Glenn Thompson (politician)

Glenn William "GT" Thompson Jr. (born July 27, 1959) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected to Congress in 2008 for the state's 5th congressional district; Thompson was redistricted to the 15th congressional district in the 2018 election by an order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.[1]

Glenn Thompson
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania
Assumed office
January 3, 2009
Preceded byJohn Peterson
Constituency5th district (2009–2019)
15th district (2019–present)
Personal details
Born
Glenn William Thompson Jr.

(1959-07-27) July 27, 1959
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Penny Ammerman
Children3
EducationPennsylvania State University (BS)
Temple University (MEd)

Early life, education and early career

Thompson was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, grew up in Howard, Pennsylvania, and is the son of a Navy veteran. He holds a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University and a master's degree from Temple University.

Thompson worked for 28 years as a Therapist/Rehab Services Manager/Licensed Nursing Home Administrator in Lycoming County and served for six years as chairman of the Centre County Republican Committee. He has spent twenty-five years as a member or president of the Howard Volunteer Fire Company 14, and also actively volunteers as a fire fighter, emergency medical technician, and rescue technician.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections
2008
See also: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 5

Thompson was elected the U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district defeating Democratic nominee Mark McCracken 58%–42%.[2]

2010
See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 5

Thompson defeated Democratic nominee Michael Pipe 69%–28%.[3]

2012
See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 5

Thompson defeated Democratic nominee Charles Dumas 63%–37%.[4]

2014
See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 5

Thompson defeated Democratic nominee Kerith Strano Taylor 64%–36%.[5]

2016
See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 5

Thompson again defeated Democratic nominee Kerith Strano Taylor 67%–33%.[6]

2018
See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania § District 15

After the Pennsylvania Supreme Court redrew the congressional district map in February 2018, Thompson's district was renumbered as the 15th. In May 2018, Susan Boser, a professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, won the Democratic nomination in Thompson's district, defeating Wade Johun in her party's primary.[7] In the general election, Thompson defeated Boser 68%–32%.

Tenure

When the 112th Congress convened January 5, 2011 to elect a Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Thompson's vote was the 218th vote for John Boehner giving Boehner the majority needed to be named Speaker.

During the 112th Congress, Thompson became chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation, and Energy.

At the start of the 115th Congress, Thompson was named vice-chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture.[8]

Political positions

Taxation

Thompson voted in December 2017 for H.R. 1, The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.[9]

Government funding

In January 2018, Thompson voted for the Fiscal Year 2018 continuing resolution (CR), a stopgap funding bill to fund the federal government at then-current levels through February 16, 2018. It also provided for six-year funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Thompson praised the measure for delaying what he called "three onerous and unpopular Obamacare taxes, which should be permanently repealed.”[10]

Defense

In May 2018, Thompson voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019, which increased defense spending, military salaries, and the number of military personnel.[11]

Education

As a member of the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee, Thompson has supported local control rather than federal mandates on issues like evaluating teachers, has opposed private school vouchers, and has voted to expand S-CHIP (children's health insurance). In August 2014, the National Education Association's political action committee endorsed Thompson for re-election.[12]

School meals

In October 2017, Thompson and Joe Courtney (D-CT) introduced H.R. 4101, the School Milk Nutrition Act of 2017, a bill to promote milk consumption by schoolchildren.[13]

Food programs

In April 2018, Thompson supported new work and job training requirements for certain beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps. Thompson spoke up for the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), recalling that in the early 1980s, when he earned “less than $9,000,” he and his wife had relied upon WIC, “a short-term intervention program designed to help pregnant women and their children meet healthy nutritional needs."[14]

Gun control

After the Parkland, Florida, school massacre in 2018, Thompson told an audience of students that he does not agree with the idea of arming teachers and that he had voted to fund an improved national background check system. Thompson called for more "uniformed law enforcement in our schools."[15]

Health care

In May 2017, Thompson voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and replace it the Republican American Health Care Act.[16][17]

Veterans

In April 2017, Thompson and Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced H.R. 2123, the Veterans E-Health and Telemedicine Support (VETS) Act of 2017. In September Thompson praised the Department of Veterans Affairs for proposing a rule that was similar to his bill and that would allow VA-credentialed health care providers to practice telemedicine across state lines.[18]

Thompson sponsored the Servicemembers' Telemedicine and E-Health Portability Act of 2011, which was enacted as part of part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. The bill expanded the use of telemedicine for active duty military, reserve and National Guard.[19]

