| Jim Langevin | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 2nd district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Weygand |
| Secretary of State of Rhode Island | |
| In office January 1995 – January 2001 |
|
| Preceded by | Barbara Leonard |
| Succeeded by | Ed Inman |
| Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from the 29th district |
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| In office January 1989 – January 1995 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | April 22, 1964 Providence, Rhode Island |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | None |
| Residence | Warwick, Rhode Island |
| Alma mater | Rhode Island College, Harvard University |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
James R. Langevin (born April 22, 1964) is the U.S. Representative for Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district, serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
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Langevin was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He attended Bishop Hendricken High School, located in Warwick, Rhode Island, and then went on to study at Rhode Island College, from which he received an undergraduate degree, in addition to serving as President of Student Community Government, Inc., and he has a Masters of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University.[1]
Langevin has been unable to walk since 1980, when, at the age of 16, he was seriously injured in an accidental shooting. He had been working as a volunteer at the Warwick Police Department when a weapon accidentally discharged, leaving him a quadriplegic.
Langevin's first experience in politics was when he 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 stand up for you", which he stated during a meeting in West Warwick.
Langevin was first elected a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1988 and served as a state representative until 1994. He was elected Secretary of State of Rhode Island in November 1994, defeating Republican incumbent Barbara Leonard. While Secretary of State, he earned a reputation for weeding out corruption in state government.
Langevin identifies as a pro-life Democrat. He has consistently voted against abortion during his five terms.[2] He has voted for the Abortion Pain Bill, which seeks “to ensure that women seeking an abortion are fully informed regarding the pain experienced by their unborn child,” as well as the amendment which prohibits federally funded abortion services in the Affordable Health Care for America Act.[3] However, he strongly promotes contraceptive availability, and in a statement in 2007 said, “I have great respect for the passion displayed by Mr. Smith and Mr. Stupak and I share their opposition to abortion. However, in this instance I must strongly disagree with their decision to prevent the distribution of contraception to some of the most poor and needy people and nations in the world.”[4] Because of his mixed stance on the issue, he has received fluctuating ratings from interest groups such as Planned Parenthood and the National Right to Life Committee.[5]
Langevin believes that abortion should be legal when the pregnancy is a result of incest or rape or when the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother, but does wish to decrease the number of abortions in the country and voted to prohibit federally funded abortion services.[6] His relatively complex stance on abortion contributes to somewhat contradictory interest group ratings because of his supporting of various bills: Representative Langevin’s stance on abortion supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2006 but in 2007, the same group gave Representative Langevin a grade of 100 and the National Right to Life Committee gave the Representative zero points, with points assigned for actions connected to a pro-life anti-abortion agenda.[7]
On the issue of Health Care, Langevin has strongly demonstrated his support of reform. In May 2009, he introduced the American Health Benefits Program Act of 2009, which has the stated purpose of "amending the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to assure comprehensive, affordable health insurance coverage for all Americans through an American Health Benefits Program.[8] He has voted in favor of health care extensively during his time in office.[9] In addition, he receives much of his campaign donations from health professionals.[10] Langevin stated his goal for universal health care as “a system of portable and continuous coverage based on quality, affordability and choice that promotes investment in long-term prevention and drives down the cost of care over time.”[11]
Langevin is considered strongly pro-labor. He has received $130,000 in campaign contributions from pro-labor groups.[12] During his time in office, he has supported labor interests in over 25 votes.[13] Numerous labor interest groups have rated him extremely highly, including the United Auto Workers, the AFL-CIO, and the Utility Workers Union of America.[14] Interestingly, however, the Latin America Working Group and The Alliance for Worker Freedom have ranked Langevin very poorly.[14]
He supports gun control, and co-sponsored a 2005 bill which would have reauthorized the 1994 assault weapons ban, which had expired in 2004.
One of Langevin’s top priorities as a Member of Congress has been the expansion of federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.[15] His policy position is driven by his paralysis and the possibilities that stem cell research provide in helping this condition; he joined other members of the House in introducing the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, expanding the limited funding put in place in 2001.[15]
Langevin helped to found the House Cybersecurity Caucus, which he co-chairs.[16] The Representative has appeared on 60 Minutes speaking about the national security challenges the country will face this century in regards to protecting infrastructure and data.[17] Langevin has said that he hopes to raise awareness of the need for security in that area and supports strict penalties for internet crimes as well as strong internet privacy laws.[6]
"Cybersecurity contractors General Dynamics and Raytheon were Langevin's two top sources for campaign contributions" in the 2010 election.[16]
Langevin, who serves on the Committee of Armed Services, has regularly voted for additional support of armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan but he has voted for a timeline for U.S. forces to leave Iraq as well as a ban on any permanent U.S. bases in the country.[18] Langevin has also voted against limiting the interrogation techniques used in fighting terror and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.[19]
The Representative, who serves on the Congressional Committee on the Budget, believes in tax-cuts for low-income and middle class citizens while eliminating the tax cuts made for the wealthy, indicating in his Political Courage Test that he wishes to “greatly decrease” taxes for families making less than $75,000.[6] Langevin also supports temporary incentives for businesses to invest in job creation. Representative Langevin, with a 100% rating from the AFL-CIO, is pro-labor and supports the regulation of business.[7]
Langevin is known as an advocate for people with disabilities and for universal health care, being himself a paraplegic. On July 27, 2004, he spoke to the Democratic National Convention, largely on the subject of stem cell research.
In March 2007, Langevin became a co-sponsor of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, which had the stated purpose of "enhancing and furthering research into paralysis and to improve rehabilitation and the quality of life for persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities." The bill passed the House of Representatives but not the Senate. However, in 2009, the bill was included in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act, also co-sponsored by Langevin, which passed both houses of Congress and was signed into law by President Barack Obama.
For the Presidency in 2008, Langevin announced his support for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY),[20] by serving as a special adviser on issues ranging from stem cell research to people with disabilities.
Langevin was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2000, defeating perennial candidate Robert Tingle for a seat that was left open when Congressman Robert Weygand ran for the U.S. Senate. He took office in 2001, representing Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district. He has been re-elected with relative ease ever since, most recently defeating independent Rodney Driver in 2006 and Republican Mark Zaccaria in 2008 and 2010, all by overwhelming margins.
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Weygand |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district 2001–present |
Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Tim Johnson R-Illinois |
United States Representatives by seniority 178th |
Succeeded by Rick Larsen D-Washington |