Rep. Gregg Harper (R., Miss.) announced Thursday that he will not seek a sixth term in Congress, saying he never planned to make his public service a career and wants to spend more time with family.
"(Family) is one aspect of it, but I never intended to make this a career and 10 years is really a long time to serve," Harper told The Clarion-Ledger during an interview on Thursday. "It's been the most incredible experience ... I wouldn't trade it for anything, but I never planned to spend my entire life up here."
Harper, 61, said politics has been tough in recent years, but it wasn't one of the deciding factors in his decision not to seek reelection.
"Certainly a lot of frustration goes along with serving in Washington, D.C., but there are a great group of members I serve with up here, and I have a really great staff," Harper said. "... It was intended for people to be a citizen legislator for a period of time and not stay there ... Of course, I have a grandbaby coming in July, and having more control over my schedule is really appealing, too."
Harper said he and his wife, Sidney, had been "contemplating this [decision] for two years," and they "did not make this decision lightly."
In recent years, Harper, the highest-ranking member of of the Mississippi U.S. House delegation and the only member to hold a full committee chairmanship, has been considered a rising star in the Republican House leadership, according to the Ledger.
More recently, Harper was named chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. The subcommittee conducts investigations and provides oversight on telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health and research, energy policy, interstate and foreign policy and any other matters under the jurisdiction of the full committee.
As chairman of the House Administration Committee, Harper has had a high profile role in discussions about addressing sexual harassment concerns on Capitol Hill. Harper’s committee has held several hearings on the topic and pushed to made anti-sexual harassment training mandatory.
Harper had also been considered a likely successor to U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, should he retire or not seek re-election.
The congressman also tweeted out a link to his official statement where he referred to his public service as the "highest privilege and honor" in his life.
"We have been contemplating for almost two years when it would be our time not to run again, and after spending time over Christmas and New Year’s with my family, we made the very difficult decision to say that 10 years will be long enough," he wrote.
He went on to thank House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) for allowing him to serve as the Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, and said he will do everything he can to serve in a bipartisan manner during the remainder of his term.
Harper then reflected on various accomplishments during his tenure in the House and talked about his future plans.
When I first arrived in the House, I started an internship program for college students with intellectual disabilities in the Mason Life Program at George Mason University that allowed them to work in House and Senate Member offices and get valuable work experience, develop skills and improve their confidence, as well as open the hearts of Capitol Hill staffers and Members to the vast possibilities of those young adults with special needs. Over 150 House and Senate offices have participated in this program.
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I will truly miss serving in Congress, but I look forward to the years ahead as I continue to work on policy issues that matter, and I hope to spend more time in Mississippi. I have been blessed to have the best staff that any Member could ever have. I have also enjoyed serving with an incredible group of Members who care deeply about their districts and our country. I believe that America’s greatest days are yet to come.
May our great God continue to bless each and every one of you. Thank you for your encouragement, your support and your prayers.