Bennie Thompson

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close. In summary, S. 1998 is another step in Congress' effort to put DHS on a sound financial path. Speaking of a path, Madam Speaker, this is probably the chair's last official act on the floor, and I want to just say to him today that I have enjoyed his chairmanship on the committee, and I'm certain whatever the future holds in Congress, he will be a worthy participant in the process. I would like to personally say that I have enjoyed working with him.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1998, the DHS Audit Requirement Target Act of 2012 and yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, since it was established nearly a decade ago, the Department of Homeland Security has been unable to obtain a ``clean'' or unqualified audit of its financial statements. This is simply unacceptable. When I was chairman last Congress, the Committee on Homeland Security conducted significant oversight of the deficiencies that have plagued the Department's financial management efforts since its creation. While we understand that DHS has taken many of the steps necessary to obtain a clean audit, more remains to be done. S. 1998 would direct DHS to take the necessary steps to obtain a clean audit by the end of fiscal year 2013. It also requires DHS to report to Congress on its plans to strengthen its financial controls and modernize its financial management systems. Madam Speaker, S. 1998 helps put DHS on a path toward sound financial management, and for that reason, I plan to support the bill today. With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close. There are areas where TSA needs to improve its performance. On that we can all agree. Just last week, GAO released a report detailing TSA's failure to properly oversee privatized screeners and revealing that some airports with their privatized screeners do not perform as well as their federalized counterparts. I look forward to addressing those issues with my colleagues on the Committee on Homeland Security in the 113th Congress. Today, we have an opportunity to support legislation supported by industry, the Obama administration, and TSA that has the potential to enhance the efficiency and cost effectiveness of screening baggage. With that, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 3542 so it can be sent to the President for his signature and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 3542, the No-Hassle Flying Act of 2012. I support this legislation because it represents a commonsense proposal to make air travel more convenient and has the potential to enhance efficiencies. Currently, all baggage arriving at U.S. airports must be rescreened prior to being loaded on a connecting flight. This is true even for travelers arriving from designated preclearance airports where the passengers themselves do not need to be screened again because DHS has verified that screening at those airports is at least as effective as our own. This dynamic places an unnecessary burden on TSA screeners, the airlines, and the flying public who, on occasion, arrive at their final destination only to find that their baggage has not. As I stated when we considered the House companion to S. 3542 in September, where we can eliminate duplicative screening without compromising security, I will lend my support. I commend Senator Klobuchar for her work on this legislation and thank her for including important provisions I requested that require TSA to coordinate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection when determining what baggage must be rescreened in the United States. Accordingly, I support this legislation that the Obama administration proposed, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding individual who has served the citizens of the great State of Mississippi for nearly half a century. Mrs. Alice Varnado Harden was an outstanding teacher, a profound leader and a truly inspiring individual. Senator Harden's unwavering passion for enriching the lives of others and remarkable character and integrity is worthy of recognition by this honorable body, inasmuch as her governing presence will be sorely missed throughout this nation. Mississippi Senator Alice Varnado Harden was born on April 17, 1948 in Pike County, Mississippi to John Oatis Varnado and Lula Robinson Varnado. She was the third of nine children who grew up in the Washington Addition community of Jackson, Mississippi. A woman of humble beginnings, Senator Harden exhibited extraordinarily strong leadership skills, academic talents and teaching abilities that would later lend to her phenomenal performance as the first African American female to be elected to the Mississippi Senate. Senator Harden's zeal for education blossomed during her years at Jim Hill High School and Jackson State University. At Jackson State University she earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Health and Wellness. Upon graduating from Jackson State University, Senator Harden began a noteworthy career as a teacher at Calloway High School in the Jackson Public School District where she quickly gained the respect and admiration of her students, colleagues and administrative supervisors. Recognizing that public schools in Mississippi were failing to deliver on its promise to adequately prepare its students for the challenges and demands of an ever changing world, Senator Harden gradually redefined her passion for educating from being purely a lecturer to being an advocate for quality public education. As president of the Mississippi Association of Educators, Senator Harden, despite the threat of incarceration by the courts, called for a strike in 1985 to fight for salary increases for the state's teachers. The voice for hundreds of teachers and thousands of children, Senator Harden's steadfast commitment to effectuate change from the front to the