Bennie Thompson

I commend Chairman Payne for his bill, the Homeland Security for Children Act, which would ensure that children's needs are included in Department of Homeland Security-wide activities.

Underserved populations are more susceptible to the risks associated with disasters and following disasters, and it is significantly more difficult for them to recover.

It is unfortunate that FEMA has decided not to participate today. Their absence undermines the subcommittee's ability to conduct meaningful oversight.

Yes. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Mississippi is recognized for the balance of his time. There was no objection.

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of subtitle E of title X, insert the following: SEC. 10__. PROHIBITION ON USE OF DOD EQUIPMENT…

Do you believe that you are an American entitled to the same benefits, a citizen entitled to the same benefits and rights as other citizens?

Political expediency is no longer the order of the day.

We have to stand up to the President. We cannot allow him to believe that he can do all of these things with impunity.

It is a sad day for our country when we see this kind of disrespect.

This level of disrespect is contagious, and it is infecting the body politic in the United States of America.

This probably was not a wise choice to implement this in a situation so far away from the mainland.

I am not convinced at this point that we are anywhere near a capacity in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

Their refusal undermines the work of this committee, which is exercising its oversight responsibilities.

There shouldn't be Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands response. There should be an American response.

It is disrespectful to our witnesses from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who have traveled here today to inform Congress about the recovery challenges they still face at home.

So much of what I have heard and seen in my visit to Puerto Rico, especially, in many instances FEMA has been missing in action.

The public has no input in this process, as far as we understand.

On behalf of the Security Industry Association (SIA), thank you for holding a hearing on facial recognition technology.

The Honorable Bennie Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, 310 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515.

On behalf of the International Biometrics + Identity Association, I am writing to express our gratitude for your support over the past decade for the use of biometrics by DHS.

Biometric technology holds tremendous promise in enhancing security and efficiency in the aviation environment.

Government use of biometric and personal identifiable information can be valuable tools only if utilized properly. Unfortunately, this is the second major privacy breach at DHS this year. We must ensure we are not expanding the use of…

This is unacceptable. It is not fair to expect certain people in our society to shoulder a disproportionate burden of the technology's shortcoming.

Data security is another important concern. Frankly, the Federal Government does not have a great track record securing Americans' personal data.

The American people deserve answers to those questions before the Federal Government rushes to deploy biometrics further.