Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (FL-07) officially took the gavel of the influential Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure yesterday during the panel’s first meeting of the 112th Congress.
        Following Republicans’ takeover of the House of Representatives in November, Congressman Mica was elected by his House colleagues to chair the Committee.  He served the previous four years as the Committee’s highest ranking Republican.  Mica’s chairmanship marks the first time that a Florida representative is leading the Committee: one of the largest in Congress, and also one of the most important to our economy.
        The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has broad jurisdiction over the nation’s aviation, roads, bridges, mass transit, railroads and maritime and waterborne transportation systems and programs.  The Committee also oversees our clean water infrastructure and resources, pipeline safety, emergency management, economic development programs, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard.
        “Transportation and infrastructure are vital to a healthy economy, and as Chairman I will work to ensure taxpayers’ dollars are invested wisely and cost effectively to rebuild America and put people back to work,” Mica said.
        Photos of Chairman Mica presiding over yesterday’s organizational meeting, and being presented the gavel by the Committee’s top Democrat, Nick J. Rahall, II of West Virginia, during today’s Committee organizational meeting are attached, or can be found here via the Committee’s flickr photostream.