Legislation
Engel, Thompson, Deutch, Rose Introduce Legislation to Create National Counterterrorism Commission
(WASHINGTON) - Reps. Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security; Ted Deutch, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism; and Max Rose, Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, today introduced the National Commission on U.S. Counterterrorism Policy Act, legislation to establish a national … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Congressional Leaders Introduce Legislation to Help States and Communities Respond to COVID-19 by Shifting Federal Cost Share for Emergency Declarations
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Emergency Management, and Public Buildings Dina Titus (D-NV), Chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Correa, Titus, Payne, Demings Introduce Legislation to Address Coronavirus and its Impact on TSA’s Workforce
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Members of the Committee on Homeland Security introduced new legislation to address the impact coronavirus has had on the Transportation Security Administration's frontline workforce. During the coronavirus pandemic, TSA's 49,000 Transportation Security Officers, along with thousands more Federal Air Marshals and canine handlers, have continued to do their job protecting our skies despite the high risk of contracting the virus. As of today, May 1, 509 TSA employees have … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Chairman Thompson and Committee Democrats to Introduce Coronavirus Commission Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released legislation he will be introducing in the coming days to establish an independent, bipartisan, Congressionally-chartered commission to produce a full and complete accounting of the nation's preparedness and response to the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Given the magnitude of COVID-19 on all aspects of national life, this bipartisan Commission, modeled after the 9/11 … Continue Reading
March 05, 2020
House Passes Thompson Bill to Improve TSA Frontline Workforce
(WASHINGTON) - Today, by a bipartisan vote of 230 to 171, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act (H.R.1140), legislation sponsored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Appropriations, to improve the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) frontline workforce. The bill will ensure Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) are … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Chairman Thompson Lauds Passage of Legislation to Strengthen Partnerships between HBCUs and Homeland Security
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, announced House passage of H.R. 1494, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Homeland Security Partnerships Act, legislation which would strengthen the partnerships between HBCUs and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). "Minority communities are disproportionately impacted by natural hazards and disasters. It is imperative that the students from those communities - HBCU … Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Richmond, Katko, Kilmer, McCaul, Ruppersberger, Thompson, Rogers Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help State and Local Governments Secure Their Networks
(WASHINGTON) - Today, by Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Rep. John Katko (R-NY), Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize a new grant program at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities on State and local government networks. In recent years, State and local governments have been rich targets for cyber … Continue Reading
January 29, 2020
Thompson Bill to Improve TSA Frontline Workforce Approved by Committee
(WASHINGTON) - Today, by a vote of 17-9, the House Committee on Homeland Security favorably reported bipartisan legislation sponsored by Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) to improve the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) frontline workforce. The Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act (H.R. 1140), as amended will ensure Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) are afforded the same rights and protections afforded to other Federal workers under Title 5 of the U.S. … Continue Reading
January 28, 2020
Thompson Bill to Protect Churches, Synagogues, and Mosques from Terrorism Becomes Law
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced that legislation he sponsored, the Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019 (H.R. 2476), has been signed by the President and has become law. This bipartisan legislation authorizes $375 million over the next five years for the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which provides grants to nonprofits and … Continue Reading
December 13, 2019
Thompson Lauds Domestic Terrorism Government Report Provision Included in Bipartisan NDAA
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, lauded the inclusion of legislative language on domestic terrorism in the Conference Report of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This language is based on legislation he authored, the Domestic & International Terrorism DATA Act (H.R. 3106), which passed the House in September. The NDAA Conference Report passed the House this week and is set to pass the Senate and be signed … Continue Reading
November 21, 2019
Rose Introduces Raising the Bar Act to Address Terrorist Content on Social Media
