Bennie Thompson

Families should not have to choose between food on the table and paying a ridiculously high flood insurance premium to a program that is governed by the Federal Government.

This whole-of-Government approach led to the administration to establish Operations Blue Lotus and Four Horsemen this spring.

Rather than waste resources building a wall or using migrants as scapegoats, the Biden administration has made historic investments in border security and in fighting the scourge of fentanyl.

Let me start by saying that tackling the drug crisis is one of our most pressing national security, law enforcement, and public health challenges, and we must do more to protect American lives.

Growing the national cybersecurity talent pipeline has been a long-standing priority for the Homeland Security Committee.

Unfortunately, just this week, Republicans on the Appropriations Committee have advanced a fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill that would eliminate funding for this important program.

Although no one likes increase in fees, in order for us to really help our workers and maintain this progress that we're talking about, would you support advancing the Fund the TSA Act?

I recently introduced the Fund the TSA Act, which would provide funding for salary increases and expand labor rights for TSA workers.

I support the additional $1.1 billion requested by President Biden to cover these initiatives for a full year in fiscal year 2024.

We cannot go back on a promise to the hardworking men and women of TSA.

It is absolutely vital that we work with our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to finish what we started and fully annualize these pay increases and safeguards for workplace rights for all TSA workers.

It is high time that this committee start doing oversight of pressing issues, like foreign malign influence in Latin America and how the actions of China, Russia, and others in our backyard undermine U.S. interests and democracy at large.

It was committee Democrats' understanding that the purpose of this hearing is to discuss foreign malign influence in Latin America and how the actions of our geopolitical adversaries in the region impact U.S. interests and homeland…

It is also alarming that some House Republicans are calling for significant cuts to USAID, State Department, and Commerce Department budgets that are crucial to building American influence in Latin America.

Secretary Mayorkas has done nothing contrary to his boss.

The Remain in Mexico program was horrible because I went and visited the squalor that the people were sitting in.

So Title 42 caused terrible harm to asylum seekers, which you saw first-hand on your visits to the border.

They can't stand that these policies have been effective.

Republicans have constantly falsely accused Secretary Mayorkas of being derelict in his duty to secure the border.

You don't impeach a Cabinet Secretary because you don't like their policies and you certainly don't impeach a Cabinet Secretary to appease extreme members of your political party.

The truth is, the last administration dismantled our lawful immigration system to the point where it could barely function.

Americans have gotten used to political theater from Congressional Republicans, but this hearing is a new low.

My hope for today's hearing... is that we begin a discussion on how we in Congress can support the U.S. Government's efforts to stifle cartel activity.

It is shameful and it is fueling the cartels' violence, which only exacerbates the problems we face here at home.

Instead of helping the Department prepare and manage encounters on our Southwest Border, Republicans recently voted against authorizing the 1,700 CBP officers needed.