Gregg Harper

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 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.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

• Joint Committee of Congress on the Library (Chair)
• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection (Vice Chair)
  • Subcommittee on Environment and Economy
• Committee on Ethics
• Committee on House Administration (Chair)
  • Subcommittee on Elections

Caucus memberships

• Republican Study Committee
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Veterinary Medicine Caucus
• U.S.-Japan Caucus

Tenure

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

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.

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. Harper said a review was "long overdue".

Elections

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

Personal life

He is a deacon of Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon, Mississippi, where he had also been a Sunday School teacher.

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.

References

References

1. (January 4, 2018). "Harper won't seek re-election". [[The Clarion-Ledger]].
2. [http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/13689897.html Harper Campaigns in Meridian] {{Webarchive. link. (2018-06-30 McLain, Sheila. WTOK. Jan 10, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2008)
3. "Member List". Republican Study Committee.
4. "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus.
5. "Members of the Veterinary Medicine Caucus". Veterinary Medicine Caucus.
6. "Members". U.S. - Japan Caucus.
7. "H.R. 2019 – Summary". United States Congress.
8. Gibson, Caitlin. (14 November 2014). "Federal pediatric medical research act named for Gabriella Miller". The Washington Post.
9. "H.R. 2019 – CBO". Congressional Budget Office.
10. Hooper, Molly K.. (30 January 2014). "Convention wipeout coming soon?". The Hill.
11. (March 7, 2016). "The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index". [[Richard Lugar#The Lugar Center.
12. (5 December 2017). "As Harassment Accusations Multiply, a Question: Who Stays and Who Goes?". The New York Times.
13. [http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=270991&pub=1 HARPER WINS 3RD DISTRICT GOP NOD] [[Associated Press]]. April 2, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2008
14. [http://www.meridianstar.com/local/local_story_310004956.html REPUBLICAN HARPER WINS 3RD DISTRICT] [[The Meridian Star]]. November 5, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2008
15. The Associated Press. (January 5, 2018). "Rep. Gregg Harper".