[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 194 (Wednesday, December 14, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9740-H9741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND'S SECOND 
                         CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with mixed emotions, as this 
will likely be the final time that I speak in front of this Chamber as 
a Member of Congress.
  For the last 22 years, I have had the great privilege of serving the 
people of Rhode Island's Second Congressional District. It has been the 
honor of my lifetime to represent the voice and vote of my 
constituents, and I am so humbled by the faith and the trust that they 
have placed in me all these years.
  After my accident, it was my community that was there for me when I 
needed them the most, and it was their constant love and support, along 
with my family, which ultimately inspired me to run for office as a way 
of giving back.
  My journey to recovery was not always an easy one, but thanks to my 
family, my faith, and my community, I was able to move forward and 
become the first quadriplegic ever elected to the United States 
Congress.
  For the last 36 years, I have woken up every day with one goal in 
mind: giving good public service to the people of Rhode Island. That 
focus has held true since my early days in public service, beginning 
when I was elected as a delegate to Rhode Island's Constitutional 
Convention, continued through my time in the General Assembly and as 
the Nation's youngest secretary of state, and it has remained strong 
throughout my final days as a United States Congressman.
  I will forever be grateful for the enduring friendships and lifetime 
memories that I have forged here in this body. But most of all, I am so 
proud of all that we have been able to accomplish for the people of 
Rhode Island and the United States.
  I have fought to protect and advance the rights of Americans with 
disabilities, moving our society closer to becoming fully inclusive and 
accessible for all.
  On the Committee on Armed Services, I have led the efforts to 
strengthen our national security, and cybersecurity, in particular, and 
I have been proud to support the hardworking men and women of my 
district who build the world's finest nuclear submarines at Electric 
Boat.
  As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative 
Technologies, and Information Systems, I

[[Page H9741]]

have sought to procure the finest, cutting-edge technologies for our 
soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardians, and marines, so that our women 
and men in uniform never enter a fair fight.

  Moreover, I have spoken up for our Nation's foster youth, who are too 
often forgotten and left behind, and I have worked across the aisle to 
invest in job training, apprenticeships, and career and technical 
education.
  Looking back, I will always be proud of my vote for President Obama's 
Affordable Care Act, which lowered healthcare costs and secured 
coverage for millions of uninsured Americans.
  I will never forget the moment that I became the first Congressman in 
a wheelchair to preside over the U.S. House of Representatives as 
Speaker pro tempore as we marked the 20th anniversary of the Americans 
with Disabilities Act. I thank Nancy Pelosi, perhaps the greatest House 
Speaker of the modern era, for making that day possible.
  Likewise, I thank Majority Leader Steny Hoyer for his decades of 
friendship and leadership in passing the Americans with Disabilities 
Act and for his unrelenting efforts to make sure that the Capitol 
complex is accessible to Americans of all abilities.
  I also express my gratitude to my colleagues in the congressional 
delegation, Jack, Sheldon, and David, for their friendship and support. 
I could not have asked for better colleagues to work with on behalf of 
our great State.
  Finally, I thank the dozens of dedicated staff members who have 
served in my office over the years, as well as my friends and my entire 
family, especially my mom, my late dad, my brothers, and my sister for 
standing by my side every step of this journey.
  Choosing not to seek reelection to Congress was one of most difficult 
decisions of my life. But after two decades of living in two places at 
the same time and weekly air travel, I am ready to chart a new course.
  Although I will no longer be in Congress come beginning of next year, 
I am not going away. I am just coming home.
  I love my State, and I love the people who live there. So most of 
all, I want to say thank you, Rhode Island, for the opportunity to 
serve the community which has given me so much. I will always cherish 
the time that I was blessed to represent you.

                          ____________________