AAPA names Rep. John Mica “Port Person of the Year”

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), Chairman, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, is to be honored on March 20 as the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) “Port Person of the Year” during the association’s 100th anniversary Spring Conference event, March 19-20, at The Renaissance Washington, D.C. Downtown Hotel.

AAPA says it selected Rep. Mica to receive its most prestigious annual award based on his leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, six transportation subcommittees (several of which are crucial to America’s seaports), and his staunch support of maritime and port infrastructure policy and investment priorities.

Rep. Mica was nominated last fall for “Port Person of the Year” by both the Port of Jacksonville and the Port of New Orleans. AAPA’s Executive Committee approved Rep. Mica’s nomination at its Jan. 18 meeting in Tampa.

In addition to receiving AAPA’s “Port Person” award, Rep. Mica will give a keynote address during lunch.  He is expected to discuss what he and his congressional colleagues have been doing to pass comprehensive surface transportation reauthorization legislation, just announced as The American Energy and Infrastructure Act, and expand employment opportunities to build the nation’s infrastructure.

“Chairman Mica understands that increased federal funding in land- and water-side transportation infrastructure is an essential and effective utilization of limited resources that will pay long-term dividends through increased trade, sustainable job creation and tax revenues,” said AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle. “We greatly appreciate leaders who understand and support our industry, and I’m very pleased AAPA is honoring Chairman Mica with the ‘Port Person of the Year’ award for our centennial year.”

Rep. Mica represents the 7th Congressional District of Florida and is currently serving his 10th term in office. Last July, he rolled out an outline for The American Energy and Infrastructure Act, which for the first time in surface transportation reauthorization history includes a maritime title.

January 26, 2011