Press Releases
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
November 09, 2012
Thompson on Ratification of TSA and AFGE Agreement
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement following news that workers at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) voted to ratify the collective bargaining agreement negotiated on their behalf by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and TSA. The contract will take effect on December 9, 2012. After over a decade of struggling for basic workplace rights, Transportation … Continue Reading
November 09, 2012
Management Problems at TSA TTAC Office Must Be Addressed
(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 personnel matters at the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing Office (TTAC). The TTAC contains the Secure Flight Operations Center and the Security Threat Assessment Operations Adjudication … Continue Reading
October 09, 2012
Report: TSA Lags in Managing 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 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report on the failure of some Transportation Security Officers (TSO) to screen checked baggage at Honolulu International Airport during the last few months of 2010. The report, entitled found that while there is no excuse for not following security procedures and the … Continue Reading
October 05, 2012
CBO Report on Homeland Security Budget Shows Consolidation Not Complete
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report he requested on the proposed Homeland Security Budget for FY2013. It analyzes the historical funding levels for homeland security activities and the President FY2013 budget request for homeland security activities. The Presidential Request for FY2013 for all homeland security activities is $68.9 billion - 1.2 … Continue Reading
October 04, 2012
Thompson, Jackson-Lee Inquire on TSA Insider Threat Policies
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member on the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Transportation Security Subcommittee, sent a letter to John S. Pistole, Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in response to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report on TSA efforts to address the information technology insider threat-the possibility that TSA employees or … Continue Reading
October 02, 2012
Cross-Border Tunnel Detection Tech Needs Further Development and Oversight
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member on the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement in response to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report on the usage of cross border tunnels. The report entitled "Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Strategy to Address Illicit Cross-Border Tunnels" (OIG 12-132) found that since 1990 more that 140 tunnels have breached the U.S. border and that there has been a 20 percent … Continue Reading
September 21, 2012
FEMA National Level Exercises Lessons Not Realized
(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 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparation exercises. The report, entitled "FEMA's Management of Corrective Actions and Lessons Learned From National Level Exercises" (OIG-12-118) found that fewer than 40 percent of corrective actions identified … Continue Reading
September 18, 2012
GAO: DHS Info Sharing Showing Progress
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the release of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its information sharing efforts. The report, entitled "Information Sharing: DHS Has Demonstrated Leadership and Progress, but Additional Actions Could Help Sustain and Strengthen Efforts" (GAO-12-809) found that DHS has made significant progress but can … Continue Reading
September 13, 2012
GAO: FPS Lagging Behind In Progress of Securing Gov Facilities
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the release of two Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports he requested on the Federal Protective Service (FPS). The first report, entitled "Federal Real Property Security: Interagency Security Committee Should Implement a Lessons-Learned Process" (GAO-12-901), found that the Interagency Security Committee (ISC), which sets the standards for protecting all federal … Continue Reading
September 11, 2012
Thompson Statement on the Eleventh 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 eleventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks: On this day, eleven years ago, our country was attacked and came together like never before to face the immense challenge of rebuilding and securing our nation. The anniversary of 9/11 is a time to honor and commemorate the first responders, victims of the attacks, and … Continue Reading