Epilogue - One Final Appeal
Gulf to Goat Afterthought
Our multi-state adventure delivered on its promise as an adventure of a lifetime. No such endeavor could take place without risk and riding a bicycle represents a significant risk. Cycling means being exposed and unprotected. A rider must err on the side of prudence and always remain alert. Often our route traveled roads frequented by distracted motorists more concerned with speed and cell phones than our safety. We rode on the shoulder whenever possible and hugged the white line in its absence. The team had its share of close calls, which we deliberately omitted from our daily narrative to alleviate worry by friends and family. A vehicle struck one of our riders with its side view mirror on a four-lane highway; he was fortunate this left a bruise and not something far worse. This incident was completely avoidable there was no oncoming traffic and plenty of room to provide the required four feet of clearance for the cyclist. We were also very lucky.
Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, was a cycling enthusiast and an exceptional diplomat serving over 17 years in the world’s most daunting missions: Ukraine, Côte d’Ivoire, Iraq, Uganda, and Haiti, in addition to taking on challenging assignments in State Department offices handling NATO affairs and UN Security Council issues.
She was riding her bicycle home from her children’s elementary school open house on August 25, 2022 when she was killed when a truck made a right turn into her path. She is survived by her husband, two sons, and her parents.
The primary goal of the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Active Transportation Safety Act is to make it easier for state and local governments to fund projects that enhance safety for vulnerable road users. The bill aims to:
• Improve funding flexibility: Allow federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) dollars to be used as a 100% federal match for local projects that build safer and more connected networks for cycling and walking.
• Address infrastructure gaps: Make projects that fill gaps in existing biking and walking networks eligible for HSIP funding.
• Empower local governments: Give states the flexibility to use safety funds on local priorities, bridging the gap between state-identified and locally-identified safety needs.
The legislation has garnered bipartisan support and endorsed by organizations such as the League of American Bicyclists and the Wisconsin Bike Fed. These groups emphasize that the act does not allocate new funds but rather streamlines the process for communities to use existing federal money for critical safety infrastructure projects.
Current Status:
• House of Representatives: The bill was reintroduced as H.R. 2011 on March 10, 2025, by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8). It has been referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
• Senate: A companion bill, S. 944, was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) on March 11, 2025. It has been referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Both bills currently have a status of "Introduced," meaning they have been formally presented and are now in committee for consideration. No hearings or votes have occurred. Now is the time to call on your local congressional and state senators to support and pass this legislation.
We send our prayers to Dan Langenkamp and his family and to Terry and Dirk Debbink, VADM, USN (ret) USNA Class of ‘77, for their tireless crusade, unrelenting sorrow, and personal loss in having Sarah taken too soon and we salute and honor her as a special woman, daughter, wife, mother and diplomat.
Sarah Langenkamp Obituary
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/washington-dc/sarah-langenkamp-10904299