WASHINGTON, D.C.–The attack on a French magazine that left eight journalists, two police officers and two others dead Wednesday is an example of why the United States Congress should not be holding the Dept. of Homeland Security hostage, said Cong. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) Wednesday.
Thompson released a statement following the attacks, saying Congress should not withhold DHS funding after February. Currently, the department is only funded through February after Congressional action in December.
“It is important that my Republican colleagues in Congress act responsibly, stop playing politics, and fund DHS without strings attached. The American people deserve better that to have Congress play politics with homeland security,” said Thompson.
The DHS funding situation is seen as an attempt to strangle the president’s executive action on illegal immigration.
“Every day there are reminders of the diverse nature of the terrorist threat that we face.”
Thompson mentioned the attack in France, the explosion outside the NAACP in Colorado and the Sony cyber attack.
“It is critical for the key agency of the federal government that Americans look to detect, deter, and respond to terrorism has the resources it needs.”
Thompson, who represents Mississippi’s 2nd District is the Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security in the U.S. House.
