House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Takes Shape

The House Republican Conference has approved Rep. John L. Mica (R-Fla.) as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the 112th Congress. Mica was ranking Republican for the past four years when Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) chaired the committee. From 2000 to 2006, he was chairman of the aviation subcommittee. He has been a member of the committee since his election in 1992. The House Democratic Caucus has named Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-W.V.) to serve as the committee’s ranking member. Rahall has been a member of the transportation committee for the 34 years he's served in Congress and is also chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. House Republicans have announced that the T&I committee in the new Congress will have 59 members, down from its current membership of 75 members. The committee makeup will be 33 Republicans and 26 Democrats—compared to 30 and 45 respectively today.