back of the classroom, was victorious. Her steadfast commitment to the pursuit of change in how Mississippi honored its educators led to a statewide pay increase for teachers. Mrs. Harden's roles as an activist propelled her into the realm of politics. In 1988, She was elected to represent Mississippi's 28th Senate District, filling a seat vacated by civil rights activist State Senator Henry Kersey. During her 24 years of service as a Senator, Mrs. Harden served as chair of both the Education and the Universities and Colleges Committees. She also served on the Appropriations Committee, Corrections Committee, the Fees, Salaries and Administration Committee, the Housing Committee, and the Interstate and Federal Cooperation Committee. Across Mississippi Senator Harden was known as a champion not only for public education, but also as a giant for human and civil rights. She was a staunch supporter and defender of legislation protecting workers' and immigrant rights and was successful in enacting laws that required the presence of certified translators in all Mississippi courts. Her efforts in the Senate also resulted in pay raises and free healthcare for state employees. One of her most notable victories during her leadership of the Senate's Elections Committee was the passage of Mississippi's Motor Voter Act. This bill empowered citizens throughout the State of Mississippi with greater accessibility to the election polls. Senator Alice Harden's professional associations, achievements and awards are numerous and impressive. They speak volumes with regards to her service and vision for Mississippi communities. Senator Harden was a lifetime active member of St. James Missionary Baptist Church, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Women's Political Network, the National Council of Negro Women, the League of Women Voters and a life member of the NAACP. Additionally, she was a member of NOBEL Women, the National Conference of State Legislators, and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators and chaired the Southern Legislative Conference's Education Committee and the Mississippi Advisory Council to the United States Civil Rights Commission. She also represented Mississippi on the Education Commission of the States. In striving for academic excellence, Senator Harden pursued her doctorate in Educational Administration at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, until her health began to fail. Senator Harden served her state and community faithfully until her death on Thursday, December 6, 2012. Ms. Harden was married for 37 years to Dennis Lambert Harden. Dennis and their son Sachem brought the greatest and most abundant joy and love to her life. She was often heard talking long hours about Dennis' undying love and his support for every facet and every endeavor that enriched both their lives. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting and paying tribute to the outstanding life, achievements and legacy of Mississippi State Senator Alice Varnado Harden. Her passion for public education, human and civil right and voter empowerment is laudable and worthy of recognition by the United States Congress. She will be celebrated forever as one of Mississippi's greatest leaders.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the legislation before us today to authorize the activities of the United States Coast Guard. While I am dismayed that the measure does not include broader provisions to authorize the Coast Guard's important homeland security missions, I am pleased that it provides a much-needed and long overdue refinement to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program. The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Coast Guard, is focused on protecting the Nation's maritime transportation facilities and vessels by requiring workers who need unescorted access to secure port facilities to obtain a biometric identification card. Currently, workers must travel to TWIC enrollment centers to enroll in the program and then make a second trip to pick up and activate their approved TWICs. This unnecessary process of requiring workers to make two trips to enrollment centers, which may be hundreds of miles from their home or workplace, has burdened American maritime and transportation workers since the program's inception in 2007. The measure before us streamlines the program by requiring DHS to develop a process to mail TWICs to approved applicants rather than making workers return to an enrollment center to do so. Unfortunately, however, this bill fails to fully address a number of maritime security provisions that passed in the House this Congress. Nevertheless, on balance I support the legislation before us today and in particular the provision to streamline the TWIC process for American workers. I urge Members to give it their support.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Lawrence Thomas Guyot who stood as the ideal example of a politically-engaged activist with a relentless desire to change history. Mr. Guyot's noble contributions to the Civil Rights movement gained him notoriety as one of the great champions for justice and equality in this country. Born July 17, 1939 in Pass Christian, Mississippi, Mr. Lawrence Thomas Guyot Jr. earned his high school diploma in 1957 from Randolph High School where he was a member of the debate and basketball teams. He later attended Tougaloo College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Philosophy in 1964. Mr. Guyot's interest in social justice issues developed while he was a student at Tougaloo College which, at that time, stood for many as a safe haven during the Civil Rights movement. Mr. Guyot, along with several other students took an active role in combating the mistreatment and exclusion of African Americans who were pursuing their right to vote; demonstrating their adamant objection to these social