Mica new chair of Congressional Committee

A new figure will be at the helm of a powerful House Committee that will steer maritime issues in the new Congress. U.S. Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) has been selected as the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the next Congress. Mica takes over from U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), who failed in his re-election bid during the mid-term elections.

The Transportation and infrastructure Committee writes legislation that impacts marine, rail, aviation, road and public works projects. This includes everything from the inspection of merchant marine vessels, navigation laws related to pilotage, registering and licensing of vessels and small boats to flood control, rules to prevent collisions at sea and oil and other pollution on navigable waters.

Prior to being named, Mica said one of his primary focuses would be to improve “employment and expanding economic opportunities, doing more with less, cutting red tape and removing impediments to creating jobs, speeding up the process by which infrastructure projects are approved, and freeing up any infrastructure funding that’s been sitting idle.” Mica added: “Among my top legislative priorities will be passing a long-term federal highways and transit reauthorization, a long-overdue Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization, a new water resources measure, and a long-term Coast Guard reauthorization.”

December 16, 2010