Press Releases
Ranking Members Thompson and Raskin Issue Statement Following Fourth Voluntary Transcribed Interview with Border Patrol Sector Chief
(WASHINGTON) - Committee on Oversight and Accountability Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, and Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson, issued the following statement after the Committees’ voluntary transcribed interview with U.S. Border Patrol agent Joel Martinez, Chief Patrol Agent of the Laredo Sector: “With the Committees now having completed their fourth transcribed interview with Border Patrol Sector Chiefs, we have drawn the same conclusion as at every … Continue Reading
May 11, 2023
Thompson, Carter, Titus, Higgins Announce Creation of the Disaster Equity and Building Resilience Caucus
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Reps. Bennie G. Thompson, Troy A. Carter, Sr., Dina Titus, and Brian Higgins announced the creation of the Congressional Disaster Equity and Building Resilience Caucus to promote the benefits of resilience and the need for equity in the country’s disaster preparedness and response infrastructure. Research has shown that racial minorities, rural areas, low-income communities, tribes, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and children are all more likely to … Continue Reading
May 10, 2023
Ranking Member Thompson Floor Statement in Opposition to H.R. 2, the Child Deportation Act
Watch video here (WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives in opposition to H.R. 2, the Child Deportation Act: This cruel, inhumane, and unworkable bill was written in an extreme MAGA Republican echo chamber. Consideration of H.R. 2 today — under a closed rule — is a cynical move on the part of Republicans to exploit the … Continue Reading
May 05, 2023
Thompson, Carter Statement on Government Report on FEMA Hiring and Staffing Shortfalls
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), Ranking Member of the Emergency Management & Technology Subcommittee, released the below statement on a new U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report they requested on hiring and staffing shortfalls in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster workforce. This report comes after Committee Democrats held two … Continue Reading
April 25, 2023
Ranking Members Raskin and Thompson Issue Statement After Voluntary Transcribed Interview with Border Patrol Sector Chief
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Committee on Oversight and Accountability Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, and Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson, issued the following statement after the Committees conducted a voluntary transcribed interview with United States Border Patrol Chief Sean McGoffin, Chief Patrol Agent for the Big Bend Sector: “We want to thank the U.S. Border Patrol and Chief McGoffin for voluntarily answering six hours of questions regarding the … Continue Reading
April 21, 2023
Ranking Member Thompson Releases Statement After Committee Delegation to Southwest Border
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement after Committee Democrats’ delegation to the Southwest Border. The visit included a discussion of border security and immigration issues with local officials and tours of DHS border facilities in McAllen and Brownsville, Texas. “Today, Committee Democrats had a very productive trip to the southwest border. We got to see – firsthand … Continue Reading
April 19, 2023
No Popcorn for You: Democrats Expose Extreme MAGA Republicans for Using Homeland Security Hearing to Play Politics and Attack the Administration
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, led Committee Democrats in calling out extreme MAGA Republicans for holding another hearing rife with political games and personal attacks under the guise of homeland security. It has been clear for some time that Republicans planned to use this hearing with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to attack him, rather than focus on the budget proposal for the Department and … Continue Reading
April 14, 2023
Thompson Commends Law Enforcement, Warns Against Glorification of Suspect in Top Secret Documents Leak
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the arrest of an Air National Guardsman who is charged with leaking classified national security documents on a social media channel: “The recent leak of highly sensitive classified U.S. intelligence documents is reprehensible and I commend Federal law enforcement for apprehending this individual. Violations of the Espionage Act like the one … Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Thompson Statement on the Administration’s Budget Request for 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 on the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget request for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): “We commend the Administration for prioritizing investments in the DHS workforce pay —particularly within TSA – as well as Federal cybersecurity and climate resilience in his FY 2024 Budget request. We have some questions … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Thompson Statement on Reports Administration Is Considering Reinstating Family Detention Policies
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement regarding news reports that the Administration is considering reinstating family detention policies: “I'm alarmed by news reports that the Administration is considering reinstating family detention policies. Not only are these policies cruel and harmful to children, but they don't prevent families from traveling to the United States. If the … Continue Reading
March 06, 2023
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