ills. Mr. Guyot became an original member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) where he served as a field secretary working on voter education and registration throughout Mississippi. Mr. Guyot was repeatedly challenged, jailed and often beaten as he helped lead fellow members of the SNCC and student volunteers from around the nation in organizing African Americans to vote. His works impacted many of the state's counties where no African Americans were ever registered. Through the difficult times and constant opposition, Mr. Guyot courageously continued his work in civil rights. In 1964, Mr. Guyot served as director of the 1964 Freedom Summer Project which brought thousands of young people to the state to register African Americans to vote in opposition to the state's traditional habits of excluding most African Americans from voting through acts of violence and intimidation by authorities. In the same year, Mr. Guyot further pushed the campaign for greater African American participation in politics by serving as chairman of the integrated Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. It lost its challenge to the established Mississippi party at the Democratic National Convention in 1964, but its efforts were seen as paving the way for the landmark passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Later that year, Guyot was elected as delegate to the 1964 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Atlantic City, New Jersey which he was unable to attend due to having been jailed following a meeting held to register a group of African American voters. However, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party's actions and involvement at the convention would charter in the desegregation of future conventions and an expansion on the inclusion of minorities within the Democratic Party. After serving as a delegate of Mississippi's first integrated delegation to the Democratic National Convention in 1968, Guyot graduated from Rutgers Law School in Newark, New Jersey, served as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissions' (ANC) Commissioner in Washington, District of Columbia, and continued his efforts as a Civil Rights activist working tirelessly to educate numerous young people about the importance of voting and voting rights up until his death on November 23, 2012. Mr. Guyot was a soldier of the people and a mentor of the youth. He spent a lifetime vigorously fighting to increase access to the voting booth and the rights of all to have their voice heard in the electoral process. Mr. speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the outstanding life time achievements and legacy of Mr. Lawrence Thomas Guyot, Jr. His dedication and unwavering service to the underserved, underprivileged and the youths of tomorrow is laudable and more than worthy of our recognition.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a leader and innovator of the community, Mr. Melvin Logan, owner of Logan's Construction Company in Sharkey County, Mississippi. Logan Construction Company has been a thriving force in the community for more than thirty years. Mr. Logan was born and raised in Rolling Fork, Mississippi to the late James and Thelma Logan. At an early age, Logan developed a passion for building things and working with his hands. After graduating from Alcorn State University and spending years perfecting his craft with a local contractor, Logan's dream became reality. In 1976, at the age of twenty-six, Melvin opened Logan's Construction Company. Initially the primary focus of Logan Construction was renovation of properties until 1978 when Mr. Logan expanded his craft after being approached to build a house. After successfully tackling this challenge, Logan's Construction Company secured a surplus of contracts, becoming the number one builder of new homes and remodeling in the Sharkey County area. Logan's attention to detail and quality workmanship has garnered him the reputation of being the community expert of helping customers with their desired projects from conception to completion. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Logan's Construction Company and Melvin Logan for his entrepreneurial spirit and continued dedication to serving the Sharkey County community.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable minority business, Griffin Auto Repair Shop, owned by Mr. Jerry Griffin. Throughout the years, Mr. Griffin has shown what can be done through hard work, setting goals, and aiming high. Griffin Auto Repair Shop was sparked out of a need to survive. The owner, 51 year old Jerry Griffin, worked on a farm in Louise, Mississippi for nine years. He was promised a raise but his employer refused to honor that promise. At that point, Griffin asked that someone take him home, and he vowed to never to-return to that line of work again. Mr. Griffin had held steadfast to the dream of owning his own business since he was a teenager. After leaving the job because of a failed promise for a raise, he found himself unemployed and married with two children. It was at this point he began to give his dream serious thought--an auto repair business. He was not exactly sure how to start or where to begin. Mr. Griffin said he was led by God to go to the bank and ask for a loan. Once there, he was informed that chances of him getting a loan were almost impossible since he was no longer employed nor did he have any kind of collateral. However, Mr. Griffin said the loan officer decided to ``give him a chance'' and grant him a loan for $17,000 because he ``looked like an honest man that would keep his word''. In 1998, Griffin obtained a small lot and built a building which would serve as his shop. He did not have any tools, so he began purchasing tools a few at a time. Mr. Griffin relied on what he learned from books and what his grandfather taught him about working on cars. His first big