Correspondence
Chairman Thompson and Committee Democrats Write FEMA on its Ability to Respond to Multiple Disasters During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins June 1 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and the Democratic Members of the Committee, sent a letter to Peter Gaynor, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), raising concerns about the agency's ability to respond to multiple disasters simultaneously during the COVID-19 pandemic and asking for a briefing on their preparation efforts. The Atlantic Hurricane Season … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Chairman Thompson Demands DHS and HHS Provide Requested Documents on Federal Response to Coronavirus
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent letters to the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services demanding they provide the documents and information the Committee has requested regarding the Federal response to the coronavirus pandemic. In some cases, the requested documents have been outstanding for as long as two months. HHS has failed to provide a single page of documents in … Continue Reading
May 21, 2020
Chairman Thompson Writes Pompeo, Wolf Demanding They Halt Joint Saudi Security Programs After Pensacola Attacker’s Al Qaeda Ties Uncovered Revealing Vetting Concerns
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo again urging they immediately halt two joint airport security and air marshal training and advisory programs with the Saudi Arabia after the Department of Justice announced this week that the gunman in December's terrorist attack in Pensacola, Florida, a Saudi national receiving aviation … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Engel, Thompson, Nadler & Menendez Reject Administration’s Legal Explanation for Halting Asylum Processing
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Chairmen Eliot L. Engel of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Bennie G. Thompson of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Jerrold L. Nadler of the House Committee on the Judiciary and Ranking Member Bob Menendez of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations rejected the Trump Administration's legal justification for its decision to halt asylum processing during the COVID-19 pandemic. After seeking answers on this issue for nearly two months, the lawmakers … Continue Reading
May 09, 2020
Homeland Security, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Leaders Urge DOT & DHS Establish an Aviation Working Group to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic
(WASHINGTON) - Leaders of the Homeland Security and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to urge them to establish an interagency working group to develop robust, coordinated plans to address COVID-19 in aviation operations. The Members believe that establishing health, safety, and security standards are necessary to restore public confidence in travel. In the absence of coordinated … Continue Reading
May 08, 2020
Schiff, Thompson, Murphy Urge House Leadership to Include Coronavirus Response Commission Provision in Upcoming Relief Legislation
An Independent, Bipartisan Commission Would Complement Congressional Oversight Efforts (WASHINGTON) - Today, Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Co-Chair of the House Blue Dog Coalition, sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy requesting inclusion of language in upcoming relief legislation establishing an … Continue Reading
May 08, 2020
House Chairs Press Trump Administration to Rescind Policies that Delay Release of Migrant Children
May 8, 2020 (WASHINGTON) - Today, several House committee and subcommittee chairs sent a letter to the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health & Human Services (HHS) regarding recent news reports alleging that the Trump Administration is considering implementing policies that could unnecessarily delay migrant children in HHS care from being reunified with their sponsors. The chairs again urge the Administration to rescind a Memorandum of Agreement requiring information about … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Thompson to DHS & HHS: Administration Must Level with Public on Projected Coronavirus Cases and Deaths
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf and Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar regarding the Federal government's coronavirus pandemic projections, and whether adequate preparations are being made by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to respond to these projected trends. To date, DHS and HHS … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Thompson Writes ICE Detention Center Contractors on Rising Coronavirus Cases at Their Facilities
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent letters to CoreCivic, Geo Group, LaSalle Corrections, Management & Training Corporation (MTC) - four corporations that manage detention facilities for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In the letters, Chairman Thompson requests more information on how the corporations are stopping the spread of coronavirus at their facilities. Recent news reports indicate that these … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Thompson, Rose Write DHS on Coronavirus Intelligence Reports
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Max Rose (D-NY), Chairman of the Intelligence and Counterterrorism Subcommittee, sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf asking for information on any COVID-19-related intelligence that was consumed and disseminated by DHS in late 2019 and early 2020, and what, if any, operational changes were made in response to that intelligence. Recent press reporting has … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Chairman Thompson and Committee Democrats Request HHS OIG Examine Racial, Socioeconomic Healthcare Disparities Exposed by Coronavirus
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, along with the Democratic membership of the Committee, sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) regarding healthcare disparities - which have been further exposed by the country's response to the coronavirus pandemic. In the letter, the Members request the OIG to examine HHS's past and present efforts to eliminate racial, ethnic, and … Continue Reading
April 24, 2020
Sen. Warren and Chairman Thompson Call for Watchdog Investigation into Border Wall Cronyism
USACE awarded two $400 million-plus contracts to companies owned by Republican donors in the last six months, raising questions about waste and abuse, favoritism, and subversion of Federal procurement laws Lawmakers to DOD IG: "taxpayer funds must not be wasted, and Federal procurement processes must not favor campaign donors or personal favorites of the President" (WASHINGTON) - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and House … Continue Reading
April 20, 2020
Thompson and Rice Write CBP Regarding the Treatment of Pregnant Women at the Border
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations, sent a letter to Mark Morgan, Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), regarding the treatment of pregnant women detained at the border. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups have recently filed multiple complaints with the Department of … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
Chairman Thompson Writes HHS and FEMA Regarding Nursing Home Medical Supplies and Equipment
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor, regarding the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and essential medical supplies and equipment to long-term care and nursing homes. The residents of these facilities are at particular risk from COVID-19-and these facilities have been the sites of … Continue Reading
April 09, 2020
Thompson and Rice Demand CBP Protect Unaccompanied Children at the Border
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations, sent a letter to Chad Wolf, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, and Mark Morgan, Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), regarding the Administration's change in policy in their treatment of unaccompanied children (UAC) at the border seeking protection … Continue Reading
April 09, 2020
Smith, Pallone, & Thompson Urge President Trump to Coordinate Production and Acquisition of COVID-19 Response Supplies
(WASHINGTON) - House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) today sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump, to express their concern about the lack of a clear, coordinated strategy to produce and acquire the medical supplies necessary to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis. "We write with deep concern about the lack of clear … Continue Reading
April 08, 2020
Reps. Grijalva, Thompson, Vela, and Kirkpatrick Express COVID-19 Concerns, Demand a Halt to Border Wall Construction in Letter to DOJ, DOD, and DHS
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Filemon Vela (D-TX), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) with House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson, sent a letter to the Department of Justice, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security demanding an immediate halt to border wall construction to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The lawmakers highlighted the wasteful spending of federal funds on a border wall during a pandemic and the likelihood that an … Continue Reading
April 07, 2020
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Write FEMA on Coronavirus Response Supply Chain Issues
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, sent a letter to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) inquiring about FEMA's efforts to acquire and distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential medical supplies and equipment to states. Just yesterday, the Office of Inspector General of the Department … Continue Reading
April 02, 2020
Chairman Thompson Asks States for Assistance Tracking Medical Supply Requests and Deliveries
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, with other Committee members, sent letters to all of the nation's governors asking them to help the Committee account for medical supplies and equipment (such as ventilators, masks, etc.) requested from the Federal government and provided to U.S. States, territories, and the District of Columbia. The Committee has requested this information from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
House Committee Chairs Request Extension of Public Comment Periods During Coronavirus National Emergency
(WASHINGTON) - Fourteen House Committee Chairs sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought today requesting an immediate extension of public comment periods, hearings and meetings due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Committee leaders asked that OMB direct agencies to extend public comment periods by at least 45 days beyond the end of the declared national emergency. The letter was signed by Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. … Continue Reading