[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 65 (Thursday, April 15, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H1795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING SHAWN FRIEDKIN

  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Shawn Friedkin, a 
passionate advocate for people with disabilities, whose life was cut 
short after a courageous battle with cancer. John Friedkin was my 
friend, and we were kindred spirits.
  At the age of 27, Shawn was in a car accident that left him 
paralyzed. Instead of allowing that experience to defeat him, he used 
it to help others overcome their own obstacles and reach their full 
potential.
  In 1997, he founded Stand Among Friends, a nonprofit dedicated to 
improving the quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries, and 
more broadly, improving employment outcomes so that people with 
disabilities can live ``life without limits.'' That was Shawn's 
philosophy, ``a life without limits,'' and he applied it to everything 
he did.
  Whether providing assistance through Stand Among Friends, 
establishing a disability resource center at Florida Atlantic 
University, or advocating for legislation in Congress, Shawn 
demonstrated his unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life 
for individuals with disabilities everywhere.
  Mr. Speaker, I was proud to call Shawn a friend. Although his life 
was cut far too short, his legacy will live on through his work and his 
loving family.

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