Bennie Thompson
U.S. Representative for Mississippi
Bennie Gordon Thompson was born in January 1948 in Bolton, Mississippi. He earned an undergraduate degree from Tougaloo College and an M.A. and M.S.S. from Jackson State University. He was a school teacher in Madison, Mississippi.
He became a civil servant, beginning as an alderman and then mayor of Bolton before being elected to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.
Thompson became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in April 1993 after winning a special election.
He is married to London Johnson and they have one daughter. He is a member of the United Methodist Church.
In the News…
Every five years, Congress must pass a farm bill. The current legislation expires on September 30, and conflict has arisen among members of the House Agriculture and Nutrition Task Force over food stamps, climate change, and other matters of law.
Representative Bennie Thompson, chairman of the task force, is holding firm, particularly on the matter of food stamps. “If we’re going to get a farm bill, it has to be inclusive. At some point, we’re going to have to work together,” he said.
He said he is particularly concerned “for those individuals who don’t have the lobbyists or other things but they are Americans. They deserve just and fair consideration. There are a lot of [legislators] who are not going to support a farm bill that is punitive.” He added, “Nutrition is the largest tranche of the farm bill.“
He said he would like to see a path created for new farmers, especially those in urban operations, to be able to participate in farm and conservation programs.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Representative Thompson today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Bennie Thompson
Representative for Mississippi
2466 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
