John D. Boyd | Jan 10, 2011 9:44PM GMT
The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story
New T&I chief wants regional input before drafting next multi-year bill
Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., who chairs the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, intends to start a process in February that can help his panel craft a new multi-year surface transportation bill.
Mica told The Journal of Commerce that beginning on or around Feb. 18 he plans to hold field hearings or "listening sessions" outside of Washington to get more input from local and regional officials on what should be in the next transportation legislation.
He also said his immediate top priority will be to complete legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration. Congress has passed 17 FAA extensions pending passage of a new aviation bill, "so I've got to get that out first," he said.
"But running parallel will be the surface and transit bill," said Mica. "The first thing I plan to do is a series of hearings around the country, and listening sessions, and we're going to start that probably about the 18th of February."
Currently, Highway Trust Fund and related programs are continuing under short-term extensions by Congress. The Obama administration is expected to offer its own surface transportation proposals early this year, Mica will take the lead in crafting a Republican bill in the House and would need to work with a Democratic Senate to get a final bill... FULL ARTICLE
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Mon, January 10, 2011
by John Cox