Gregory Livingston Harper (born June 1, 1956) is a former American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Mississippi's 3rd congressional district from 2009 to 2019. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes the wealthier portions of the state capital, Jackson, along with most of that city's suburbs. Other cities in the district include Meridian, Natchez, Starkville, and Brookhaven.
Gregg Harper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of the House Administration Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Candice Miller |
| Succeeded by | Zoe Lofgren |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Chip Pickering |
| Succeeded by | Michael Guest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gregory Livingston Harper June 1, 1956 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Sidney Harper (m. 1984) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Mississippi College (BS) University of Mississippi (JD) |
In January 2018, Harper announced he would retire from Congress and not run for re-election.[1]
Early life, education, and career
editHarper was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He spent eight years working as chairman of the Rankin County, Mississippi Republican Party and served as a delegate to the 2000 Republican National Convention. He was appointed by the party as an observer during the 2000 Florida presidential recount.
Harper graduated from Mississippi College in 1978 with a degree in chemistry and from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981. He has worked as a private practice attorney since receiving this degree. He was the prosecuting attorney for the cities of Brandon, Mississippi and Richland, Mississippi.[2]
U.S. House of Representatives
editCommittee assignments
edit- Joint Committee of Congress on the Library (Chairman)
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Committee on Ethics
- Committee on House Administration (Chairman)
Caucus memberships
edit- Republican Study Committee[3]
- Congressional Arts Caucus[4]
- Veterinary Medicine Caucus[5]
- U.S.-Japan Caucus[6]
Tenure
editHarper introduced the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act (H.R. 2019; 113th Congress) into the House on May 16, 2013.[7] The bill, which passed in both the House and the Senate, would end taxpayer contributions to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and divert the money in that fund to pay for research into pediatric cancer through the National Institutes of Health.[8][9] The total funding for research would come to $126 million over 10 years.[8][9] As of 2014, the national conventions got about 23% of their funding from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund.[10]
Harper was ranked as the 89th most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 114th United States Congress (and the most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi) in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy.[11]
In December 2017, as chairman of the House Committee on Administration, Harper supported a review of overhauling the Congressional Accountability Act which makes it harder for victims of sexual harassment to come forward with allegations than victims in the private sector.[12] Harper said a review was "long overdue".[12]
Elections
editHarper won the Republican nomination in Mississippi's 3rd congressional district on April 1, 2008, with 57% of the vote.[13] This was tantamount to election in this heavily Republican district. He defeated his Democratic opponent, Joel Gill in the November general election winning 63% of the vote.[14]
Personal life
editHe is a deacon of Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon, Mississippi, where he had also been a Sunday School teacher.[citation needed]
He has a son with Fragile X syndrome. Harper started a congressional internship program for students with developmental disabilities through the Mason Life Program at George Mason University.[15]
References
edit- ^ Pender, Geoff; Berry, Deborah (January 4, 2018). "Harper won't seek re-election". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ^ Harper Campaigns in Meridian Archived 2018-06-30 at the Wayback Machine McLain, Sheila. WTOK. Jan 10, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2008
- ^ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
- ^ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ "Members of the Veterinary Medicine Caucus". Veterinary Medicine Caucus. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Members". U.S. - Japan Caucus. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ "H.R. 2019 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ a b Gibson, Caitlin (14 November 2014). "Federal pediatric medical research act named for Gabriella Miller". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ a b "H.R. 2019 – CBO" (PDF). Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ Hooper, Molly K. (30 January 2014). "Convention wipeout coming soon?". The Hill. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index (PDF), The Lugar Center, March 7, 2016, retrieved April 30, 2017
- ^ a b Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (5 December 2017). "As Harassment Accusations Multiply, a Question: Who Stays and Who Goes?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
- ^ HARPER WINS 3RD DISTRICT GOP NOD Associated Press. April 2, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2008
- ^ REPUBLICAN HARPER WINS 3RD DISTRICT The Meridian Star. November 5, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2008
- ^ The Associated Press (January 5, 2018). "Rep. Gregg Harper". Jackson Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
Harper and his wife have a 28-year-old son with Fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that can lead to intellectual and developmental impairment. Harper started a congressional internship program for students with intellectual disabilities from the Mason Life Program at George Mason University.