John L. Mica
Congressman John L. Mica of Florida is the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.
As the leader of one of the largest committees in Congress with broad legislative jurisdiction, Mica is responsible for developing and overseeing federal policy and projects relating to aviation, highways, transit, rail transportation, pipelines, the Coast Guard, maritime transportation, water infrastructure and resources, economic development, public buildings, and emergency management issues.
Mica is a nationally recognized leader with extensive experience and numerous accomplishments in transportation and infrastructure issues and policy. He has served previously as the Committee’s Republican leader, from 2007 to 2010. From 2001 to 2006, he chaired the Subcommittee on Aviation. Mica has served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee since being elected to Congress in 1992.
As the Chairman of the Committee, Mica’s top priorities are creating jobs and improving our nation’s infrastructure and economy. With the budgetary challenges facing the nation, he is committed to reducing federal bureaucracy, cutting red tape to complete projects more efficiently, better managing our federal assets, and saving taxpayers money.
He is a strong advocate of rebuilding and improving our highways, airports, rail systems, waterways and maritime transportation systems and other infrastructure in a cost effective manner that responsibly expands employment opportunities.
To achieve these goals, Chairman Mica was the lead House author of a multi-year surface transportation law that included the most significant transportation program reforms since the establishment of the Interstate System under President Eisenhower. This measure, signed into law in July 2012, cuts red tape, streamlines the bureaucratic project approval process, consolidates or eliminates excessive federal programs, and gives more flexibility and authority to the states.
As the Aviation Subcommittee Chairman at the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Mica is credited with helping bring America’s devastated aviation industry back from the brink of economic disaster. He also coauthored the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, and is leading the effort in Congress to reform the massive TSA bureaucracy to strengthen U.S. transportation security.
In 2003, he successfully led the House in passing the nation’s previous long-term Federal Aviation Administration law. In 2012, Mica again led House efforts to pass a new and long-overdue FAA law, achieving another of his top legislative priorities of the 112th Congress.
Chairman Mica has also accomplished passage of a new federal law that both strengthens pipeline safety programs and ensures the regulatory stability our nation’s businesses need.
Improving the government’s management of federally-owned, underutilized properties has been long advocated by Mica and was one of his goals when he became Chairman, highlighted in his report focused on getting the federal government to “stop sitting on its assets” and save taxpayers money.
A strong supporter of the U.S. Coast Guard, he has introduced legislation, overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives, to reauthorize the service’s important missions.
Mica has been instrumental in the passage of numerous Water Resources Development Acts containing authorizations of the Army Corps of Engineers water resources programs, and is exploring new legislation to streamline the Corps and make significant programmatic improvements.
Mica is also committed to bringing reforms, more accountability and more private sector competition to Amtrak and national passenger rail service.
Chairman Mica supports a comprehensive approach to national transportation policy. He advocates an interconnected network incorporating all modes of transportation for greater efficiency and economic benefits.
Mica is also a senior member of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee. He has previously chaired that panel’s Civil Service Subcommittee and Criminal Justice and Drug Policy Subcommittee.
In addition to his work on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Mica is a strong advocate of our nation’s veterans. He has received national awards from nearly every major veterans association.
Mica previously served as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Paula Hawkins of Florida and is a former member of the Florida House of Representatives. Before holding elected office, Mica was a successful businessman, active in real estate, communications and international trade.
He is a graduate of the University of Florida.
Mica is currently serving his tenth term representing Florida’s 7th Congressional District. He and his wife, Pat, have resided in Central Florida since their marriage in 1972.
