Press Releases
Thompson Statement on Sensitive Capitol Surveillance Footage Aired on Fox
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and former Chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, released the below statement regarding Fox Host Tucker Carlson airing sensitive U.S. Capitol surveillance security footage given to him by Speaker McCarthy: “It is a dereliction of duty for Kevin McCarthy to give Tucker Carlson carte blanche access to sensitive U.S. Capitol … Continue Reading
March 02, 2023
Thompson Releases Statement on Government Watchdog Reports on Domestic Terrorism Data and January 6 Threats
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on domestic terrorism (DT) tracking at the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI and another report on threats prior to the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol. "These reports show that the FBI and DHS still have a ways to go on properly tracking domestic terrorism incidents and … Continue Reading
March 02, 2023
Thompson, Swalwell Release Statement on National Cybersecurity Strategy
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, released the below statement on the Administration’s release of its National Cybersecurity Strategy: “The National Cybersecurity Strategy released today continues the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious approach to cybersecurity and we commend the … Continue Reading
March 01, 2023
Thompson Marks 20th Anniversary of the Creation of the Department of Homeland Security
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement marking the 20th Anniversary of the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. After the September 11 attacks, the Department was created by Congress with passage of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, uniting 22 agencies under a single department. "Today, I join President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas in commemorating the anniversary … Continue Reading
February 28, 2023
At Border Hearing, Democrats Expose Republican Hypocrisy and Show Clear Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, led Committee Democrats in calling out Republicans for holding another politically charged border security hearing to attack the Administration while ignoring the clear need for comprehensive immigration reform to address the situation at the border. Ranking Member Thompson opened the hearing by laying out five clear facts to set the record straight: FACT: Democrats are focused on … Continue Reading
February 28, 2023
Republicans Jam Through Extreme, Misguided Homeland Security Oversight Plan that Ignores Growing Domestic Terrorism Threat
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, offered a straightforward, two-sentence amendment to the Committee Republicans' partisan draft Oversight Plan for the 118th Congress to ensure that domestic terrorism and the rise in violent antisemitic incidents continues to get the attention they deserve by the Committee. However, instead of adopting the commonsense amendment, Committee Republicans struck all references to "domestic … Continue Reading
February 20, 2023
Thompson Releases Statement on Reports Speaker McCarthy Granted Tucker Carlson Access to Sensitive January 6th U.S. Capitol Surveillance Footage
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and former Chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, released the below statement regarding news reports indicating that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has given Fox Host Tucker Carlson exclusive access to thousands of hours of sensitive U.S. Capitol surveillance footage from the January 6th Attack on the Capitol: "When the Select … Continue Reading
February 16, 2023
Thompson Reiterates Concerns with DHS IG Cuffari’s Poor Performance and Leadership in New Interview
(WASHINGTON) – In a new interview released today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, laid out the poor performance and leadership of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari. This interview is part of a six-episode investigative podcast from the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) detailing the IG’s actions (listen here). Ranking Member Thompson also reiterated that the credibility of the … Continue Reading
February 07, 2023
Ranking Member Thompson Announces Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee Ranking Members and Vice Ranking Member
(WASHINGTON) -Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement announcing the six Subcommittee Ranking Members and Vice Ranking Member of the Committee for the 118th Congress: "The Department of Homeland Security has wide range of critical missions that demand attention that include not just border security but also counterterrorism, domestic violent extremism, cybersecurity, infrastructure security, aviation and … Continue Reading
February 01, 2023
Ranking Member Thompson Announces Democratic Homeland Security Committee Members
(WASHINGTON) -Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement announcing the 15 Democratic Members of the Committee: "The Democratic members of the Committee on Homeland Security for the 118th Congress, including eight new members, represent communities from across the country. They are ready to apply their diverse backgrounds and experience to keeping the nation safe and secure and carrying out fact-based … Continue Reading
January 03, 2023
Chairman Thompson Lauds Committee Accomplishments from 117th Congress
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement in recognition of the Committee’s accomplishments from the 117th Congress: “I want to close out this Congress by noting the productivity of the Committee on Homeland Security and its accomplishments over the past two years. I am proud to announce that, despite a pandemic and even in the shadow of the January 6 attack on the Capitol, the … Continue Reading
December 20, 2022
Chairman Thompson Statement on Omnibus Including Nearly $400 Million for TSA Workforce Pay Increases, Expanded Collective Bargaining Rights
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on news that the omnibus government funding legislation for Fiscal Year 2023 includes $397.6 million to implement Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel system initiatives and improvements, including pay increases and expanded collective bargaining: “I am pleased that we are closing out this Congress by providing much-needed improved … Continue Reading
October 28, 2022
Chairman Thompson Statement Condemning Attack on Paul Pelosi and Urging Increased Protection of Officials, Elections, and our Democracy
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement condemning the recent attack on Paul Pelosi. “The attack on Paul Pelosi, Speaker Pelosi’s husband, is abhorrent, and my prayers are with him, the Speaker, and their family. Every elected official, regardless of political party, should be outraged and publicly condemn what happened today in no uncertain terms. “Unfortunately, the attack … Continue Reading
October 27, 2022
Chairs Thompson and Clarke Statement on the Biden Administration’s New Cybersecurity Performance Goals
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, & Innovation released the following statement on the Biden Administration’s new cybersecurity performance goals and metrics designed to strengthen cybersecurity defenses for critical infrastructure and many other private sector entities across the country. “This … Continue Reading
October 26, 2022
Chairs Thompson and Clarke Call on Republican Leadership to Wholly Reject Threats to Election Officials and Voter Intimidation
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, & Innovation released the below statement following reports of ongoing threats to election officials and voter intimidation ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. “At every metric, we have seen heightened levels of election-related threats of violence and intimidation at … Continue Reading
October 20, 2022
Chairman Thompson Releases Statement on Government Watchdog Report on FEMA Workforce Discrimination and Harassment
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released a report he requested from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) detailing employee discrimination and harassment issues within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Chairman Thompson asked GAO to review FEMA’s efforts to improve workplace culture after the RAND Corporation released a study in 2020 which revealed that an estimated 29 percent of FEMA … Continue Reading
October 12, 2022
Chairman Thompson Statement on President Biden’s New National Security Strategy
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, issued the below statement on the Biden Administration’s release of its new National Security Strategy:“The Biden Administration’s National Security Strategy is a clear-eyed plan to strengthen national security, improve international cooperation, and protect the American people from imminent and emerging threats. I am pleased that the Administration … Continue Reading
October 04, 2022
Thompson Statement on the Department of Homeland Security’s Counterterrorism Coordinator Appointment
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the appointment of Nicholas J. Rasmussen to serve as the Department of Homeland Security’s Counterterrorism Coordinator: “With his prior experience as the National Counterterrorism Center Director and the Executive Director of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, Nick Rasmussen is well equipped to fill the role of the Department of … Continue Reading
October 03, 2022
Chairman Thompson Condemns Trump Comments Stoking Violence
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on former President Trump stoking violence in his attacks on Senator Mitch McConnell: “Former President Trump’s inflammatory and racist attacks directed at Senator McConnell aren’t helpful to the nation or our democracy. Worse yet, they could incite political violence, and the former President knows full well that extremists often view his … Continue Reading
September 23, 2022
Demings, Jackson Lee, Barragan, Torres to Visit Puerto Rico
(WASHINGTON) – On Sunday, September 25th, 2022, the Committee on Homeland Security will conduct an official site visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico and other areas of the island to observe conditions and the Federal response to Hurricane Fiona. Joining Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Subcommittee Chairwoman Val Demings (D-FL) are Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY). The delegation will meet with Federal … Continue Reading