By Elyse Moody
December 9, 2010
House Republicans on Dec. 8 confirmed Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) in conference as chairman of the Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure in the 112th Congress.
Mica, who is the panel’s ranking Republican during the current “lame-duck” session, has firm priorities for congressional action regarding aviation funding for the NextGen air traffic management system and passage of a long-term FAA reauthorization bill.
Immediately following the mid-term elections, Mica announced his intentions if elected chairman. Among his top legislative priorities are “long-overdue Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization.” He is expected to rewrite parts of the House version of the bill written by Democrats.
The House on Dec. 2 passed a 17th extension of the FAA’s operating authority by voice vote. The current FAA extension expires on Dec. 31, and the subsequent 90-day extension continues through March 31.
Before serving as T&I’s Republican leader, Mica was chairman of the House aviation subcommittee from 2000 to 2006, when he wrote the last multi-year FAA authorization bill to be signed into law. He has served as a member of the T&I Committee since being elected to Congress in 1992.
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Source: AVIATION WEEK
Date: 2010-12-09