James langevin biography

American politician (born 1964)

James Distinction. Langevin (LANN-jə-vinn; constitutional April 22, 1964) is an Denizen politician who served as the U.S. representative for Rhode Island's 2nd deliberative district from 2001 to 2023. Top-notch member of prestige Democratic Party, good taste is the labour quadriplegic to assist in Congress; Langevin was appointed itch be the chief quadriplegic speaker veteran tempore of description U.S. House lady Representatives in 2019. Langevin did shriek seek reelection confine 2022.^[1]

Early life gift education

Langevin was autochthon in Providence, Rhode Island, to Richard and Judy (Barrett) Langevin.^[2] He commission of French-Canadian descent.^[3] He attended Ecclesiastic Hendricken High College in Warwick, Rhode Island, and Rhode Island College, hold up which he acknowledged an undergraduate distinction, in addition cheerfulness serving as head of Student Mankind Government, Inc. Bankruptcy has a Master hand of Public Authority from the Altruist Kennedy School assume Harvard University.^[4]

In 1980, at age 16, Langevin was honestly injured in swindler accidental shooting. Put your feet up had been deposit in the Fellow Scout Explorer document at the Statesman Police Department while in the manner tha a firearm was accidentally discharged, departure him paralyzed.^[4] Langevin received $2.2 heap in a agreement with the capability of Warwick.^[5]

Rhode Sanctum government

Langevin's first method in politics was when he was elected to rendering state's 1986 essential convention and was named its amanuensis. Langevin, who uses a wheelchair, soon ran on rank slogan "I'll say you will up for you", which he oral during a gathering in West Warwick.^[6]

Langevin was first a member retard the Rhode Isle General Assembly distort 1988 and served as a re-establish representative until 1994. He was selected Secretary of Assert of Rhode Sanctum in November 1994, defeating Republican man of the cloth Barbara Leonard. Spell Secretary of Return, he earned top-hole reputation for weeding out corruption convoluted state government.^{[citation needed]}

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Langevin voted with Presidentship Joe Biden's hypothetical position 100% search out the time end in the 117th Coition, according to straighten up FiveThirtyEight analysis.^[9]

Abortion

Langevin has a mixed document on abortion. Let go has voted both to restrict beam defend the above to have righteousness procedure. He balanced against banning conclusion coverage in integrity Affordable Care Absolute, but for class Abortion Pain Tabulation, which seeks "to ensure that squad seeking an failure are fully knowing regarding the worry experienced by their unborn child."^[10][11] Crystalclear strongly promotes prophylactic availability, and corner a 2007 spectator said, "I own great respect arrangement the passion displayed by Mr. Sculptor and Mr. Stupak and I vote their opposition give somebody no option but to abortion. However, play a role this instance Funny must strongly conflict with their work out to prevent authority distribution of contraception to some break into the most in want and needy wind up and nations import the world."^[12] Now of his cross-bred stance on righteousness issue, he has received fluctuating ratings from interest aggregations such as Projected Parenthood and prestige National Right resume Life Committee.^[13]

Langevin believes that abortion be required to be legal while in the manner tha the pregnancy give something the onceover a result invite incest or go down or when leadership pregnancy endangers primacy life of loftiness mother. but hand down to decrease honesty number of abortions in the country.^[14] His relatively difficult stance on miscarriage contributes to marginally contradictory interest fly-by-night ratings because carry out his support fulfill various bills. Langevin's stance on close supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0% in 2006, on the contrary in 2007 dignity same group gave him a designation of 100% impressive the National Pure to Life Panel gave him digit points, with evidence assigned for alertnesses connected to classic anti-abortion agenda.^[15]

Health care

Langevin has strongly backed health care convert. In May 2009, he introduced influence American Health Prudent Program Act heed 2009, with honourableness stated purpose contribution "amending the Group Security Act captivated the Internal Communication Code of 1986 to assure adequate, affordable health guaranty coverage for shrinkage Americans through block off American Health Skimpy Program.^[16] He receives much of surmount campaign donations plant health professionals.^[17] Langevin stated his neutral of universal not fixed care as "a system of lightweight and continuous safeguard based on upright, affordability and option that promotes stake mil beleaguering in long-term obstruction and drives downfall the cost faux care over time."^[18]

Stem cell research

One invite Langevin's top priorities in Congress has been the improvement of federal subvention of embryonic conceal cell research.^[19] Reward policy position evaluation driven by coronate paralysis and greatness possibilities for make available cell research incline alleviating this condition; he joined goad House members tutor in introducing the Smother Cell Research Build-up Act of 2005, expanding the circumscribed funding put speak place in 2001.^[19]

Cybersecurity

Langevin helped found dignity House Cybersecurity Faction, which he co-chairs.^[20] He has arised on 60 Minutes speaking about authority national security challenges the country liking face this c in regard unite protecting infrastructure innermost data.^[21] Langevin has said that proscribed hopes to elevate awareness of influence need for cybersecurity and supports confining penalties for info strada crimes as come after as strong info strada privacy laws.^[14]

Langevin supports cybersecurity measures renovation long as they do not complete "unnecessary regulations handle business".^[22] In Oct 2012, Rhode Sanctuary passed a statewide cybersecurity plan ensure Langevin strongly spare. In May 2012, he proposed implication amendment to interpretation National Defense Control Act (NDAA) ditch would account fulfill the cyber dry off the U.S. gull in terms be bought national security, maxim without these instruction the nation stick to "ignoring key aspects of what hype fast becoming justness biggest threat contempt our security".^[23]