job was the repair of an engine in which he earned $600.00. As time went on, he gained more customers, and was able to buy more tools than he could imagine, which lead him to be an established self taught mechanic. After his business grew, he decided to go to the bank to apply for a second loan in order to purchase a tow truck. This time, using his mother's land as collateral, he obtained an $8,000 loan. He purchased a used tow truck for $6,000 from a dealership in Greenwood, Mississippi and used the remaining $2,000 to make necessary repairs to the truck. He was now an auto shop owner with his own tow service. Now, fourteen years later, Griffin Auto Repair Shop is still a thriving business. Griffin credits the success and longevity of his business to it being ``built and ran on faith'' from its beginning to now. ``I kept my word and provided fair prices and that kept me with good customers from all around and they've been good customers for many years, said Griffin.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Griffin Auto Repair Shop for its dedication and passion for serving its customers.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Librarian, Patricia Coleman Bracey, who has possessed a passion for reading since she was a child. Any type of literature or new book that she could put her hands on was, in her words, ``like icing on the cake''. Patricia, or Pat as a lot of people call her, is the oldest of four children born to George and Marie White Coleman of Raymond, Mississippi. She was educated in the Hinds County Public School System and graduated in 1966. She received a B.S. and a Master Degree from Jackson State University in Education with a concentration in Library Science. She is a member of the Pine Grove M. B. Church and an associate member of Seven Springs United Methodist Church, both in Raymond. As a child, Mrs. Bracey's passion was always reading and finding new books to discover the world. Reading a book can take you anywhere you want to go. She realized this at a young age; therefore, she wanted to help children realize it too. With this passion and drive, Mrs. Bracey felt that she could serve children best as a librarian--and that is exactly what she did. Patricia worked to instill in boys and girls the love of reading and how to correctly use the library and its resources effectively for 32 years at Woodville Heights Elementary School in Jackson, Mississippi. After retiring from the Jackson Public School District, Patricia continued her service as a librarian with the Jackon-Hinds Library System. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Patricia Coleman Bracey, a dedicated public servant who has touched the lives of thousands of children.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker and fellow colleagues I rise today to honor a worthy member of our society Mrs. Cynthia Palmer. Mrs. Cynthia Palmer was born in Los Angeles, California but was raised in Canton, Mississippi and attended Holy Child Jesus School. After her family relocated to Jackson, she attended Brinkley Jr. High School and Callaway High School where she excelled in all areas. Cynthia was chosen as the first Black ``Miss Callaway High School'' & the first black female ``Student Body President'' among many other honors. She attended Tougaloo College and majored in Business Communications and was listed on the Dean's List. Music has been a passion of Cynthia's from a very early age. Throughout her career, Mrs. Palmer has received world-wide acclamation while participating in various local, state, national and international events. She has toured in more than 35 of the 50 United States and has performed in the following countries: Alaska, Canada, Bermuda, West Indies, England, Germany, France, Brazil and Holland. One of the highlights of her travels was to sing in Cape Town, Umtata and Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA. In 2003, Cynthia was featured on the ``Bobby Jones Gospel Show'' on The Word Network. She is a 3-time winner at the Mississippi Gospel Music Awards. One of the blessings of her career was being able to sing to women who are currently on Death Row at the Alabama State Prison. She has appeared on radio and television stations throughout the United States and abroad. She was the first gospel singer to sing at the Jewish synagogue in Dayton, Ohio. Cynthia has participated on concerts featuring such artists as Mary Mary, Byron Cage, Shirley Caesar, Richard Smallwood, Bishop Paul Morton, Rev. Marvin Sapp, The Canton Spirituals and Rance Allen just to name a few. She has recorded and self-produced 5 CD's, entitled ``JUST ENOUGH FAITH TO TRY'', ``ANOINTED PSALMS OF PRAISE'', ``A SOULFUL CHRISTMAS'', ``HEAVEN IS THE PLACE TO BE'' and ``THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION''. Cynthia produced the highly successful CD titled, ``Gospel Praises, Volume 1'' for MESSAGE MAGAZINE, the oldest black religious magazine in the country. In 2004, after relocating back to Mississippi, Cynthia founded the Canton Gospel Music Association (CGMA). One of the main focuses of the organization is to raise monies to pay for music lessons for up and coming musicians in addition to awarding scholarships to graduating seniors. To date, the COMA has awarded over $12,000.00 to over 60 students. In 2005, she served as Executive Producer for ``The Gospel at Colonus'' presented by the Mississippi Opera. Most recently she served as Operations Director for the Return of the Freedom Riders, 50th Year Reunion celebrated in Jackson in May 2011. Most recently, Cynthia worked at Jackson State University as the Resources and Media Technology Manager for the Margaret Walker Alexander National Research Center. