation it was clear that individual employees have experienced discrimination or retaliation. The IG reported that the perception of discrimination … Continue Reading
January 25, 2012
Thompson Statement on the State of the Union
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement following the President's State of the Union speech: The President's agenda was clearly laid out last night: as the country is recovering and getting stronger, there is still more to be done. The world is without Osama bin Laden and much of al Qaeda's leadership. We have secured the border more than ever before. But we still have homeland … Continue Reading