John L. Mica – Bio – (R-FL-7)

May 1, 2011 by Editor Fred D

John L. Mica Congressman Florida District 7

John L. Mica Biography from House.gov

Biography of John L. Mica

John L. Mica was first elected to the United States Congress on November 3, 1992, to represent the 7th Congressional District of Florida, which stretches across six counties from the suburban areas north of Orlando to the Jacksonville city limits. Major cities in the district include Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Sanford, Deltona, DeBary, DeLand, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, Palatka and St. Augustine. He is currently serving his tenth term in the 112 th Congress, which began January 5, 2011.

In the 112 th Congress, Mica was elected by his peers in the House of Representatives to serve as the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, one of the largest Congressional panels in Congress. As the House Transportation Chairman, Mica serves on all six Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittees. These subcommittees include Aviation; Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management; Highways and Transit; Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials; and Water Resources and Environment. He has been recognized as a national leader on a variety of transportation issues.

As a recognized national transportation leader, Rep. Mica was named Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation in 2001 and served through 2006. After the September 11 th terrorist attacks, Rep. Mica led the effort in Congress to restore stability to the aviation industry and co-authored the Aviation and Transportation Security Law.

As the Chairman of the Committee, Mica’s top priorities are creating jobs and improving our nation’s infrastructure and economy. With the budgetary challenges facing the nation, he is committed to doing more with less by better managing our federal assets, finding innovative ways to finance projects, cutting red tape to complete projects more efficiently and moving stalled projects. He is also a strong advocate of rebuilding and improving our highways, airports, rail systems, waterways and maritime transportation systems and other infrastructure in a cost effective manner that responsibly expands employment opportunities. To achieve these goals, Chairman Mica is strongly committed to enacting a long-term reauthorization of federal surface transportation programs.

Mica is also a senior Member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and former Chairman of two of its Subcommittees. As Chairman of the House Civil Service Subcommittee from 1995-1999, Mica authored landmark legislation dealing with veterans preferences, expanding healthcare access for military dependents and establishing one of the federal government’s largest employee stock ownership programs.

From 1999-2001, Mica served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources. As Chairman he became a national principal leader in the development of our nation’s counter-narcotics policy. Appointed by then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert as a Co-Chairman of the Speaker’s Drug Free Task Force from 1999-2006, he has been a respected national voice in advocating drug education, prevention, enforcement, eradication and interdiction programs. Mica has been recognized for his work in the War on Drugs by the U.S Customs Service and Scotland Yard and has received the Legislator of the Year Award from the Florida/National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.

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 1993, he has consistently received the Golden Bulldog Award from the Watchdogs of the Treasury, the Thomas Jefferson Award for Distinguished Service (Food Distributors International) and the Spirit of Enterprise Award (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 Congress, Mica established several successful business ventures including realestate, communications, 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. From 1981 to 1985, Mica served as Chief of Staff and Administrative Assistant to Florida Republican United States Senator Paula Hawkins.

The Congressman worked his way through and graduated from the University of Florida (1967) and Miami-Dade College (1965). Mica has also been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Bethune-Cookman University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Flagler College and Stetson University and an honorary degree from Daytona Beach Community College. He is active in national and community affairs, and is listed in Who’s Who in American Politics. In addition, Mica is a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity and Florida Blue Key. Mica also is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees. Rep. Mica served six years as the Speaker’s Representative to the U.S. Capitol Preservation Commission and was formerly a Member of the House Administration Committee.

Mica’s wife, Patricia, is a former public schoolteacher who served on the Associate Board of the Florida Symphony, the Board of the Citrus Council of Girl Scouts and the Central Florida Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Currently, Mrs. Mica is a member of the Board of Directors of Florida House, the Capitol Historical Society Board and the Congressional Families for Cancer Awareness Committee. She Co-Chaired the 90 th National Girl Scouts Annual Dinner and is a past President of the Republican Congressional Spouses Organization. Mrs. Mica also led the Flight 93 Capitol Heroes Campaign after the September 11th attack.

The Congressman’s brother, Dan Mica, served for ten years as a United States Representative from South Florida. Another brother, David, is a former aide to the late U.S. Senator and Governor Lawton Chiles.

Rep. John Mica and his wife were married in 1972 and have resided in Central Florida since they were married. They have two adult children, D’Anne and Clark.

Biography from Mica for Congress

John L. Mica is serving his ninth term as a United States Representative.

He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives on November 3, 1992, representing the 7th Congressional District of Florida.

Rep. Mica’s service in the U.S. House of Representatives culminates a lifelong interest in politics and public service that began during his college years where he was a founding member of the University of Florida Young Republicans.

As a Member of Congress, Rep. Mica has focused his efforts on improving and modernizing transportation and infrastructure systems both locally and across the nation. For his expertise, he is nationally recognized as a leading spokesman on transportation issues. His accomplishments in this field led to his election by his peers in the House to serve as the Republican Leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the 110th Congress, which began in January 2007. Leapfrogging over several more senior members of the committee, Rep. Mica’s accession to the top-ranking post on his committee was a historical break from tradition and precedent on Capitol Hill (see related story).

