Bennie Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, if the House does not act today, an important national security program would terminate in a matter of hours. I cannot overstate the threat that would pose. As DHS Secretary Nielsen put it in a letter last November: `` . . . if the program were to lapse as a result of the current sunsetting provision, it would increase the risk to our country and create uncertainty across the chemical industry.'' Before I close, I want to thank my partners in this month-long effort. My fellow committee members, Representatives Richmond, Rogers, and Ratcliffe; my colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Representatives, Pallone, Walden, Tonko, and Shimkus; our new partner in the Senate, Ranking Member Peters; majority and minority leadership staff, most notably Shuwanza Goff and Luke Murry; and Alicia Smith on my staff, as well as Jackie Cohen, Jerry Couri, and Julie Klein. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 251) to extend by two years the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, last week, I came to the floor with Democratic and Republican leaders of the Homeland Security and Energy and Commerce Committees to urge the House to take urgent action to prevent termination of the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards program. The House answered the call by passing H.R. 251 by an overwhelming margin of 414-3. Now, the Senate has acted on this critical legislation and sent H.R. 251 back with an amendment. It falls to the House to get it to the President's desk. Although 414 Members of the House sent a strong message to the Senate that the program should be reauthorized for 2 years, which would have provided sufficient opportunity for meaningful engagement with DHS, stakeholders, and the Comptroller General, the Senate amendment authorizes the program for a shortened period of 15 months. I am concerned this abbreviated authorization period provides less stability for DHS and more uncertainty for the regulated community, but unless we act, the CFATS program will expire at midnight tonight. Allowing this program to lapse will be disruptive, irresponsible, and would sacrifice the important security gains that DHS and the regulated community have achieved. In short, allowing the program to sunset would make our communities less safe. After all, this program is designed to prevent the next West, Texas, where a dozen first responders lost their lives after a bad actor caused an explosion at a fertilizer plant, creating a blast that leveled an entire community. Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I have no speakers, and I am prepared to close after the gentleman from Texas closes. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. William Astor Kirk on his great contributions to civil rights activism. Raised in the East Texas town of Harleton, William began his journey to higher education at Wiley College, a historically black college located in Pittsburg, Texas. He transferred and continued his trajectory at the prestigious Howard University in Washington, earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Political Science. He then pursued his doctorate at the University of Texas. He also completed postgraduate studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science in England as a Fulbright scholar. He later served as a regional director of the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity and as an adjunct associate professor of organization theory in the Graduate School of Management and Technology at the University of Maryland. He was founder and CEO of the Organization Management Services Corporation. Kirk, also a United Methodist layperson, served as a director of the public affairs department of the Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church from 1961 to 1966 and as the board's interim top executive in 1987 and 1988. He played a historic role in ending institutional segregation in the United Methodist Church. Overcoming discrimination was a fight he knew well. He had earned a doctorate in political science at the University of Texas at Austin-- the university's first Ph.D. awarded to an African-American. Kirk also led Huston-Tillotson students in various protests against segregated public facilities in Austin during that era, and he was said to be instrumental in the desegregation of the city's library and other facilities. He was known as a complete gentleman, a person who believed in forgiving and in not allowing bitterness to define his life. Before his death, Kirk had prepared an omnibus resolution to end discrimination against sexual minorities, to be presented at the 2012 General Conference of The United Methodist Church. William Astor Kirk died on Friday, August 12, 2011, at 89 years of age. He and his wife Vivian, who died in 2010, had been members of Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington since 1984, and he served in many leadership roles. He is survived by his son, William A. Kirk, Jr., his late daughter Marie Kirk Dunn, daughter-in-law Hillary, his late son-in-law Reginald Dunn, and four granddaughters Ayanna, Jenelle, Allison and Stefanie. Madam Speaker, today I honor the life of Mr. William Astor Kirk for his many contributions to ending discriminatory practices in the United Methodist Church as well as throughout the City of Austin. William made a career of serving others, and his work had a direct and positive influence on the lives of literally thousands.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding me the time. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 268, a bill to help our country recover from another year of devastating natural disasters. In 2018, Americans across the country faced extreme hardship due to hurricanes, wildfires, and other catastrophic events. From Hurricanes Michael and Florence in the Southeast to historic wildfires in the West and volcanic activity in Hawaii, no part of our Nation was spared. Last week, the President responded to these events by callously proclaiming on Twitter that he plans to stop aid to wildfire survivors in California. This behavior is not in the spirit of our great Nation. The funding provided in this bill would show the American people that we stand with them, even if the President does not. Importantly, in response to Hurricane Maria, it provides $600 million to Puerto Rico for debris removal and restoration of its electric grid. Additionally, the bill provides much-needed funding to communities across the Nation for Head Start, farmers who suffered crop losses, and Americans with housing needs. I have firsthand knowledge of the challenges after a devastating hurricane. It took years and sustained commitment from the Federal Government to help my community recover from Hurricane Katrina. H.R. 268 will help put our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico on a critical path to recovery. Additionally, I support the McGovern amendment to prevent the President from raiding the Army Corps of Engineers' funds to build his border wall.