October 12, 2005
Rep. Bennie Thompson discusses FEMA's vendor contracts for the Gulf Coast cleanup. Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino explains how she combines her acting career with her human rights interests.
Rep. Bennie Thompson
In his seventh term as a Mississippi congressman, Rep. Bennie Thompson is the longest-serving African American elected official in the state. He is currently the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee. Thompson is a native of Bolton, MS, where he served as an alderman and mayor. He was also elected to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors. He is considered a leading voice on civil rights, equal education, healthcare reform and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in the Gulf Coast region.
Mira Sorvino
Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino has a versatile range, which includes roles in the films Mighty Aphrodite, The Replacement Killers and Summer of Sam; HBO's Norma Jean and Marilyn; the sitcom Will & Grace; and the Lifetime miniseries Human Trafficking. Initially, Sorvino took the advice of her dad and put education first. She graduated magna cum laude in East Asian Studies from Harvard and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and French. She then moved to NYC, where she got her start in the indie Amongst Friends.


