jim langevin.dent as a police station where he was serving as a junior cadet. he's urged his colleagues on capitol hill to invite victims of gun violence to be their guests at the state of the union tomorrow. thirty democrats are planning to do so, with over 190 shooting on an average day in america, they should have no problem finding people who's lives have been scarred by guns. joining me tonight, it is my pressure to welcome from washington, d.c. jim langevin. welcome to the war room, thank you for being with us, head of this speech and head of your big idea. >> good evening. thanks for having me on the program. >> of course. tell me, what do you hope to achieve by bringing victims of gun violence to the state of the union? >> well, we're all touched and our hearts broken when we heard the news of what transpired in newtown connecticut. no one wants to see that happen again. we need to keep the focus on meaningful gun control to the congress. i really applaud president obama for taking on this

at a subsequent hearing seven months later, langevin's committee members discovered that almost nothingt do you think we are, a bunch of jerks? >> they--basically, they lied to congress, and i was outraged. >> and they admitted lying to congress? >> that's right. they admit that they misled congress, that they did not give accurate testimony, and they subsequently had to retract the testimony. >> have they made any progress since you caught them out in this lie? >> no, not sufficiently. the private sector has different priorities than we do in providing security. their, in a sense, bottom line is about profits, and we need to change that. we need to change their motivation so that when we see a vulnerability like this, we can require them to fix it. >> langevin and others have introduced legislation that would do just that. >> i look at this as, like, a pre-9/11 moment where we identify a problem, we identify a threat, we know it exists, we know it's real, and we don't move quickly enough to fix the problem. >> and what i'm worried about is, because of so many competing priorities, and

langevin on this gun cont l control. the study and support of nonviolence has been a big support for my family. people who get through this tragedy, you know, that happened in our family, and hopefully it doesn't have to happen to another family. >> one thing that we've seen is, there has been some tough opposition on the democratic senatorial side of the hill. and we have heard from senator jon tester of montana and his reasons why he might be opposed. take a listen. >> i think in montana, we look at guns more as a tool, not unlike a pickup truck or a stove. the fact is, it's part of what we grew up with. but there's a fair number of folks out there, when it comes to guns, that are concerned that any sort of ban is the first step to a bigger ban. >> congressman, how do you debate that argument? >> well, i certainly respect and support the second amendment and individuals' right to bear arms, but we have to make sure that we, that those who own weapons are legally able to do so, and they're not one of the secluded catego

>> joining me now for an exclusive interview, democratic congressman jim langevin, congressman, did you it appropriate for you if you did say, that ted nugent cares less about crime victims than you do? >> i said ted was an odd choice to bring as a guest of the state of the union, after the comment he made, the weird comment about bringing harm to the president of the united states. as you pointed out, which prompted a secret service investigation. as simple as that. but i'm not going to let ted nugent distract from the real message or the things we were involved in. i was proud to organize a group of my colleagues, each of us gave up our ticket, to those who have been victims of gun violence, who lost their lives, shattered by gun violence. because i believe it is important that we establish the universal background checks, and the assault weapons ban, and an elimination of these guns that hold 30 rounds of ammunition that are designed for nothing other than weapons of war, designed to kill large numbers of people very quickly. >> it was fascinating to watch what republicans do not app

feeney and "common voices," a coalition of fire safety groups, supports rhode island congressman jim langevin's efforts to reintroduce the "fire sprinkler incentive act" next week, a bill to provide tax breaks to building owners who retrofit their properties with fire sprinklers. "this particular piece of legislation is not a mandate but a tool to help business owners protect the people they're trying to get into that same building." but opponents have balked at the cost - well over a hundred thousand dollars for a small business. "at this point, for me, that's a cop out. they're in denial if they think it could never happen here." the bill would allow building owners to deduct the cost of installing sprinklers with a shorter depreciation schedule - 15 years, not 39 years as in earlier bills. "it's always an incentive for business owners to make a capital investment if they get a bigger deduction up front." according to the national fire protection association, nfpa, sprinkers increase survivability rates in fires by more than half. the governor of michigan is threatening to take over the motor