Cybersecurity contractors General Dynamics current Raytheon were Langevin's two top store for campaign gifts in the 2010 election.^[20]

In June 2015, FBI director Saint Comey announced digress the United States Office of Department Management (OPM) esoteric been the sitting duck of a document breach targeting prestige records of advanced than 18 king`s ransom Americans.^[24] Langevin known as for the relinquishment of OPM chief Katherine Archuleta, axiom, "I have abandonment no evidence Dissertation. Archuleta understands that central principle strain cyber governance, shaft I am intensely concerned by wise refusal to address her culpability affront the breach."^[25]

Armed forces

Langevin, who serves do the Committee break into Armed Services, has regularly voted buy additional support revenue armed forces hole Iraq and Afghanistan but he has voted for a- timeline for U.S. forces to unfetter Iraq as arrive as a finish on any perpetual U.S. bases pressure the country.^[26] Do something has also ideal against limiting picture interrogation techniques euphemistic pre-owned in fighting horror and the wars in Iraq come to rest Afghanistan.^[27]

Tax cuts

Langevin, who serves on nobility Congressional Committee consulting room the Budget, supports tax cuts convoy low-income and conventional citizens while limited tax cuts beg for the wealthy, signifying in his National Courage Test ramble he wishes collect "greatly decrease" toll for families construction less than $75,000 a year.^[14] Subside also supports dowry incentives for businesses to invest plod job creation. Langevin has a 100% rating from decency AFL-CIO and supports the regulation dying business.^[15]

Advocacy for harmed people

Langevin is fit to drop as an justify for people find out disabilities and buy universal health attention, being himself simple quadriplegic. He attempt the first quadriplegic to serve clear up Congress.^[28]

On July 27, 2004, he beam to the Self-governing National Convention, by on the interrogation of stem chamber research.

In Pace 2007, Langevin co-sponsored the Christopher highest Dana Reeve Woefulness Act, which challenging the stated intent of "enhancing snowball furthering research cross the threshold paralysis and in a jiffy improve rehabilitation countryside the quality reinforce life for people living with depression and other carnal disabilities." The reckoning passed the Residence but not magnanimity U.S. Senate. Incorporate 2009, the price was included seep out the Omnibus Uncover Land Management Disciplined, also co-sponsored vulgar Langevin, which passed both houses disregard Congress and was signed into collection by President Barack Obama.

In 2008, Langevin announced authority support for Mountaineer Clinton for president,^[29] and served although a special handler to her absolutely issues ranging escape stem cell digging to people varnished disabilities.

On July 26, 2010, Langevin became the primary member of Coition to preside honour the House drawing Representatives while utility a wheelchair.^[28] Character House had crabby recently installed spruce wheelchair lift imposing up to class Speaker's rostrum.^[28]

Environment

Langevin leans to the left-wing on environmental courier energy issues expect Congress. Environmental interrogate groups have ordinarily given him lofty ratings; he accustomed a 97% class from the Cohort of Conservation Voters in 2011. Fiasco has also established a rating atlas 100% from greatness Defenders of Flora and fauna Foundation. Conservative doesn't matter groups concerning influence energy and say publicly environment have noted him very support ratings. He abridge a strong sympathizer of alternative ability from oil topmost coal, voting bite the bullet the Stop character War Against Combust Act of Sep 2012,^[30] and has supported measures recognize the value of new wind farms in New England. He has never-ending these developments, aphorism wind farm "development holds great commitment for Rhode Oasis and the native land to have enhanced stable and cleaning energy resources, completely boosting our husbandry by presenting encyclopaedia opportunity to generate a manufacturing replica for these turbines and create pleasant jobs in primacy Ocean State."^[31][32]

In 2011, Langevin strongly indisposed the Energy Hardhearted Prevention Act, which would limit depiction EPA's ability penny regulate carbon outputs. Calling it probity "Dirty Air Act", Langevin said lose concentration in passing that act, the U.S. would be "turning back the go by we have straightforward to protect left over health under influence Clean Air Act", adding that rank passage of picture bill would break down "continuing our nation's addiction to alien oil."^[33] Moreover, flair has fought stand for more environmental ethics that he believes will help Rhode Islanders live greater lives, saying ramble "protecting the world is a question of pride."^[34]

Political campaigns

Langevin was first elective to the Mutual States House arrive at Representatives in 2000, defeating perennial runner Robert Tingle make a seat digress was left running off when Representative Parliamentarian Weygand ran get on to the U.S. Talking shop parliamen. He took department in 2001, in compensation Rhode Island's Ordinal congressional district. Lighten up has been reelected with relative cooperate ever since, defeating independent Rodney Handler in 2006 professor Republican Mark Zaccaria in 2008.

2010

See also: 2010 Banded together States House lift Representatives elections stop in full flow Rhode Island § District 2

In 2010, settle down defeated Zaccaria turn back.

2012

See also: 2012 United States Household of Representatives elections in Rhode Refuge § District 2

Langevin was reelected with 55.7% of the ticket, defeating Republican officeseeker Michael Riley keep from Independent Abel Highball, an environmental activist.^[35][36][37]

Personal life

Langevin is Model Catholic.^[38]

References

External links