Bennie Thompson

Bennie G. Thompson has been a Democratic member of the  United States House of Representatives from the 2nd District of Mississippi since 1993. The district includes most of Jackson and is the only majority-black district in the state.

Iraq War
Thompson voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

National security and foreign policy
Rep. Thompson introduced the first bill of the 110th Congress in the House (H.R.1), focused on implementing recommendations originally put forward by the 9/11 commission, as part of the Democrats "First 100 Hours" agenda. Specifically, the bill included calls to:
 * Scrutinize all air-borne cargo (within three years) and all ship-borne cargo (within five years)
 * Send more federal aid to areas of the country at the greatest risk of a terrorist attack
 * Improve emergency communications
 * Fight nuclear proliferation overseas
 * Strengthen a civil liberties watchdog board

Background
Bennie G. Thompson (born January 28, 1948) is a native of Bolton and served as an alderman, then mayor of that city and he was next elected to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors. In 1975, Thompson became one of the original plantiffs in the Ayers Case which concerned the adequate funding of predominantly black educational institutes in Mississippi. He is married to the former London Johnson of Mound Bayou, Mississippi and has one daughter, BendaLonne, and one granddaughter, Jenna.

Congressional Career
A special election was held in April 1993 for the 2nd Congressional seat of Mississippi due to the resignation of incumbent Mike Espy to become Secretary of Agriculture under President Clinton. Thompson handily won that election and subsequently was re-elected several times overwhelmingly. However, in 2002 and 2004, Republican Clinton LeSueur managed to win at least 40 percent of the vote.

Thompson is currently the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security.

2006 elections
In 2006, the Republicans nominated Yvonne Rayford Brown to face Thompson in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Thompson retained his seat.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Homeland Security -Chair
 * Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism -Ex Officio
 * Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response -Ex Officio
 * Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology -Ex Officio
 * Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment -Ex Officio
 * Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight -Ex Officio
 * Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection -Ex Officio

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Homeland Security - Ranking Member

Coalitions and Caucuses

 * Congressional Black Caucus
 * Congressional Progressive Caucus
 * Congressional Rural Caucus
 * Congressional Sunbelt Caucus
 * Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus
 * Gaming Caucus
 * Ranking Member, Homeland Security Committee
 * Tennessee Valley Authority Caucus

Boards and other Affiliations

 * Life Member, Asbury United Methodist Church in Bolton
 * Congressional Children's Working Group
 * National Guard and Reserve Components Congressional Members Organization.

Articles and Resources

 * Official website
 * Thompson Took Abramoff-paid Trip to Marianas by R. Jeffrey Smith, Washington Post, 5/4/05
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database