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, Inc. Mrs. Palmer, was presented with a Public Service Award by the Robinson-Watson Book Company for the State of Mississippi at the 20th Year Honors Awards Celebration Banquet on June 26, 2009. The Public Service recipient is involved in the community during the year (s) working with various groups or agencies. They have succeeded in exercising their unselfishness in making an impact on the general Mississippi community and society. She is also listed in the inaugural edition of ``Who's Who'' in Black Mississippi. She is a member of the board of Directors of The Mississippi Opera, United Christian Artist Association, Women For Progress and MADDRAMA Performance Troupe. Mrs. Palmer has been a contributing writer to The Mississippi Link Newspaper and the Metro Christian Magazine. In 2010, she was featured on the cover of the Metro Christian Magazine. Mrs. Palmer has served on the following committees: Jackson State University's Church Music Workshop of America, Commemorative Stamp Ceremony honoring Medgar Evers & Fannie Lou Hamer, Mission Mississippi Mayor's Prayer Breakfast and Governor's Prayer Luncheon, among others. In 2003, Mayor Alice Scott, of Canton, Mississippi presented the `Key to the City' to Mrs. Palmer and proclaimed October 3 as ``Cynthia Goodloe Palmer Day''. She is a singer, song writer, producer, entrepreneur, friend, humble servant and a lover of people. Her personal testimony is: `In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths' Proverbs 3:6. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Cynthia Palmer for her dedication to serving others.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor an extraordinary gospel group, The Delta Big Four of Lambert, Mississippi. A group that believes in praising God in song. The members of the Delta Big Four were nurtured in a Christian home and taught the word of God. Their parents, the late Willie, Sr. and Daisy Nobel McCray, had sixteen children and family time and music were important in the home. Most evenings the family composed and sang spiritual songs. The family used the old washboard for music. In the 1950s, the group was called the Delta Big Four because the group originally began with four members: Ollie, Sr. and Melissa, James Lee, and Alberta. Although other members were added, the name remained. Rosie joined the group as one of the leads; she also could write and arrange. Because of her ability to write songs to fit the group, the group developed a uniqueness of their own. At the ages of four and five, the original members travelled to various churches, towns, and states praising God. Years later, they were blessed to appear on the radio stations with the likes of Theo ``Bless My Bones'' Wade of WDIA in Memphis, Tennessee and Early Wright of WROX in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the first African-American Radio Personalities in the South and on WQMA with James Figgs and James Wilson. The exposure truly benefited this young and talented group of singers. They soon had their own radio programs on both WROX and WQMA. The group was featured regularly on Early Wright's Gospel Extravaganzas. Major recording artists touring the Delta and the Mid South sought them out as an opening act, including the Mighty Cloud of Joy, Staple Singers, Pilgrim Jubilee, Swam Silvertones, Dixie Hummingbirds, and the list goes on. In the early 1960s, the Delta Big Four was one of the first local Quartet gospel groups to introduce musical instruments to their performances. They recruited a young but talented high school student, Larry Sims, as guitarist. Prior to that time, most local artists sang acappella. Although many churches were not accustomed to instruments other than pianos, it turned out to be one of the best decisions they would ever make. Very soon, groups from all over were following their lead. Larry trained Ollie and James Lee to play the lead and bass guitars, respectively, before leaving the group. They got the attention of Oris May, a Memphis television personality that hosted a gospel singing show on WMC-TV Channel 5 and a producer for Peacock Records. In 1967, the group recorded its first record, ``Story of the Blind Man.'' Later came ``Lord, Guide Me''; ``Lord Why I'm Traveling''; ``Me and the Devil Had a Wrestle, But I Won''; ``Standing on a Solid Rock''; and ``Lord If I am Too High, Bring Me Down''. Other family members were added throughout the years: Ruthie Ann, Ollie, Jr. and Andrew, the sons of Ollie, Sr. and Melissa replaced Ollie, Sr. and James Lee on the guitars. The group decided to add James Edward because his voice and style fit most of the songs Rosie wrote. This also proved to be a wise move for the group. Ollie, Jr. soon thereafter entered the ministry and left the group. Fortunately for the group, James Edward was an accomplished guitarist. The group added another musician, Quincy Twilley on drums. Every member sang lead and chorus, the mix they were seeking, the catalog of songs and the personnel to meet the demand of the group. The group has spent more than fifty years performing traditional quartet gospel music. Today, most of their time is spent in the choir at Sykes Chapel Missionary Baptist Church and working with the next generation of the Delta Big Four, led by Tiffany Griffin and Larry Strickland, Jr., who are the great grandchildren of the original members. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Delta Big Four as an inspirational gospel group.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6328, the ``Clothe a Homeless Hero Act.'' At the outset, I would like to commend Representative Hochul, the author of H.R. 6328, for her tireless work on behalf of her constituents, our veterans and for her service on the Committee on Homeland Security. Since she joined the Committee, I have watched as Representative Hochul worked to identify bipartisan solutions to our Nation's problems. H.R. 6328 is the byproduct of her collaborative and thoughtful approach. This measure requires TSA to make every reasonable effort to transfer unclaimed clothing recovered at airport security checkpoints so that it can get to needy veterans and their families. One of the unfortunate realities we face following times of war is that some of those who fought for our freedoms face challenges in transitioning to civilian life. We owe it to our veterans to do all that we can to ensure they get the helping hand needed to get back on their feet when they return from the battlefield. Thanks to Representative Hochul's leadership, the House has an opportunity today to take a small, but important, step in support of our veterans by supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker, as you have heard, H.R. 6328 enjoys the bipartisan support of the Members of the Committee on Homeland Security and deserves the support of the Full House today.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

