Press Releases
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Release 2013 DOJ OIG Memo Raising Ethics and Independence Concerns over DHS IG, Reiterate Call for DHS IG to Stand Aside
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released a memorandum with findings from an internal investigation conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) Joseph Cuffari “ran afoul” of ethics rules and other requirements during his … Continue Reading
July 20, 2022
Government Watchdog Report Released on Security Gaps that Leave the Nation Vulnerable to a Dirty Bomb Attack
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released a report he requested from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the effectiveness of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) oversight of purchases of radiological materials. In the report, entitled “Preventing a Dirty Bomb: Vulnerabilities Persist in NRC’s Controls for Purchases of High-Risk Radioactive Material,” the GAO found … Continue Reading
July 08, 2022
Chairman Thompson Statement on CBP Investigation into the Mistreatment of Migrants in Del Rio, Texas
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility releasing the findings of its investigation into the mistreatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, on September 19, 2021: “The disturbing findings issued by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility raise serious questions about command, control, and … Continue Reading
June 30, 2022
Chairman Thompson Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision Allowing the Biden Administration to End Trump’s Cruel ‘Remain in Mexico’ Policy
WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on today’s decision from the Supreme Court allowing the Biden Administration to end the Trump Administration’s cruel and anti-immigrant Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), also known as ‘Remain in Mexico.’ “I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Biden Administration to finally terminate the abhorrent … Continue Reading
May 14, 2022
Chairman Thompson Statement on Domestic Terrorism Attack in Buffalo
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the mass shooting at a Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, New York: “Tonight, we all mourn for and pray for the victims and their families. Today’s tragic mass shooting and killing of innocent people while grocery shopping in a predominantly Black neighborhood was senseless and an act of domestic terrorism – plain and simple. This heinous … Continue Reading
May 06, 2022
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Issue Statements on Customs & Border Protection Disbanding Teams That May Have Obstructed Investigations
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statements after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that they are disbanding Critical Incident Teams—specialized units within CBP tasked with investigating and collecting evidence of allegations of excessive and deadly use of force by Border Patrol … Continue Reading
April 01, 2022
Chairs Thompson, Barragán Statement on the CDC Announcing the Termination of Title 42
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, & Operations, released the following statement on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcing it is ending Title 42 on May 23: "With almost all pandemic restrictions ending or winding down, we welcome the CDC’s decision to … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Chairman Thompson Lauds Administration Announcing Additional H-2B Visas
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor announced that they are making an additional 35,000 temporary nonagricultural H-2B visas available for the second half of the fiscal year. Earlier this month, Chairman Thompson called on the Departments to make this move. "As our Nation’s economy continues to recover from … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Reps. Watson Coleman, Rice Applaud TSA Announcing Gender-Neutral Checkpoint Screening
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Chairwoman of the Committee on Homeland Security’s Transportation & Maritime Security Subcommittee, and Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), sponsor of H.R. 4249, the Screening With Dignity Act, applauded an announcement from the Department Homeland Security (DHS) - on International Transgender Day of Visibility - that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be implementing a number of screening measures that are … Continue Reading
March 28, 2022
Chairs Thompson, DeFazio Applaud President Biden’s Budget to Increase Pay and Collective Bargaining for TSA’s Frontline Workforce
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, applauded President Biden’s FY2023 Budget Request including funding for long overdue pay increases and expanded collective bargaining for TSA’s predominantly frontline workforce. The increase in funding would come from TSA’s collection of security fees – which … Continue Reading
March 24, 2022
Thompson, Katko Mourn the Death of Former TSA Administrator Kip Hawley
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. John Katko (R-NY), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, issued the following statement on the recent passing of former Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator Edmund “Kip” Hawley: “Kip Hawley played an integral role in the stand-up of TSA in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Our homeland … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Thompson, Katko, Clarke, Garbarino Laud Cyber Incident Reporting Passage
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. John Katko (R-NY), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, & Innovation Subcommittee, and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Ranking Member of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, & Innovation Subcommittee, released the below joint statement on cyber incident reporting … Continue Reading
March 09, 2022
Chairman Thompson Applauds Increase in Counterterrorism Grant Funding to Protect Houses of Worship and Nonprofits in Omnibus
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the bipartisan Omnibus Appropriations Agreement for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 including a dramatic increase in funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps secure nonprofits and houses of worship against terrorism. In recent years, there has been a surge in threats against nonprofits, most recently including the January 15 … Continue Reading
February 24, 2022
Thompson, Torres, Clarke Release Statement on Russian Invasion of Ukraine
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Vice Chairman Ritchie Torres (D-NY), and Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, & Innovation, released the following statement on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a brazen assault on democracy, not just in Ukraine, but democracies around the globe. This unprovoked … Continue Reading
February 07, 2022
Chairman Thompson Statement on Updated DHS Public Bulletin on the Terrorism Threat
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Majorkas issuing a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) bulletin on the current terrorism threat: "Today’s action by the Department of Homeland Security aligns with what the Committee was told about the current threat picture at our hearing last week on the dynamic terrorism landscape. It is not lost … Continue Reading
February 03, 2022
Thompson Statement on Biden Administration’s New Cyber Safety Review Board
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Biden Administration’s launch of the new Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), a Board comprised of representatives from the Federal government (including DOD, DOJ, CISA, NSA, FBI), security firms, software suppliers, and other private sector organizations, to investigate “significant cyber incidents”: “We are pleased to see … Continue Reading
February 03, 2022
Chairman Thompson Statement on Counterterrorism Operation in Syria
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement in response to news that the ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi was killed during a U.S. counterterrorism operation in Syria. “I commend President Biden for taking decisive action last night to help keep the world safe and our homeland secure. I also thank the tireless effort from our military and intelligence community. “In … Continue Reading
February 01, 2022
Chairman Thompson Statement on Recent Bomb Threats Against HBCUs
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that at least a dozen Historically Black Colleges and Universities reported bomb threats for a second day in a row. “The spate of bomb threats against Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in recent days is incredibly disturbing and disheartening. It is not lost on me that these threats are targeting African American … Continue Reading
January 16, 2022
Chairman Thompson Statement on Hostage Situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement after a hostage situation yesterday at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas: “I commend law enforcement at all levels for coming together in a coordinated fashion to ensure the safe release of members of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. While we are thankful that worshippers at the Congregation Beth Israel … Continue Reading
January 14, 2022
Chairman Thompson Statement on Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack Arrests
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on news that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), at the request of US authorities, arrested members of the REvil ransomware gang and shut down their operations – including those responsible for the Colonial Pipeline, JBS Foods, and Kaseya ransomware attacks: “As President Biden has repeatedly emphasized in meetings with both allies and … Continue Reading