James Langevin

Infobox_Congressman
name = Jim Langevin

---

date of birth = birth date and age|1964|04|22
place of birth = Providence, Rhode Island
state = Rhode Island
district = 2nd
term_start = January 3, 2001
preceded = Bob Weygand
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Democrat
spouse = single
religion = Roman Catholic
occupation= political assistant
alma_mater= Rhode Island College, Harvard University
residence= Warwick, Rhode Island

James R. Langevin (born April 22, 1964) is a Democratic member of the Rhode Island congressional delegation. He represents the state's 2nd District, serving since 2001.

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. [cite web | title=U.S. Representative Jim Langevin at house.gov | url=http://langevin.house.gov/about.shtml | accessdate=2008-04-22]

Langevin's first experience in politics was when he was elected to the state's 1986 constitutional convention and was named its secretary. He was first elected a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly in 1988 and served as an assemblyman until 1994. He was elected Secretary of State of Rhode Island in 1995, and while at this post he earned a reputation for weeding out corruption in the state government. Langevin has been a member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing the state's 2nd Congressional district. (see [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ri02_109.gifmap] ).

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 paralyzed from the waist down. Langevin uses a wheelchair and is thus far the only paraplegic to serve in Congress. He is known as an advocate for people with disabilities and for universal health care. On July 27, 2004, he spoke to the Democratic National Convention, largely on the subject of stem cell research.

Langevin is a pro-life Democrat in Congress. Langevin fended off a primary challenge from a more liberal Democrat in 2006, and he easily won re-election against Independent Rod Driver.

For the Presidency in 2008, Langevin announced his support for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) [cite news | title=Rhode Island Rep. Jim Langevin Endorses Clinton | date=June 1 2007 | url=http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=1884 | accessdate=2008-04-22] , by serving as a special adviser on issues ranging from stem cell research to people with disabilities.

References

External links

* [http://www.house.gov/langevin/ U.S. Representative James Langevin] official U.S. House site
* [http://www.langevinforcongress.com/ Langevin for Congress] official campaign site
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jim_Langevin Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia