Gregg Harper

Gregg Harper
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2009
Preceded by	Chip Pickering
Personal details
Born	June 1, 1956 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Sidney Harper
Children	2
Alma mater	Mississippi College University of Mississippi, Oxford
Religion	Southern Baptist

Gregory "Gregg" Harper (born June 1, 1956) is the U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 3rd congressional district, serving since 2009. 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.

Early life, education and career

Harper 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 controversial 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.^[1]

As for his personal life, he is a deacon of Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon, Mississippi, where he had also been a Sunday School teacher.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
  • Subcommittee on Environment and Economy
• Committee on Ethics
• Committee on House Administration
  • Subcommittee on Elections (Chairman)

Legislation

Harper introduced the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act (H.R. 2019; 113th Congress) into the House on May 16, 2013.^[2] 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.^[3][4] The total funding for research would come to $126 million over 10 years.^[4][3] As of 2014, the national conventions got about 23% of their funding from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund.^[5]

Elections

Gregg Harper won the Republican nomination in Mississippi's 3rd congressional district on April 1, 2008 with 57% of the vote.^[6] 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.^[7]

References

1. Harper Campaigns in Meridian McLain, Sheila. WTOK. Jan 10, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2008
2. "H.R. 2019 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
3. Gibson, Caitlin (14 November 2014). "Federal pediatric medical research act named for Gabriella Miller". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
4. "H.R. 2019 – CBO" (PDF). Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
5. Hooper, Molly K. (30 January 2014). "Convention wipeout coming soon?". The Hill. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
6. HARPER WINS 3RD DISTRICT GOP NOD Associated Press. April 2, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2008
7. REPUBLICAN HARPER WINS 3RD DISTRICT The Meridian Star. November 5, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2008

External links

• Congressman Gregg Harper official U.S. House site
• Gregg Harper for Congress
• Gregg Harper at DMOZ
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress