Press Releases
TSA Trusted Traveler Pilot Program Moving Forward
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding news from Transportation Security Administrator John S. Pistole announcing more details of a trusted traveler pilot program set to commence this fall: As a long-time supporter of the risk-based trusted traveler concept to make the screening experience for regular Americans better, I am pleased that TSA has announced it will start testing its … Continue Reading
July 07, 2011
Thompson Praises Reestablishment of Aviation Security Advisory Committee
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Transportation Security Administration and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the reestablishment of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC). ASAC was originally created in response to the Lockerbie terrorist bombing in 1988, was later transferred to the Transportation Security Administration in 2001, and previously played a critical role in the development of aviation security programs. However, it has not met consistently for several … Continue Reading
June 15, 2011
Ranking Member Thompson Hearing Statement: The Threat of Muslim-American Radicalization in U.S. Prisons
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) delivered the following prepared remarks for the full Committee hearing entitled The Threat of Muslim-American Radicalization in U.S. Prisons: The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. More than 2.3 million people are locked up in America. Approximately one-third of these prisoners claim some form of religious affiliation. Islam is the fastest growing religion among … Continue Reading
June 10, 2011
Thompson Statement on Muslim Radicalization in Prisons Hearing
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding next week's Committee hearing on The Threat of Muslim-American Radicalization in U.S. Prisons. The hearing will take place on Wednesday, June 15th. In 2007, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee held a hearing examining the threat posed by Islam being used in prison to create a cadre of violent extremists. Focusing on … Continue Reading
June 08, 2011
FEMA Extends Recoupment Claims Process
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate notified Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, that FEMA will extend its disaster assistance recoupment appeals process deadline. FEMA agreed to take the extraordinary step of extending the recoupment appeals process deadline after receiving a letter from Thompson (link here). As a result of Thompson's advocacy, FEMA will allow additional time to file … Continue Reading
June 02, 2011
Thompson Condemns Homeland Security Bill
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement expressing grave concern following passage of H.R. 2017, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2012, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 231 to 188: This bill is simply an assault against the progress we've made protecting the homeland over the past ten years. I voted against this bill because not … Continue Reading
June 01, 2011
Thompson Statement on Homeland Security Appropriations Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered the following remarks on the House floor in opposition to the rule for H.R. 2017 - the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2012: His prepared remarks: I rise in opposition to the Rule for H.R. 2017, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2012. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. As Americans … Continue Reading
May 19, 2011
Grant Guidance Highlights Real World Consequences of Homeland Security 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 FY11 Preparedness Grant Guidance. Each grant program, except one, was cut significantly. Today's release of the FY11 grant guidance shows the devastating and severe consequences of the Republican's shortsighted cuts to homeland security spending. I understand we need to tighten our … Continue Reading
May 13, 2011
Thompson on TASC Cancellation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding news that the Department of Homeland Security has cancelled the Transformation and Systems Consolidation (TASC) program. The TASC contract was intended to provide integration services and program management support for integration of the Department's financial, acquisition and asset management processes. When DHS announced its intention to … Continue Reading
May 12, 2011
Thompson on White House Cybersecurity Proposal
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding the legislative proposal set forth by the White House on cybersecurity: I commend the President for recognizing that illegal penetrations or 'hacks' of computer networks represent not only economic threats but also homeland security threats. The President's cybersecurity proposal properly seeks to provide new authorities to DHS to protect the … Continue Reading
May 10, 2011
Thompson, Lieberman, King, Collins Stress Value of Sharing Names of Airline Passengers to Deter Terrorist Travel
(WASHINGTON) - The Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Homeland Security Committees have introduced resolutions in their respective chambers to stress the value of using information about air travelers to deprive terrorists the ability to enter the United States. The move by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter T. King, R-N.Y., Senate Committee Ranking Member Susan … Continue Reading
May 10, 2011
Internal Security Weaknesses Prevent TWIC from Realizing its Main Objective
(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 internal control weaknesses within the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, entitled "Transportation Identification Credential: Internal Control Weaknesses Need to Be Corrected to Help Achieve Security Objectives" (GAO-11-657). "The fundamental truth that GAO laid … Continue Reading
May 04, 2011
Thompson Floor Statement on Death of Osama bin Laden
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered the following prepared statement before the House of Representatives congratulating the President and the military and intelligence communities on the death of Osama bin Laden: I rise today very proud to support Senate Resolution 159, commending President Obama and the brave men and women who brought the American people justice for the heinous acts of 9/11. This past weekend, … Continue Reading
May 02, 2011
Thompson Statement on Killing of Osama bin Laden
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement in response to news that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed in a firefight with U.S. special forces in Pakistan: Nearly ten years after the horrific attacks on 9/11 costing thousands of lives, the United States has killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda and mastermind of the attacks. This is an enormous victory - both strategic and … Continue Reading
April 20, 2011
New Terrorism Advisory System Promises Credible Information for Public
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding news today that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano officially unveiled the new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS). NTAS is replacing the often criticized color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System. Fear does not encourage preparedness. Today's announcement marks an end to the era of color-coded scare tactics. For years, I … Continue Reading
April 20, 2011
Transportation Security Officers Overwhelming Vote for Collective Bargaining Rights
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement in response to news that over 84 percent of the nation's Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) voted in favor of collective bargaining rights: I was thrilled to hear about today's vote results. The TSO's have spoken and they want the same collective bargaining rights as the rest of the federal … Continue Reading
April 19, 2011
Statement from Congressman Thompson In Remembrance of the Oklahoma City Bombing
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement commemorating the 16th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing and those who lost their lives: Though it has been sixteen years since the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, the horrifying images and stories are still fresh in our minds. Let us not forget the lesson taught by that dreadful day in 1995 -- that the threat of … Continue Reading
April 19, 2011
Modernized IT Systems Critical to FEMA's Disaster Response Mission
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement in response to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report entitled "Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Faces Challenges in Modernizing Information Technology" (OIG-11-69): "This report is one is a series of troubling reports surrounding FEMA's IT system. Today, the OIG releases findings indicating that … Continue Reading
April 13, 2011
Screening Protocols for Children Must Be Reviewed
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding the incident in New Orleans where a child was subjected to a pat down at an airport security checkpoint: I understand that TSA has an important job to do; however, subjecting our children to pat downs must be a last resort. We need common sense procedures for screening our children. After speaking with Administrator Pistole today, I have been … Continue Reading
April 04, 2011
Speech before the University of the District of Columbia's Institute for Public Safety and Justice
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered the following prepared remarks before the University of the District of Columbia's Institute for Public Safety and Justice: Radicalization, recruitment, and violent extremism are issues that my colleagues and I in Congress have dealt with for several years. The ideology of what actually drives an individual—of any race or ethnicity—to commit violent acts are very complex … Continue Reading