Environment

On the subject of climate change, he has said, “I think humans contribute,” but added that he was not sure of the degree to which they contribute.[20] In September 2017, Thompson and several other Members of Congress asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to rescind the Waters of the United States rule, calling the regulation an overreach that expanded "EPA's authority far beyond its congressional mandate."[21]

Rural air service

In April 2018, Thompson fought efforts to eliminate federal funding for the Essential Air Service. Three airports in his district participate in it.[22]

Committee assignments

Caucus leadership

Thompson is a member of the Coal Caucus,[28][29] House Baltic Caucus,[30] the Congressional Arts Caucus,[31] the Congressional Western Caucus[32] and the Veterinary Medicine Caucus.[33]

Personal life

Thompson lives in Howard Township with his wife, Penny Ammerman-Thompson. They have three grown children.

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References
  1. Chuck Biedka, Democrats in 15th Congressional District primary focus on broadband expansion, Trib Live
  2. 2012 Election Results Map by State – Live Voting Updates. Politico.com (2013-06-21). Retrieved on 2013-08-17.
  3. 2012 Election Results Map by State – Live Voting Updates. Politico.com (2013-06-21). Retrieved on 2013-08-17.
  4. 2012 Election Results Map by State – Live Voting Updates. Politico.com (2013-06-21). Retrieved on 2013-08-17.
  5. Pennsylvania Election Results: 2014. Politico.com (2014). Retrieved on 2016-04-28.
  6. Pennsylvania Election Results: 2016. Politico.com (2016). Retrieved on 2017-01-16.
  7. Stevens, Matthew (2018-05-15). "IUP professor Susan Boser wins 15th District Democratic nod, to challenge Glenn Thompson". WJAC. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  8. "Thompson named vice chairman of the House Agriculture committee". meadvilletribune.com. 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  9. "Thompson supports federal tax overhaul | News, Sports, Jobs - The Express". Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  10. "Thompson supports government funding measure". The Bradford Era. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  11. Donnelly, John M.; Donnelly, John M. (2018-06-14). "Defense Bills Seek to Protect U.S. Energy at Base in Germany". Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  12. "Pennsylvania educators recommend Rep. Glenn Thompson's reelection to Congress". NEA. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  13. "Bill hopes to reverse declining milk consumption in schools". Feedstuffs. 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  14. Op-Ed, Pennlive (2018-05-09). "These historic investments in nutrition assistance will change lives | Glenn 'GT' Thompson". pennlive. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  15. newsroom@thecourierexpress.com, Andrew Bundy. "Glenn Thompson talks about new district, gun control". TheCourierExpress.com. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  16. "Thompson explains his GOP health care bill vote". centredaily. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  17. "Thompson 'committed to repealing and replacing Obamacare'". centredaily. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  18. mHealthIntelligence (2017-11-08). "VETS Act, Supporting Telehealth for Veterans, Now in Senate's Hands". mHealthIntelligence. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  19. He authored the Service Member Electronic Health Portability Act (STEP) of 2011.
  20. Rafacz, Sarah (October 8, 2017). "Thompson meets with constituents in local forum". Centre Daily Times. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  21. Davenport, Coral (2017-06-27). "E.P.A. Moves to Rescind Contested Water Pollution Regulation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  22. "Rep. Thompson speaks in support of rural air service". Transportation Today. 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  23. Orland, Madison. "Congressional Art Competition". House.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  24. "The Congressional German-American Caucus | German American Business Council". Gabcwashington.com. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  25. "Natural Gas Caucus | Congressman Glenn Thompson". 2014-02-21. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  26. "Members | Career and Technical Education Caucus". Careerandtechnicaleducationcaucus-langevin.house.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  27. "Membership of the Congressional Constitution Caucus". Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  28. "Congressional Coal Caucus members list". Capitol Impact. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  29. Glen Thompson (25 October 2013). "Thompson Times - October Newsletter". US Congress. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  30. "Members". House Baltic Caucus. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  31. "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  32. "Members". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  33. "Members of the Veterinary Medicine Caucus". Veterinary Medicine Caucus. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
John Peterson		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district
2009–2019		 Succeeded by
Mary Gay Scanlon
Preceded by
Susan Wild		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district
2019–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Kurt Schrader		 United States Representatives by seniority
138th		 Succeeded by
Paul Tonko
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