(WASHINGTON) - Congressman Max Rose, Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence & Counterterrorism, introduced legislation today to help hold social media companies accountable and stop the spread of terrorist content online in a way that would "raise the bar" on how well social media companies shut down terrorist activity on their platforms. "Social media companies have become institutions in our society and have a responsibility to stop the spread of terrorist content … Continue Reading
October 22, 2019
Legislation Introduced to Create Commission to Study Proliferation of Terrorist Content Online
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced H.R. 4782, the "National Commission on Online Platforms and Homeland Security Act" to address the proliferation of terrorist content on social media and other online platforms. In the wake of deadly white supremacist attacks in cities from Christchurch, New Zealand to El Paso, Texas, where the attackers exploited online platforms in furtherance of their acts of violence and … Continue Reading
July 09, 2019
Chairman Thompson to Introduce Legislation to Address Border Humanitarian Crisis
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced that he will be introducing legislation to address the humanitarian crisis at the border. The Strategic and Humane Southern Border Migrant Response Act directs the Department of Homeland Security to take a smarter approach to addressing conditions for migrant families and unaccompanied children seeking asylum while combatting human smugglers and trafficking operations targeting … Continue Reading
June 28, 2019
Chairman Thompson Introduces Legislation to Improve FEMA’s Advance Contracting Process
(WASHINGTON) - This week, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced legislation to improve FEMA's advance contracting process, based on recommendations from a recent audit by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). If passed, H.R. 3500, the Federal Advance Contracts Enhancement (FACE) Act, would require FEMA to ensure more effective use and management of its advance contracts for goods and services. "Recent hurricanes like Irma and Maria … Continue Reading
June 26, 2019
Thompson, Richmond Introduce Legislation to Improve Coast Guard Academy
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation, introduced two pieces of legislation to improve the Coast Guard Academy. H.R. 3488, the Coast Guard Academy Improvement Act, introduced by Chairman Thompson, would help improve diversity at the Academy, a response to the low levels of minority enrollment at the Academy and … Continue Reading
June 05, 2019
Chairman Thompson, Committee Democrats Introduce Legislation to Bolster Domestic Terrorism Data Transparency and Research
June 5, 2019 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, introduced H.R. 3106, the Domestic Terrorism Documentation and Analysis of Threats in America Act, or the Domestic Terrorism DATA Act, in order to foster transparency surrounding domestic terrorism data and increase research on the issue. "Domestic terrorism, fueled largely by a surge in white supremacist extremism, presents a growing threat to the security of our homeland. In … Continue Reading
May 21, 2019
Thompson, Grassley Reintroduce American Red Cross Transparency Act
WASHINGTON - Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today introduced legislation to give the congressional watchdog arm complete access to American Red Cross records for oversight purposes. The bipartisan, bicameral American Red Cross Transparency Act of 2019 responds to concerns that the Red Cross tried to quash a review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of its practices, successfully limiting the scope of the … Continue Reading
May 10, 2019
Thompson, Lofgren, Sarbanes Introduce Comprehensive Election Security Legislation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Chairperson of the Committee on House Administration, and Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), Chair of the Democracy Reform Task Force, introduced H.R. 2660, the Election Security Act - legislation to help protect our elections against malevolent attacks and foreign interference. Russia's unprecedented assault on the country's elections in 2016 exposed serious national … Continue Reading
May 02, 2019
Chairman Thompson, Bipartisan Group of Representatives Introduce Legislation to Help Protect Non-Profits Including Synagogues, Churches, and Mosques From Terrorist Attacks
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security - along with Reps. Peter King (R-NY), Max Rose (D-NY), Steve Stivers (R-OH), Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), and Troy Balderson (R-OH) - introduced legislation to ensure necessary Federal support to protect the safety of non-profits at risk of terrorism, including synagogues, mosques, churches, and other places of worship. "It's a sad fact that our houses of worship are living under the threat of … Continue Reading
February 28, 2019
Chairman Thompson Introduces Bill to Improve DHS Workforce Morale
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) introduced legislation to improve morale among the 240,000 employees of the Department of Homeland Security. H.R. 1433, the Department of Homeland Security Morale, Recognition, Learning and Engagement (DHS MORALE) Act would create and catalogue leadership development opportunities, identify and address factors that impact employee engagement, and recognize employee contributions. “It’s unfortunate that the … Continue Reading