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

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5997, the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act, and yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, although I support H.R. 5997, it is not without reservation and concern about the reduced funding this Congress has allocated to important Homeland Security Grant Programs over the past few years. Due to significantly diminished appropriations for the Homeland Security Grant Program, important targeted grant programs such as the Metropolitan Medical Response System were consolidated into larger umbrella grant programs, such as the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Grant Program in FY 2012. I'm concerned that Congress' failure to specify a funding allocation for the Metropolitan Medical Response System sends the message that medical preparedness is no longer a priority. H.R. 5997 authorizes the use of funding awarded under the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Grant Program to enhance medical preparedness, medical surge capacity, and mass distribution of medical countermeasures. All of these activities would have been eligible under H.R. 1411, the Metropolitan Medical Response Systems Program Act of 2011. H.R. 1411, which would have authorized the Metropolitan Medical Response System, was introduced by Representative Bilirakis and was marked up by the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications last year. I would rather be standing here today in support of H.R. 1411, which would send a clear message that medical preparedness is a priority for this Congress. That said, I will support H.R. 5997 because I understand that grant resources are limited and that State and local governments must have the flexibility to utilize the scarce resources available to improve medical preparedness. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, despite my reservations regarding this measure, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 5997, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Senate amendment to H.R. 915. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of the underlying measure being considered, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Senate amendment to H.R. 915, the Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act, and yield myself such time as I may consume. The bill before the House today would for the first time statutorily authorize an important border security program, the BEST program. Under BEST, ICE partners with Federal, State, local, and foreign law enforcement counterparts to establish targeted, cross-agency teams to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations posing significant threats to border security. The program also serves as a model for interagency cooperation, coordination, and information sharing, which is vital in the post 9/11 environment. I would note that it is appropriate that this bill is named in the memory of Jaime Zapata, an ICE special agent who was killed in the line of duty in Mexico while working as part of a BEST team. H.R. 915 has enjoyed strong, bipartisan support in the House, passing with overwhelming support earlier this year, as well as in the Senate. Passage today will clear the bill for the President's signature. I would like to commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar) for his continued work on this important legislation and for being the sponsor of this legislation. The Committee on Homeland Security and Congress as a whole benefit from his commitment to border security matters. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating).

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 5913, the DHS Accountability Act of 2012. The bill before the House today would create an independent advisory panel to comprehensively assess and make recommendations regarding the management structure and capabilities of the Department of Homeland Security. While there is some question about whether this legislation is necessary, as similar independent initiatives are already underway, I appreciate the effort to improve the effectiveness of DHS's management and will not oppose the bill. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, as I have no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6025, the Mandatory Operational Control Reporting and Performance Measures Act of 2012, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. The bill before the House today would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to report annually to the relevant congressional committee on the number of miles of our international land and maritime borders that are under operational control and, number two, the estimated number of unlawful entries between ports of entry along our international land and maritime borders. The Department of Homeland Security already tracks much of this data, and I have no objections to it being provided to Congress in our effort to better secure our borders. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.