About Jim Langevin

After more than two decades in public service, Jim Langevin continues to bring a spirit of energy, vitality and courage to all he does. It's no surprise, given the commitment to good government which has characterized his career in politics, a career that began as the result of an accident that changed Jim's life forever.

In 1980, at the age of sixteen, Jim was injured while working with the Warwick Police Department as a cadet in the Boy Scout Explorer program. A gun accidentally discharged and a bullet struck Jim, leaving him paralyzed. While his injury ended his dream of a career in law enforcement, the tremendous outpouring of support and encouragement from his friends and neighbors inspired him to give something back to the community.

Jim ran as a delegate to the state's Constitutional Convention in 1986 in his first campaign for public office. He won that race and was ultimately elected Secretary of the Constitutional Convention. Two years later, he won election to his first term in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. As a state legislator, Jim had a reputation as a hard-working reformer committed to good government, and he was able to translate that experience into a successful statewide run in 1994. He defeated a Republican incumbent to become the nation’s youngest Secretary of State and immediately began to fulfill his campaign promise of transforming the office into "the people's partner in government.”

As Secretary of State, Jim took on the daunting task of reforming Rhode Island’s outdated election system, created the Public Information Center, and released "Access Denied,” a joint report conducted with the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University, which documented widespread violations of the state’s Open Meetings law.

In 2000, Jim was elected to represent Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he proudly serves today. During his first term, he was appointed to the Armed Services and Small Business Committees and began working on issues that affect the lives of every Rhode Islander, including health care, education, national security, and economic policy. He introduced a measure to help businesses provide health care for employees, conducted a survey to assess the needs of schools in his district, played an instrumental role in crafting landmark election reform legislation, sponsored bills to increase gun safety and championed initiatives to increase school counselors, provide respite care for family caregivers, protect our environment, and much more.

As he serves his fifth term, the Congressman is honored to have received over 70% of the vote in each of his re-elections and continues his work in Congress to break down barriers and ensure that America is truly a land of opportunity for all. After being asked by the House Leadership to serve on the Select Committee on Homeland Security, Jim conducted an in-depth assessment of the needs and capabilities of Rhode Island’s first responders and has worked with his Committee colleagues to ensure that our nation is prepared to respond to future emergencies. In the wake of the tragic Station nightclub fire, Jim sponsored bills to improve fire safety nationwide, and he has drafted comprehensive health care legislation to provide affordable coverage to every American.

He currently serves as a Subcommittee Chairman on the House Armed Services Committee, and also holds positions on the House Permanent Select Committee for Intelligence and the Committee on the Budget.

Jim Langevin has been a tireless advocate for Rhode Island’s families, and his courage and dedication have been repeatedly recognized by his House colleagues.

Jim resides in Warwick. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Rhode Island College and his Master’s from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.