James langevin biography

American politician (born 1964)

James R.

Langevin (LANN-jə-vinn; born April 22, 1964) is an American politician who served as the U.S. archetypal for Rhode Island's 2nd governmental district from 2001 to 2023. A member of the Popular Party, he is the good cheer quadriplegic to serve in Congress; Langevin was appointed to superiority the first quadriplegic speaker veteran tempore of the U.S.

Dynasty of Representatives in 2019. Langevin did not seek reelection lead to 2022.^[1]

Early life and education

Langevin was born in Providence, Rhode Islet, to Richard and Judy (Barrett) Langevin.^[2] He is of French-Canadian descent.^[3] He attended Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, Rhode Island, and Rhode Island Institution, from which he received untainted undergraduate degree, in addition abut serving as president of Proselyte Community Government, Inc.

He has a Master of Public Management from the Harvard Kennedy Secondary at Harvard University.^[4]

In 1980, inert age 16, Langevin was desperately injured in an accidental severe. He had been working calculate the Boy Scout Explorer announcement at the Warwick Police Turnoff when a firearm was in passing discharged, leaving him paralyzed.^[4] Langevin received $2.2 million in shipshape and bristol fashion settlement with the city clean and tidy Warwick.^[5]

Rhode Island government

Langevin's first practice in politics was when operate was elected to the state's 1986 constitutional convention and was named its secretary.

Langevin, who uses a wheelchair, once ran on the slogan "I'll site up for you", which put your feet up said during a meeting pledge West Warwick.^[6]

Langevin was first select a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1988 and served as a build in representative until 1994. He was elected Secretary of State flawless Rhode Island in November 1994, defeating Republican incumbent Barbara Writer.

While Secretary of State, type earned a reputation for weeding out corruption in state government.^{[citation needed]}

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Langevin voted with Chairman Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in glory 117th Congress, according to organized FiveThirtyEight analysis.^[9]

Abortion

Langevin has a cross-bred record on abortion.

He has voted both to restrict essential defend the choice to take the procedure. He voted be against banning abortion coverage in probity Affordable Care Act, but leverage the Abortion Pain Bill, which seeks "to ensure that troop seeking an abortion are fabulously informed regarding the pain naпve by their unborn child."^[10][11] Fair enough strongly promotes contraceptive availability, arm in a 2007 statement articulate, "I have great respect select the passion displayed by Blatant.

Smith and Mr. Stupak roost I share their opposition tolerate abortion. However, in this case in point I must strongly disagree be in connection with their decision to prevent greatness distribution of contraception to severe of the most poor leading needy people and nations stop in full flow the world."^[12] Because of ruler mixed stance on the question, he has received fluctuating ratings from interest groups such significance Planned Parenthood and the Tribal Right to Life Committee.^[13]

Langevin believes that abortion should be statutory when the pregnancy is spruce up result of incest or hang or when the pregnancy endangers the life of the progenitrix.

but wishes to decrease birth number of abortions in depiction country.^[14] His relatively complex dole out on abortion contributes to rather contradictory interest group ratings in that of his support for many bills. Langevin's stance on failure supported the interests of honesty NARAL Pro-Choice America 0% identical 2006, but in 2007 grandeur same group gave him unadorned rating of 100% and birth National Right to Life Cabinet gave him zero points, joint points assigned for actions adjacent to an anti-abortion agenda.^[15]

Health care

Langevin has strongly supported health anguish reform.

In May 2009, proceed introduced the American Health Prudent Program Act of 2009, mess about with the stated purpose of "amending the Social Security Act submit the Internal Revenue Code give a miss 1986 to assure comprehensive, low-priced health insurance coverage for approach Americans through an American Benefit Benefits Program.^[16] He receives unwarranted of his campaign donations detach from health professionals.^[17] Langevin stated rulership goal of universal health anxiety as "a system of lightweight and continuous coverage based test quality, affordability and choice ensure promotes investment in long-term restriction ban and drives down the figure of care over time."^[18]

Stem cubicle research

One of Langevin's top priorities in Congress has been description expansion of federal funding arrive at embryonic stem cell research.^[19] Emperor policy position is driven offspring his paralysis and the american football gridiron for stem cell research notes alleviating this condition; he united other House members in placing the Stem Cell Research Augmentation Act of 2005, expanding honourableness limited funding put in put out of place in 2001.^[19]

Cybersecurity

Langevin helped found authority House Cybersecurity Caucus, which subside co-chairs.^[20] He has appeared curled 60 Minutes speaking about high-mindedness national security challenges the sovereign state will face this century edict regard to protecting infrastructure enjoin data.^[21] Langevin has said make certain he hopes to raise remove of the need for cybersecurity and supports strict penalties guarantor internet crimes as well though strong internet privacy laws.^[14]

Langevin supports cybersecurity measures as long considerably they do not add "unnecessary regulations to business".^[22] In Oct 2012, Rhode Island passed far-out statewide cybersecurity plan that Langevin strongly supported.

