Rep. Mica Wins Top Republican Poston the House Transportation Committee

January 2007:
Rep. Mica Wins Top Republican Post
on the House Transportation Committee

Congressman John Mica’s Republican colleagues selected him as the Republican leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the 110th Congress which began on January 3rd, 2007.

In one of the most contested House leadership positions of this Congress the Republican Steering Committee selected Rep. Mica over two more senior members of the Committee. The selection was ratified unanimously by the full Republican Conference.

"It is a great honor to be selected to this most important position by my colleagues, Mica stated. Our states and communities face very serious challenges with congestion clogging our highways, railways, airports and ports. My priority as the Republican leader on the Transportation Committee is to work effectively with the Administration and Members of Congress as we review and help set our national transportation policies."

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee sets national policy and funding levels for all U.S. aviation, highway, transit, railroad, water resource and U.S. Coast Guard programs. The Committee passed legislation after September 11 th that helped restore the aviation industry and reformed aviation security, and also authorizes major highway and aviation bills every four to six years.

Rep. Mica has served on the Transportation Committee since 1993. He has been Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee since 2001, and also served on the Railroad and the Highways and Transit Subcommittees. The Congressman has been recognized as a national leader on aviation security and mass transit issues.

Mica said, "With record levels of traffic congestion and delays experienced by travelers today, we must continue to invest in our nations transportation systems to expand our economy and build our nation’s aging infrastructure."

Mica is the most senior Republican from Florida on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the past 34 years. The late Congressman William C. Cramer (R-St. Petersburg), serving in the House from 1955-1971, was also Ranking Member of the Transportation Committee.