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, today I will introduce H.R. 356, the Medgar Evers Home National Monument Act. The home is located in Jackson, Mississippi. The Evers family home, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017, is hallowed ground for those of us who lived through the struggle for racial equality and desegregation. That single-story, ranch-style home bore witness to one of the most consequential monuments in the civil rights era, the assassination of Medgar Wiley Evers. I am honored to, in my capacity as Congressman of the Second Congressional District of Mississippi, to offer this legislation to honor the sacrifice of not just civil rights icon Medgar Evers, but his widow, Myrlie, by designating their home as a national monument. Due to bipartisan efforts last Congress, this legislation passed through the Committee on Natural Resources and ultimately passed the House by unanimous consent. I am asking that we make this happen again and honor the legacy of an icon in American history, Medgar Wiley Evers. I urge everyone to support this legislation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 251 was introduced by Democratic and Republican leadership of the Homeland Security Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee. This bill would allow the Department of Homeland Security to continue working with high risk chemical facility owners and operators throughout the U.S. to guard dangerous chemicals against malicious actors. For proof of how grave this threat is, one need look no further than West, Texas, where, in 2013, a perpetrator set fire to a fertilizer plant, causing an explosion that leveled an entire town. More than a dozen first responders and civilians lost their lives in the blast. Allowing authority to lapse would throw away the progress that has been made since 2014 and needlessly make our communities less secure. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to support H.R. 251 and call on the Senate to join us in maintaining this important security program. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Louisiana.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 251, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act. H.R. 251 would extend the Department of Homeland Security's authority to carry out the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, or CFATS, program for 2 years. Under this novel regulatory program, DHS works with the owners and operators of our Nation's highest risk chemical facilities to ensure those facilities have adequate security measures in place. Unless Congress acts expeditiously, authority to regulate these high- risk facilities will expire in a matter of days. We cannot let this happen. The risk of a terrorist attack on a chemical facility is not conjecture; it is a credible threat echoed by every Homeland Security Secretary since 2005. Federal and State law enforcement officers have uncovered multiple plots aimed at chemical facilities, including after the 9/11 attacks when it came to light that the hijackers had also scouted chemical plants. National security experts, from former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to President Obama, have expressed concern that a terrorist could seek to penetrate a chemical facility to carry out a weapon of mass destruction attack. CFATS is the way DHS partners with chemical facilities to combat this threat. The program enjoys support across party lines and within the regulated community. I led the initial bipartisan effort to establish the program in 2006. CFATS had a bumpy start, but over time, with the stability of a long- term authorization, in 2014, CFATS has developed into a security program that is making the U.S. demonstrably safer. Don't take my word for it; the data speaks for itself. Since CFATS was created, the number of chemical facilities designated as high risk in the U.S. has dropped by half. This achievement means that communities near the chemical plants are safer. Still, like with any other program, there are areas where it could be strengthened. The 2-year extension sought under this act is needed to give the House and Senate ample time to come together to address oversight findings to improve the program. It is unfortunate that in the waning days of the previous Congress, bipartisan House efforts to provide the regulated community with confidence that the CFATS security regime would continue were rebuffed by a couple of Senators who took the public position that the program should be completely ended unless it was changed in the way they liked. In fact, they said as much in a letter to House and Senate leadership on October 23, 2018: ``If Congress fails to reform the CFATS program, we believe the program should expire and not continue to be reauthorized via annual appropriations.'' The approach they took was eerily similar to the one the President is now taking as he sets a partial government shutdown in motion to try and compel Congress to agree to providing nearly $6 billion in funding for a border wall. Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of Homeland Security wrote to Congress in November urging for a short-term reauthorization. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record both the letter from my Senate colleagues and the letter from the Secretary. U.S. Senate, Washington, DC, October 23, 2018. