Bennie Thompson

Further, while I recognize the serious National security threat posed by North Korea, I would note that there are pressing matters squarely within this committee's jurisdiction and oversight responsibilities.

Tonight, I am privileged to rise in support of recognizing a true hero in not only the State of Mississippi, but this country as a whole. Her name is Fannie Lou Hamer. Fannie Lou Hamer will be 100 years old this week. I am happy to say…

To be successful, the Department needs adequate resources, a robust staff, strong leadership, and a clear strategy.

Disrupting the systems we rely on for power, fuel, food, and water can be deadly, regardless of whether it's caused by a cyber attack or a natural disaster.

In this country, there is nothing more sacred than the ability to engage in civic activity and cyber criminals are seeking to undermine our democracy.

There is no doubt that our country is facing an evolving array of cyber threats.

Recent news reminds us that Russia targeted voting infrastructure in at least 21 States last year in a direct attack on our democracy.

Some of us think we are creating a bigger problem because those who can pay get pre-clearance and those who can't participate by paying and might have two, three times more people coming.

I think it would be instructive for the committee if we got the list of pre-clearance airports tied to how many passengers from those airports are coming and how they rank in terms of airports that we work with.

I also have serious questions about the newest misguided travel ban announced this week and its potential detrimental effects to our Nation's security and our American values.

I have real questions about whether President Trump--with his preoccupation with banning travelers from Muslim-majority countries and building a Border Wall--will continue efforts to expand Preclearance and implement other meaningful…

The new Trump travel ban is deeply troubling. Identifying--excuse me--indefinitely banning all citizens of certain countries from applying for visas to the United States is not only bad security policy, it is un-American.

The Obama administration planned to expand that program by 10 new foreign airports, but it is unclear whether President Trump has a desire in growing this security program.

Unfortunately, President Trump has made it clear that financial systems modernization is not a priority at DHS, leaving the fate of financial management systems modernization uncertain.

It goes without saying that knowing how funds are distributed and spent throughout the Department at any given moment is critical to ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent effectively and efficiently.

The recent hurricanes illustrate that when a crippling natural disaster or other major incident hits our country, the Department of Homeland Security needs a precise understanding of both its human and financial resources in order to make…

Russia's priority in undermining confidence in our democratic institutions was clear during last year election and will only growing stronger.

President Trump has made it clear through budget cuts and hiring freezes that he does not understand the critically important work of FEMA and other agencies across our Government.

Unfortunately, there are some--including the President of the United States--that fail appreciate the service and commitment of the Federal employee.

Today, my colleagues across the aisle are perpetuating this lack of understanding by asserting that the FEMA work force has an integrity problem.

I think Congress was right to mandate the 100 percent.

I refused to believe it then, and I think now we have done a very good job at not only keeping security uppermost.

It is such a good bargain . . . to spread fear amongst the enemy and keep him on his toes in exchange of a few months of work and a few thousand bucks.

I think this is a watershed moment for air cargo screening in this country.

If successful, this plot would have killed innocent people and caused catastrophic economic disruption.