John L. Mica (Florida '67)
U.S. House Representative of Florida
Rep. Mica serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
the Government Reform Committee and the House Administration Committee.
In 2001, Rep. Mica was named Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation. A
subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Aviation
Subcommittee has jurisdiction over all matters relating to civil aviation
including airport improvement, aviation safety and security, and other related
issues. Major federal agencies under oversight by this subcommittee include
the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration
and the National Transportation Safety Board. After September 11th, Mica
authored the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which created the
new Transportation Security Administration to focus on protecting aviation
-- as well as all modes of transportation -- from future terrorist attacks.
Rep. Mica has been recognized as a national and Florida leader in transportation
issues. He has spearheaded legislative efforts to improve our nation's infrastructure
and expedite Florida's highway and interstate expansion. Mica has also led
efforts to develop local and state transportation alternatives.
On the Government Reform Committee, Mica served as Chairman of the Subcommittee
on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources from 1999-2001 and
still serves as a senior member of that committee. As Chairman he became
a national leader in development of our nation's counter-narcotics policy
and has worked to strengthen our anti-drug effort. Mica was also appointed
as Co-Chairman of the Speaker's Drug Task Force and is a national leader
in promoting drug education, prevention, enforcement, eradication and interdiction
programs.
In Congress, Mica has helped direct our national, State and local anti-drug
efforts. He conducted more than 40 committee hearings in Washington and
around the country, including one held in Central Florida on the heroin
epidemic that killed dozens of young Americans in the Orlando area. In October,
1997, Mica was successful in securing federal designation of Central Florida
as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), which provides additional
resources to our local community for fighting the war on drugs.
He has been recognized for his work in the War on Drugs by the U.S. Customs
Service and has received the Legislator of the Year Award from the Florida/National
Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Inc. and the Award
of Appreciation from the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation of Orlando,
Florida for vision, leadership and legislative success in combating drug
trafficking.
From 1995 through 1998, the Congressman served as Chairman of the Subcommittee
on Civil Service. As Chairman of this panel, he successfully worked to downsize
the Office of Personnel Management, privatize functions of federal agencies
and reformed the federal employees life insurance program. He also introduced
the first legislation for long term care for Federal Employees which has
subsequently be enacted into law. He authored the Veterans Employment Opportunity
Act which was signed into law and recognizes veterans service as federal
employment both for hiring and in times of downsizing. He authored legislation
to expand healthcare options by opening our Federal Employees Health Benefits
Plan (FEHBP) to our military dependents and retirees. He was a prime sponsor
of the White House Accountability Act which requires the White House to
live under the same mandates as Congress and the private sector.
Mica has been recognized as a national leader in the regulatory reform movement
and was credited for his efforts to slow down expansion of federal regulatory
authority by requiring the use of risk assessment and cost/benefit analysis
on new regulations. He has spearheaded congressional reform and reorganization
of our federal international trade activities.
In Mica's first term in Congress, his freshman Republican colleagues honored
him with their Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award for new Members
of Congress. Each year since 1992, he has consistently received the Watchdog
of the Treasury Award from the Citizens Against Government Waste, the Taxpayer's
Friend Award from the National Taxpayer's Union, the Thomas Jefferson Award
for Legislative Service and the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U. S.
Chamber of Commerce. In 1995, he was honored as one of 100 Americans to
receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Prior to his election to the House, Mica established several successful
business ventures including cellular telephone, real estate, international
trade consulting and governmental affairs firms. In 1973, the Florida Jaycees
recognized Mica's work in reorganizing local government by awarding him
the Florida State Good Government Award. As a member of the Florida House
of Representatives (1976-1980), Mica served on the Appropriations, the Select
Energy, the Ethics and Elections and the Community Affairs Committees. He
was recognized for his service by being named one of Florida's Five Outstanding
Young Men in 1978. He served as Chief of Staff and Administrative Assistant
to Florida Republican United States Senator Paula Hawkins from 1981 to 1985.
Mica is a graduate of the University of Florida (1967) and Miami-Dade Community
College (1965). He is active in national and community affairs, and is listed
in Who's Who in American Politics. He is a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity
and Florida Blue Key. His brother, Dan Mica, also served for ten years as
a United States Congressman from South Florida.
Mica, 60, and his wife, Patricia, have been married for thirty years and
have two children, D'Anne and Clark. The Mica Family has resided in Central
Florida since 1972.