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is the largest Congressional panel in Congress. As the Senior Ranking Republican on Transportation, Mica serves on all six Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittees. These subcommittees include Aviation; Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management; Highways and Transit; Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, and Water Resources and Environment.

Rep. Mica was Chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation from 2001 through 2006. As the point man for the Administration after the September 11th terrorist attacks, Rep. Mica led the effort in Congress to restore stability to the aviation industry and coauthored the Aviation and Transportation Security Law.

Rep. Mica also is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors and the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees. He served six years as the Speaker’s Representative to the U.S. Capitol Preservation Commission and was formerly a Member of the House Administration Committee.

Rep. Mica’s other committee assignment includes the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where he is a senior member and former Chairman of two of its Subcommittees. As Chairman of the House Civil Service Subcommittee from 1995-1999, Mica authored landmark legislation dealing with veterans preferences in hiring, expanding healthcare access for military dependents and establishing one of the federal government’s largest employee stock ownership programs.

From 1999-2001, Mica served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources. As Chairman he became a principal leader in the development of our nation’s counter-narcotics policy. Appointed by then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert as a Co-Chairman of the Speaker’s Drug Free Task Force from 1999-2006, he is a respected national voice in advocating drug education, prevention, enforcement, eradication and interdiction programs.

For his work in the War on Drugs, Rep. Mica was recognized by the U.S. Customs Service and Scotland Yard, and he received the Legislator of the Year Award from the Florida/National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.

Prior to joining the House, Rep. Mica established several successful business ventures, including real estate development, communications, international trade consulting and governmental affairs firms. He also served as Executive Director of Local Government Study Commission for two Florida counties. Mica’s success in business sharpened his interest in public service, and in 1976 he made his first run for elected public office, winning a seat in the Florida House of Representatives for four years. From 1981 to 1985, he served as Chief of Staff and Administrative Assistant to Florida Republican United States Senator Paula Hawkins.

In 1973, the Florida Jaycees recognized Mica’s work in reorganizing local government by awarding him the Florida State Good Government Award. While serving in 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.

In Mica’s first term in Congress, his freshman Republican colleagues honored him with their Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award for new Members of Congress. Rep Mica has received numerous other awards, including the Golden Bulldog Award from the Watchdogs of the Treasury, Hero of the Taxpayer Award from Americans for Tax Reform, Guardian of Small Business award from the National Federation of Independent Business, the U. S. Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise Award, the Champion of the Florida Trail from the Florida Trails Association, Public Official of the year by the Florida Public Transportation Association, and the Aviation Leadership Award from the Florida Airports Council. In 1995, he was honored as one of 100 Americans to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. In 2010, Rep Mica was recognized by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association with their “Friend of the Coast” Award in appreciation of his outstanding work to preserve America’s beaches.

As a strong advocate for our country’s veterans and seniors, the Congressman has received nearly every national military service association award. They include national recognition from the Blinded American Veterans Foundation, the National Military Family Association, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Reserve Officers Association, the Retired Enlisted Association, the Blinded American Veteran’s Foundation, and the Non Commissioned Officers Association. In 2004 the Air Force Association of Florida gave Mica a special citation for extraordinary support to the United States Armed Forces. He has also been recognized by the Seniors Coalition, the United Seniors Association and 60 Plus Association.

The Congressman worked his way through college and graduated from the University of Florida (1967) and Miami-Dade Community College (1965). Mica has also been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Bethune-Cookman University, Flagler College and Stetson University and honorary degrees from Daytona Beach Community College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is active in national and community affairs, and is listed in Who’s Who in American Politics. In addition, Rep. Mica is a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity and Florida Blue Key.

Rep. Mica’s wife, Patricia, is a former public schoolteacher who served on the Associate Board of the Florida Symphony, the Board of the Citrus Council of Girl Scouts and the Central Florida Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Currently, Mrs. Mica is a member of the Board of Directors of Florida House, the Capitol Historical Society Board and the Congressional Families for Cancer Awareness Committee. She Co-Chaired the 90th National Girl Scouts Annual Dinner and is a past President of the Republican Congressional Spouses Organization. Mrs. Mica also led the Flight 93 Capitol Heroes Campaign after the September 11th attack.

Rep. John Mica, 67, and his wife were married in 1972 and have resided in Central Florida since they were married. They have two adult children, D’Anne and Clark.

The 7th Congressional District includes six counties including parts of Orange, Seminole, Volusia and Putnam Counties, and all of Flagler and St. Johns Counties. Major cities in the district include Winter Park, Maitland, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Longwood, Sanford, Deltona, DeBary, DeLand, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell, Palatka and St. Augustine.

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