Bennie Thompson

Those who exchange freedom for security end up with neither freedom nor security.

Secretary Napolitano has promised that DHS going forward would partner better with State, local, tribal, and private sector stakeholders.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair; and let me also welcome our witnesses in the first panel here today.

In many ways, DHS's Office of Intelligence and Analysis is at a crossroads.

As a Member of Congress, somebody who chairs this committee, I would not want something to happen that can be put at the door of an imperfect screening system as to the reason it occurred.

Our goal still has to be the 100 percent.

If we don't do our duties and something bad happens, shame on us.

One of the challenges we have is to try to protect the good people of America.

My testimony today includes preliminary observations on: (1) TSA's progress in meeting the 9/11 Commission Act mandate...

Thank you very much, Madam Chairwoman, for convening this important hearing today.

Pulling FEMA out of the department will once again fracture the nation's ability to respond to all types of catastrophes--whether natural or man-made.

I know also very much embraces a risk-based approach to dealing with our Nation's homeland security issues.

I think perhaps at our next hearing we need to bring some of the people who have the primary responsibility for the plan...

I believe the CSIS report's recommendation to create three new public/private groups designed to foster better trust and cooperation on cyber issues is the right approach.

I believe this administration should seek to use a combination of regulations and incentives to ensure that our electricity grid... are properly secured.

The review must clearly delineate roles and responsibilities of each agency involved in the governance of cybersecurity at the Federal level.

We need a strategy that uses all of the tools of the U.S. power in a coordinated fashion, but more importantly, we need to hold our agencies accountable for implementing that strategy.

What should ICE do to ensure local agencies understand the limitations and scope of their 287(g) agreements?

I urge TSA to delay implementation of final rulemaking with regard to the Large Aircraft Security Program until the new TSA leadership has had an opportunity to review the NPRM and engage with Congress and industry stakeholders.

Assures that there will be direct access but it cannot assure that the relationship with the President will be strong or that the Administrator will have the presidents confidence.

House Resolution 1150 sends the right message at the right time. It reminds TSA of the House's continued interest in seeing progress on securing our rail and mass transit systems. Last year we took steps towards that goal by passing H.R. 1…

Mr. Speaker, I cannot emphasize how important these covert tests are to protecting the country's transportation security systems. A single tip-off of a covert test is too many. We have already had three we know of. We must do our part to…

Mr. Chairman, Petty Officer Bruckenthal and two Navy petty officers were killed during a coordinated suicide attack on the oil platforms off the coast of Iraq. These men offered what President Lincoln referred to as "the last full measure…

That allows, Mr. Speaker, the Coast Guard to partner with the State and local entities to protect the security zones around LNG facilities. Last, and certainly not least, Mr. Speaker, the improvements that the bill makes in the Deepwater…

Well, if you look at the time that we actually spent in each area, given the fact that we spent less than 24 hours in any community, it would have been utterly impossible to do that trip commercially and -- and logistically.