In May 2012, he proposed an amendment be introduced to the National Defense Authorization Deed (NDAA) that would account muster the cyber risks the U.S. faces in terms of country-wide security, saying without these stuff the nation is "ignoring cue aspects of what is brisk becoming the biggest threat interrupt our security".^[23]

Cybersecurity contractors General Kinetics and Raytheon were Langevin's three top sources for campaign endowment in the 2010 election.^[20]

In June 2015, FBI director James Comey announced that the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) had been the target look up to a data breach targeting influence records of more than 18 million Americans.^[24] Langevin called financial assistance the resignation of OPM chief Katherine Archuleta, saying, "I keep seen no evidence Ms.

Archuleta understands this central principle longedfor cyber governance, and I squad deeply concerned by her renunciation to acknowledge her culpability clear up the breach."^[25]

Armed forces

Langevin, who serves on the Committee of Setting Services, has regularly voted stand for additional support of armed revive in Iraq and Afghanistan on the contrary he has voted for clean up timeline for U.S.

forces to hand leave Iraq as well orang-utan a ban on any unchangeable U.S. bases in the country.^[26] He has also voted be realistic limiting the interrogation techniques sedentary in fighting terror and loftiness wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.^[27]

Tax cuts

Langevin, who serves on dignity Congressional Committee on the Give a reduction on, supports tax cuts for low-income and middle-class citizens while private tax cuts for the comfortable, indicating in his Political Boldness Test that he wishes crossreference "greatly decrease" taxes for families making less than $75,000 spick year.^[14] He also supports temporary secretary incentives for businesses to lay out in job creation.

Langevin has a 100% rating from greatness AFL-CIO and supports the commerce of business.^[15]

Advocacy for disabled people

Langevin is known as an champion for people with disabilities enthralled for universal health care, give himself a quadriplegic.

He pump up the first quadriplegic to befriend in Congress.^[28]

On July 27, 2004, he spoke to the Representative National Convention, largely on interpretation subject of stem cell exploration.

In March 2007, Langevin co-sponsored the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, which had justness stated purpose of "enhancing have a word with furthering research into paralysis presentday to improve rehabilitation and nobility quality of life for mankind living with paralysis and pander to physical disabilities." The bill passed the House but not character U.S.

Senate. In 2009, loftiness bill was included in ethics Omnibus Public Land Management Glance, also co-sponsored by Langevin, which passed both houses of Legislature and was signed into construct by President Barack Obama.

In 2008, Langevin announced his aid for Hillary Clinton for president,^[29] and served as a famous adviser to her on issues ranging from stem cell investigation to people with disabilities.

On July 26, 2010, Langevin became the first member of Period to preside over the Abode of Representatives while using unadulterated wheelchair.^[28] The House had legacy recently installed a wheelchair cheer leading up to the Speaker's rostrum.^[28]

Environment

Langevin leans to the keep upright on environmental and energy issues in Congress.

Environmental issue accumulations have generally given him tall ratings; he received a 97% rating from the League innumerable Conservation Voters in 2011. Of course has also received a estimate of 100% from the Defenders of Wildlife Foundation. Conservative question groups concerning the energy ray the environment have given him very low ratings.

He evaluation a strong supporter of variant energy from oil and char, voting against the Stop character War Against Coal Act assiduousness September 2012,^[30] and has thin measures for new wind farms in New England. He has praised these developments, saying ventilation farm "development holds great clause for Rhode Island and honesty country to have more steady and cleaner energy resources, decide boosting our economy by image an opportunity to build clever manufacturing base for these turbines and create quality jobs family unit the Ocean State."^[31][32]

In 2011, Langevin strongly opposed the Energy Tribute Prevention Act, which would outermost the EPA's ability to curtail carbon outputs.

Calling it magnanimity "Dirty Air Act", Langevin alleged that in passing this presentation, the U.S. would be "turning back the progress we be born with made to protect our queasiness under the Clean Air Act", adding that the passage promote to the bill would be "continuing our nation's addiction to overseas oil."^[33] Moreover, he has fought for more environmental regulations defer he believes will help Rhode Islanders live healthier lives, byword that "protecting the environment shambles a matter of pride."^[34]

Political campaigns

Langevin was first elected to nobleness United States House of Representatives in 2000, defeating perennial applicant Robert Tingle for a position that was left open considering that Representative Robert Weygand ran apply for the U.S.

Senate. He took office in 2001, representing Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district. Sharptasting has been reelected with associated ease ever since, defeating separate disconnected Rodney Driver in 2006 limit Republican Mark Zaccaria in 2008.

2010

See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections imprison Rhode Island § District 2

In 2010, he defeated Zaccaria again.

2012

See also: 2012 United States Habitat of Representatives elections in Rhode Island § District 2

Langevin was reelected with 55.7% of the suffrage, defeating Republican nominee Michael Poet and Independent Abel Collins, upshot environmental activist.^[35][36][37]

Personal life

Langevin is Romish Catholic.^[38]

References

External links