Gregg Harper

Gregg Harper
Name	Gregg Harper
Birth date	1956-12-19
Birth place	Canton, Mississippi, U.S.
Party	Republican Party
Alma mater	Mississippi State University
Occupation	Attorney, Politician
Office	Member of the United States House of Representatives
Term start	2009
Term end	2019
Spouse	Melody Harper

Gregg Harper Gregg Harper is an American attorney and politician who represented Mississippi's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he served on influential committees and held leadership roles focused on elections and oversight matters while engaging with policy debates on healthcare, taxation, and national security. After leaving Congress he returned to private sector work and advocacy related to election administration and public policy.

Early life and education

Born in Canton, Mississippi, Harper graduated from Canton High School before attending Mississippi State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He later received a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law, becoming licensed to practice law in Mississippi and establishing ties with regional legal institutions. During his formative years he was involved with local civic organizations and faith communities, connecting to networks in Jackson, Mississippi and the state's political circles.

Business career and private sector work

Harper's private sector career began in legal practice, where he worked as an attorney representing clients in Madison County, Mississippi and the broader Jackson metropolitan area. He served in roles with trade associations and business groups that interfaced with state regulators and the Mississippi State Legislature, advising on compliance, regulatory, and litigation matters. Harper also held positions with insurance and agricultural stakeholders in Mississippi, coordinating with entities in the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation and regional commerce organizations prior to his election to federal office.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elected to the 111th United States Congress in 2008, Harper succeeded a retiring incumbent and represented a district that includes suburban and rural portions of central Mississippi, incorporating parts of Madison County, Mississippi, Hinds County, Mississippi, and Lauderdale County, Mississippi. Throughout his tenure in the United States House of Representatives, he participated in debates and votes tied to major national episodes such as the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and congressional responses to international developments involving NATO partners and counterterrorism operations. He announced his decision not to seek reelection for the 116th United States Congress and left office in January 2019.

Legislative record and political positions

Harper's legislative priorities included election policy, appropriations, and regulatory reform. He sponsored and supported measures linked to election law oversight, voting system standards, and federal funding allocations to state election offices, engaging with entities such as the Election Assistance Commission and other administrative bodies. On fiscal matters he backed tax legislation associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and voted on appropriations measures coordinated through the United States House Committee on Appropriations process. In debates over healthcare he opposed efforts to fully repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act while supporting reforms aimed at changing reimbursement and regulatory structures. Harper also weighed in on national security and intelligence oversight, participating in hearings addressing Homeland Security priorities and coordination with agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Defense.

Committee assignments and leadership roles

During his time in the House, Harper served on the Committee on House Administration, where he became chairman and led oversight of federal election administration, House operations, and relationships with entities such as the Office of Congressional Ethics and the Government Publishing Office. He also served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and subcommittees that handled telecommunications, consumer protection, and healthcare regulatory issues. As chairman he engaged with bipartisan and partisan actors on matters like the certification of voting systems and internal House rules, interacting with leadership from the Republican Study Committee and the House Democratic Caucus on procedural reforms.

Later career and personal life

After leaving Congress, Harper returned to legal practice and consultancy, advising on election administration, compliance, and public policy for clients that include state election officials and private technology firms. He has participated in nonpartisan forums, panels, and commissions addressing voting systems standards and election security, collaborating with stakeholders from state legislatures, secretaries of state, and academic institutions. Harper is married to Melody Harper; they have three children and are active in faith-based and community organizations in central Mississippi. He maintains residences in his former district and engages with local civic groups and veterans' organizations.

Category:1956 births Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi Category:Mississippi Republicans Category:Mississippi State University alumni Category:University of Mississippi School of Law alumni