Message from Rep. Thompson
Congressman Bennie G. Thompson has represented the second district of Mississippi since 1993. He was named Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security at the beginning of the 109th Congressional session.
The Committee’s jurisdiction includes but is not limited to overall homeland security policy; the organization and administration of the Department of Homeland Security; segments of the nation’s border and port security; domestic preparedness for and collective response to terrorism; and transportation security.
During the 108th Congress, Rep. Thompson served as the Ranking Member on the Select Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness & Response.
Rep. Thompson has 36 years of public service having held several positions as a locally elected official and he is a former volunteer firefighter. As such, he is personally aware of the security issues facing America’s communities.
His commitment to civil rights and civil liberties was forged during the civil rights struggle of the 1960s and he constantly defends these rights and freedoms that all Americans should enjoy.
Under his leadership, the Committee has produced bipartisan legislation to meet the essential needs of first responders in order to help them prevent, prepare for, and respond to acts of terrorism. The legislation would also make certain that all communities whether urban, suburban or rural received adequate funding for first responders.
In addition, this spring the Committee for the first time approved legislation authorizing all programs to be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security.