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Greg Walden, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Frank Pallone, Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul, Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Thompson, and Ranking Member Pallone: We write regarding S. 3405, the Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2018. This bill will reauthorize the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with commonsense reforms to secure chemical facilities while reducing the regulatory burden on the private sector. During the 113th Congress, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, House Committee on Homeland Security, and House Committee on Energy and Commerce worked together to reauthorize and reform the CFATS program, although the reauthorization is set to expire in January 2019. At that time, the CFATS program faced significant challenges, including long backlogs to review security plans, a flawed tiering methodology, program management issues, and questions about whether the program was effectively reducing risk and enhancing security. The CFATS program currently regulates over 3,000 chemical facilities nationwide. Although DHS has improved its management of the CFATS program over the past four years, such as eliminating the estimated nine-year backlog of reviewing facilities' unique site security plans, it is evident that the program needs additional reforms. On June 12, 2018, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a roundtable that included DHS, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, a CFATS chemical inspector, and a variety of companies and industry groups. During the roundtable, stakeholders provided feedback on how to further improve the CFATS program. For example, industry stakeholders expressed concerns about duplicative regulatory regimes between DHS and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; advised that DHS should not make terror screening mandatory for Tier 3 and Tier 4 facilities; complained about inadequate communication from DHS about changes in facilities' tiering; and discussed how a CFATS recognition program can provide greater regulatory relief. We also heard from a CFATS chemical inspector on basic and continuous training issues and need for improvement, particularly with respect to cybersecurity. In addition, the Committee's oversight has shown a need for DHS to report on new metrics that will show if the program is effectively measuring risk reduction and addressing the current threat environment. Incorporating this feedback from CFATS stakeholders, Chairman Johnson introduced S. 3405 on September 4, 2018. Senator Capito is a cosponsor. S. 3405 reauthorizes the CFATS program for five years and brings much-needed regulatory relief to the U.S. chemical industry while effectively balancing safety and security. On September 26, 2018, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs unanimously reported S. 3405 favorably by voice vote. On September 28, 2018, Rep. Katko, Rep. Moolenaar, and Rep. Cuellar introduced H.R. 6992, a bipartisan House companion. In the coming weeks, we hope the committees of jurisdiction will continue to work together, as they have throughout this Congress, to find areas of agreement to reauthorize and improve the CFATS program. The purpose of the reauthorization process must be to improve federal regulatory programs incorporating lessons learned from Congressional oversight. S. 3405 provides a path for the CFATS program to continue for an additional five years without inflicting burdensome and duplicative regulations on DHS's industry partners. If Congress fails to reform the CFATS program, we believe the program should expire and not continue to be reauthorized via annual appropriations. We look forward to working with you to reauthorize the CFATS program with commonsense reforms before the conclusion of the 115th Congress. Thank you for your attention to this important subject. Sincerely, Ron Johnson, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Shelley Moore Capito, Chairman, Subcommittee on Homeland Security Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, as Secretary Nielsen notes in her letter, `` . . . if the program were to lapse--as a result of the current sunsetting provision--it would increase the risk to our country and create uncertainty across the chemical industry.'' The Secretary and I may not agree on everything, but we agree on this: We cannot let this critical national security program fall victim to this political game of chicken. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this bill.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 251) to extend by two years the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Ms. Velazquez, for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, we are currently on the 18th day of President Trump's government shutdown. On a daily basis, the economic harm of the shutdown is being felt more acutely by small businesses in the Federal marketplace than their larger competitors. In contrast to large firms, small firms often rely on just a few contracts to provide a large portion of their annual revenue. As such, many report that, during the shutdown, they may have to lay off staff Small firms are projected to lose out on nearly $301 million daily in new contract work because agencies cannot enter into new contracts during the shutdown. I urge the President to put America first and agree to reopen the government. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 226, the Clarity on Small Business Participation and Category Management Act of 2019. H.R. 226 seeks to improve reporting on small business participation in Federal contracting. This legislation requires the Small Business Administration to report to Congress on the number of small businesses awarded best in class contracts and the dollar amount of such contracts. This information should help us get answers regarding how category management impacts the participation of small businesses, including minority-owned, women- owned, and veteran-owned companies, in the Federal marketplace. Market research has shown that past contract consolidation efforts by the Federal Government have decreased the number of small prime contracting opportunities in the Federal workplace. In fiscal year 2017, the percentage of contracting dollars that went to small businesses was 24 percent, down from 26 percent in fiscal year 2015. As such, concerns about the impact of category management on small businesses are understandable. As a longtime advocate for small businesses, I am pleased to cosponsor this legislation, and I thank the gentlewoman from New York for bringing this bill forward. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support small businesses by voting in favor of this legislation.