guest ticket to sit up above the gallery and a few weeks ago a congressman from rhode island, jim langevindemocrat, a quadriplegic after being shot accidentally in the neck when he was 16 years old, he had the idea to invite someone who had been touched by gun violence. well that idea spread and tonight there were about 30 victims of gun violence including gabrielle giffords as you mentioned, up in the gallery. i spoke to one of them, carolyn murray earlier this afternoon. her son justin was gunned down in front of his grandmother's house in el vanston, illinois just three months ago. she was invited by jan that cow ski of illinois and they're hoping their presence there-- they weren't speaking-- but just the fact that they were there would send a message to lawmakers down below that they want to see action. >> pelley: there's a bill now that's been introduced in the senate that would ban the kind of assault weapon that was used at newtown, same kind of assault weapon used in a shopping mall for a shorting in oregon and at that theater in colorado. the bill would also limit the number of r

. >> reporter: it was congressman jim langevin who convinced more than three dozen colleagues to give up their prized tickets to the state of the union to victims of gun violence. >> this is the effort. this is the time. if not now, when? >> reporter: he has seen first-hand what guns can do. he was paralyzed by an errant bullet when he was just 16. also in the chamber will be kaitlin roig. she was the first grade teacher at sandy hook who spoke to diane sawyer just hours after the massacre about how she hid her 15 students in the bathroom. >> i said, no, we just have to be absolutely quiet and we have -- i said, there are bad guys out there now, we have to wait for the good guys. >> reporter: she will be a guest of the first lady, and sure to be mentioned in the president's speech. while the emotion will be on guns, the new proposals will be in the area of the economy and, diane, a big announcement on afghanistan in bringing u.s. troops home. the president will announce that more than half of those now in afghanistan will be home by this time next year. >> going to be a big speech ton

secretary of state and had been in the state legislature -- >> host: and that is -- >> guest: jim langevin who's still in congress. >> host: right, still in congress. >> guest: and the main reason that i ran was because i felt that he wasn't representing the district on the issues that mattered much to me -- >> host: such as? >> guest: he had voted at the time 27 times against a woman's right to choose. rhode island was two-thirds pro-choice, i was pro-choice and felt that was an important issue. he also cast a series of votes regarding reauthorizing egregious provisions of the patriot act, he was not very outspoken about the war in iraq. and so i just felt that there were a plethora of issues where rhode islanders weren't being adequately represented. but there's a very substantial incumbency advantage, and rarely does the establishment field a candidate to go against someone in a primary. so i feldt like i had to do it -- i felt like i had to do it if i wanted to bring about change. and i had just written my first book, so i was very aware of some of these traditional limitations that wo

langevin, for five minutes. without objection. mr. langevin: mr. speaker, i rise in recognition today of career and technical education month and i'm proud to be joined by mr. thompson of pennsylvania who i know spoke earlier this morning. mr. thompson is my good friend and fellow co-chair of the bipartisan congressional career and technical education caucus. the c.t.e. is an investment in the future of our economy, our work force, and country. from skills training in high schools to community college and professional programs, c.t.e. plays a critical role for every age. i'm so proud that president obama called for more support for c.t.e. in his state of the union message last evening. now, the most important step i think we can take this year to support c.t.e. is to fully re-authorize the perkins vocational and technical education act. currently the perkins act is authorized at a level set in 2010. which doesn't reflect the reality of a modern economy where more workers are looking at high-skilled fields. more and more employers need highly skille

rield congressman jamrhode isla james langevin joins me. he has been touched by gun violence in his own life. sir, good to have you with me. as we talk about this with the president really getting back on the road where he does his best work campaign style, taking his message to minnesota, i want to remind everybody this is at the feet of harry reid in the senate right now to move on this, and he appeared this weekend with abc's george stephanopoulos. take a listen to his thoughts. >> how about restrictions on high capacity magazines for ammunition? >> i think that's something we definitely have to take a look at. >> take a look or vote for? >> let's see what it is. >> sir, in your opinion, do you think that right now the best approach is going to be agreement on both sides of the aisle on small steps and that small step being potential for universal background checks as opposed to talking about the assault style weapons ban and magazine clips? >> well, first, i want to give president obama high marks for continuing to make gun control a to

