Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), the second-ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee and a top legislator on cyber security-related matters, announced Tuesday he will not seek reelection in 2022.
Langevin, who has represented Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional district for over two decades, now joins 27 other House Democrats who have said they will not seek another term, compared to 13 Republicans who have made the same decision.
“I’m so proud of all that we’ve been able to accomplish together. I have led the efforts in Congress to strengthen our cyber security and prepare our nation for the threats of the 21st century,” Langevin said in a video announcing his decision. “And I fought to defend our national security, advocate for our shipbuilders who make our nation’s submarines right here in Rhode Island and, most importantly, ensure that our men and women in uniform never enter a fair fight.”
Langevin, who chairs HASC’s Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems (CITI), has had a major role leading the legislative agenda on cyber-related issues, to include pushing for the recent establishment of the new National Cyber Director position and legislation aimed at strengthening the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency.
Most recently, Langevin helped secure a dozen amendments in the fiscal year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act focused on accelerating artificial intelligence adoption, to include bolstering software acquisition efforts and establishing readiness goals (Defense Daily, Sept. 7).
Langevin also co-founded and co-chairs the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus along with Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and was a commissioner on the recent Cyberspace Solarium Commission, which has championed proposals such as calling for certain critical infrastructure entities in the U.S. to report cyber security incidents (Defense Daily, Dec. 22).
“He’s irreplaceable. He drove progress in Congress in cyber security for more than a decade and was a true expert,” James Lewis, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Strategic Technologies Program, told Defense Daily.
Langevin also sits on HASC’s Seapower and Strategic Forces Subcommittees and was one of the 14 Democrats to support the $25 billion defense topline boost during the full panel’s FY ‘22 NDAA markup (Defense Daily, Sept. 1).
The Rhode Island Democrat, who is also the first quadriplegic ever elected to Congress, is also a member of the House Homeland Security Committee and its Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection.
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) is just below Langevin, in terms of seniority, for the full HASC panel and its CITI subcommittee.
Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Science, Space & Technology Committee, also announced on Monday his decision to retire at the end of this term.
On Friday, Rep. John Katko, the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, also announced his decision to not seek reelection.