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my appreciation of Mr. Paul Thompson upon his retirement from the Government Accountability Office. Over the past four decades, Mr. Thompson has worked on a diverse range of issues in the Legislative and Executive Branches. Mr. Thompson began his federal career in 1977, as a staff member to the then-U.S. House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. He then joined the Department of Energy's Office of General Counsel in 1980 as a Law Clerk. In 1982, he left the Department of Energy and joined the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as an Attorney-Advisor. In 1987, Mr. Thompson took a position in the private sector, but, just three years later, he began working at what we now know as the Government Accountability Office. But in 1991, it was called the General Accounting Office. Over the past 27 years, Mr. Thompson has helped GAO carry out its core mission of supporting Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and ensure the accountability of the federal government for the benefit of the American people. In my capacity as the top Democrat on the Committee on Homeland Security Committee, I have found him to be a reliable resource to our staff in our efforts to carry out vigorous oversight and appreciate his personal commitment to providing staff with valuable insights and information. Mr. Speaker, you may be wondering whether Mr. Thompson and I are related. We are not related, but we share a commitment to accountability and oversight. We thank Mr. Thompson for his service to our country and wish him the very best.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Patricia W. McDowell on the occasion of her retirement from USDA Rural Development following 30 years of exemplary service to the State of Mississippi and to the Nation. Raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Patricia graduated from Wingfield High School in 1974 and then attended Jackson State University. She began her career with the Farmer's Home Administration in 1988, following employment with the American Red Cross in service to military families. Patricia's initial duties with USDA began in the Single Family Housing Program as a Loan Clerk. She was then promoted to the position of Community & Business Programs Technician, and later she was promoted to the position of Loan Specialist within the Community Programs Division. In February 2017, Patricia was promoted to Community Programs Director where she has ably led the Division and will retire on December 31, 2018. In her role as Community Programs Director for USDA Rural Development in the State of Mississippi Patricia has provided communities throughout the state with access to the services they need to grow and thrive. She has ensured that Mississippi's rural citizens have access to basic necessities such as: safe water, electrical utilities, and healthcare services. She has worked diligently to utilize the resources under her authority to promote educational opportunities, support law enforcement and emergency responders, and promote access to childcare and other critical community facilities. In every aspect of her work, she has performed professionally and with great enthusiasm, and she is a shining example for those who will follow in her footsteps. Mr. Speaker, too often we overlook the many contributions made by the career civil servants of the U.S. Government who work so diligently and professionally in service to their country and community. Patricia has made a career of serving others, and her work has had a direct and positive influence on the lives of literally tens of thousands of Mississippians. It is my honor to represent Ms. Patricia W. McDowell in Congress, and a privilege to offer her the genuine gratitude of this chamber in support of three exemplary decades of civil service. I congratulate Patricia for her years of service and the innumerable contributions she has made to improve the quality of life of rural Mississippians. I know her service to others is not over, and I wish her the best as she moves on to the next chapter of her life.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Robert E. Moore, a pillar in the Mississippi Delta. In the year of 1945, Robert was born on the 21st day of April. Raised in Greenwood, Mississippi, Robert received his undergraduate degree from Jackson State University and a graduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. Moore was a United States Marine Corps Veteran. He served in Vietnam and was a Purple Heart Recipient. Robert was best known for his persistent leadership while fighting for the underprivileged citizens of Leflore County. Robert served as President of the Leflore County Board of Supervisors for more than fifteen years. He recently retired from Mississippi Valley State University after 27\1/2\ years serving as the Director of the University Center for Economic Development. Mr. Moore has served as Director of the Mid-Delta One Stop Capital Shop, the National Center for Excellence, Director of Historical Black Colleges and Universities, Urban Development Home Ownership Rehabilitation Program, and Department Head of the Social Work Program. He also participated in the Lower Mississippi Delta Commission, the Empowerment Zone, along with the Delta Individual Investment Corporation, Mississippi Blues Commission, and the Delta Regional Authority. His years of hard work and dedication are worthy of many celebratory remarks. As a profound advocate for economic development, Moore is highly remembered for his leadership and guidance in the construction of the Three Rivers Community Development Corporation, Leflore County Micro Loan Program, Leflore County Business Manufacturing Center, Leflore County Home Ownership Program, and the Mid-Delta Individual Investment Corporation. Robert was a lifelong resident of the Browning Community. He was indeed a great inspiration and took great pride in the betterment of the quality of his district. He had a vision for a community-owned business which provided opportunities for its people. He saw an expansion of the Browning Well as a Community Heritage Project. Moore transitioned on Friday, November 11, 2018. He is survived by his three children: Latanya Moore Wallace, Reginald Moore, and Robert Andre Moore. Mr. Speaker, I honor the life of Mr. Robert E. Moore for his many years of service and efforts he has put forth in the Mississippi Delta as well as the United States of America.