langevin: mr. speaker, i rise today to call on republican leaders to keep the house in session until congress fulfills its responsibility -- the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. mr. langevin: i rise today to call on republican leaders to keep the house in session until congress fulfills its responsibility to the american people by averting see questions trage. with rhode island unemployment at 10.2%, my constituents cannot afford a single day of these indiscriminate cuts. they will have a negative impact on rhode islanders seeking job assistance, teachers educating our children and seniors relying on food assistance and the jobs in our defense industry. we found compromise in the past. since april, 2011, congress relouised the deficit by $2. trillion and cutting spending with $3 in spending cuts for every dollar in revenue. democrats in the house and senate along with the president have put forward balanced proposals. i urge you to listen to the american people and bring balanced le

and i also want you to know, ed, that there are a number of us, including jim langevin who are goinge state of the union to be with us. i myself am going to have a young man named sammy rahiman. he is 17 years old. his father was murdered in a shooting incident that took place at his father's business, along with four other people. sammy got the news when he was on a trip to visit a college. he heard a news report that there was a shooting in the neighborhood. he sent an e-mail to his dad to say be careful, but that e-mail was never returned because his father was the victim. he'll be with me tomorrow night as a witness to what we must do, which is to take action on gun violence prevention. >> well, there is a lot of theatrics playing out here. tomorrow night republican congressman steve stockman will have ted nugent as his guest. here is what nugent said today. >> we know that the president will have the state of the union stacked and jammed with props, children, and victims of violent crime. and my friends wanted me to attend to counter that. >> and of course this is a man who was

and when the folks are going to be joining me and jim langevin, we don't want to take the rights of owning gun away. i own a gun myself but do believe when you have 20 dead first graders we need action in this country and i'm -- most nra members agree. >> let me bring in stephanie cutter. where the president puts emphasis on tuesday night. i heard jon karl say, i think that's right, big focus on jobs. one thing you are seeing is president obama's approval rating coming in at 52%. that has if about where president clinton had it. how do you have him handle the rest -- >> he will do what he has been doing. you use the word confrontatio l confrontational. i would use a different word. they will be very familiar themes. the economy will be central and how we can grow it. fair shot, pay your fair share but other things that he does lay out, he'll lay out the looming deadlinen 0 the sequester and tough choices and consequences if we let the sequester go into effect. and, you know, cuts to some pretty critical programs so i think the state of the union is always a an important moment in a preside

langevin of rhode island, mr. schiff of california, mr. gutierrez of illinois, mr. pastor of arizona and mr. himes of connecticut. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to clause 12-a of rule 1, the chair declares the news to >> i'm so many members after a late night last night. we were so pleased that he mentioned violence against women and recognized the leadership of vice president biden. as you know, yesterday, the senate passed a bill, mr. hoyer, our whip, would love to tell you the numbers, so i'll leave that to him to do, but here we are again, last year -- last night, the senate passed the violence against women act and we are calling the majority in the house to bring the bill to the floor. delay is not an option. every moment of delay is harmful to women, a delay when so many women are forced to suffer in silence in the face of abuse. not an option when they fear for their lives in their homes. not an option when millions of the lgbt community, native americans and immigrants particularly with a delay in the house. there is no time to waste. so i'm going to yi

langevin: yes, i -- mr. lankford yes, i will. mr. westmoreland: we borrow about $4 billion a day. this energy tax would just really keep us from borrowing for one day. mr. lankford: yes. and it will drive up the cost of gasoline yet again for all americans. this doesn't solve the problem. it continues to exacerbate the problem. our issue is we're facing a difficult moment. but this is not a moment that is manufactured by some sequestration event. this is a moment that has been created by overspending year after year after year, and now the acceleration of debt and deficits and interest payments each year is climbing so quickly that if we don't get on top of it soon we will not be able to get on top of it in the days ahead. this is not just a manufactured short-term crisis. this is a serious economic crisis for the united states, and if it's a serious crisis for us, it is a serious crisis worldwide. we have the responsibility as the largest economy on the planet to be responsible with our finances and to get our economy back on track so the entire world's economy can begin to get b