Sep 25, 2017
Fifteen years later, we see a system that has not complied with the laws that we have passed multiple times.
John Mica
The Public Record
John Mica is a former U.S. Representative who served Florida's 7th congressional district from 1993 to 2017. A member of the Republican Party, Mica was known for his work on transportation and infrastructure issues, playing a significant role in shaping policies related to these areas during his tenure. He was also involved in various legislative efforts aimed at improving the economy and supporting local businesses in Florida. Mica's long career in public service included a focus on constituent services and community engagement.
★ Featured Quote
September 25, 2017
We tried to get them to comply, but they never did fully comply.
— John Mica
Most widely reported
by number of sources- I come before the House tonight and the American public to talk about a problem which I believe is our biggest social problem as a country, our biggest social problem as a Congress. That is the problem of illegal narcotics and the damage it is doing to our population, and particularly to our young people across this land. Some people in Congress or some people in leadership positions would have us think that the Y2K problem is the major problem, or that other dotting I and crossing T of legislation is the major problem facing Congress. But I believe that we have no more important responsibility as legislators of this Nation than to see that we do the best job possible in addressing a problem, an epidemic that is ravaging havoc, particularly among our young people. The statistics are mind-boggling. Last year over 14,200 Americans lost their lives because of drug-related deaths. Let me cite a few other statistics that every Member of Congress and every American should be aware of, when they turn away from the question of a drug problem, when they are given some other problem, smoking or Y2K or whatever the issue of the day may be that rates in the polls. Let me talk about the hard facts of what illegal narcotics are doing to us as a Nation. The overall number of past month heroin users increased 378 percent from 1993 to 1997 in this country.8 sources1999govinfo.gov
- I am pleased to come before the House tonight to talk once again about the drug situation in the United States and the various questions related to drug policy that face the United States Congress. I had the privilege to be named as the chair of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources of the House of Representatives, which will be charged with both authorization responsibility as it relates to national drug policy and also oversight of our drug policy for the House of Representatives as we begin to try to fashion a coherent policy for the United States. It is my privilege tonight to again bring to the attention of my fellow Members of Congress and also the American people the situation we have facing us relating to the ravages of illegal narcotics. Drug abuse killed, last year in 1998, 14,218 Americans at a cost of $67 billion.6 sources1999govinfo.gov
- I come before the House again tonight to talk about the subject of our national drug policy, and what Congress can do to improve the situation relating to the abuse and misuse of illegal narcotics, not only by our young people but by all Americans. I come before the House as chair of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources, which has been charged with trying to help develop a better policy, better legislation, and better action by Congress to deal with the growing social problem that we have. Tonight I am sure that the eyes of the Nation are focused on Kosovo, where we have a very difficult international situation, and probably rightfully so. We have thousands of our troops in potentially harm's way. We have our pilots and other dedicated military involved in that conflict. I believe that the focus of attention tonight also is on the tragic shootings in Colorado. I believe some young people were involved there. A large number of young people were killed in that tragic incident. Rightfully, America should be concerned about Kosovo. America should be concerned about international situations and also about a situation where we have death and mayhem of young people in our Nation. It is a very serious situation.4 sources1999govinfo.gov
- I come before the House this afternoon really in a sense of outrage about our out-of-control Environmental Protection Agency. We have heard EPA talking about how the new majority and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle were going to gut their budget and hurt the environment and do away with any regulations. That, Mr. Speaker, is all bunk. We have seen EPA use public resources in the past to continue their mission of misinformation of untruths and distortions. Today I received a copy of EPA Watch dated January 31, 1996. This, Mr. Speaker, really takes the cake. It says, ``EPA Enlists PTA To Battle Congress Over Budget Cuts.'' This story tells how the EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance has a memo dated January 19 that states that their staff, from no fewer than 11 offices, are working in this mission of lies and distortion and now trying to drag the children, parents and teachers of this Nation into this campaign against much-needed reform. First of all, let me tell the parents and teachers and my colleagues that EPA was a Republican idea. It started in 1972. It was an idea to do a better job in cleaning up the environment. It was a Republican proposal to set some national standards and we have done that. We have begun to clean up. We have had 20 some years of experience and we have seen where mistakes have been made and we need to draw on that.3 sources1996govinfo.gov
- I am pleased to rise in support of this legislation, which would provide a 3-month extension for the operations of the Federal Aviation Administration. This is in fact the 12th extension of the FAA reauthorization. I was the chairman back in 2001 and through the next 6 years, and my leadership I think is looking better and better every week and every month now. I introduced the current bill that has been extended--today will be the 12th time--May 15 in 2003. It actually was agreed to in conference on November 21, 2003, and it was signed by the President on December 12, 2003. My bill has been in effect for about 7 years, I think the longest FAA authorization in history. I am quite proud of it, but in fact even my legislation does need improvement. We do need an update in policy for running the FAA. We need definition and delineation of projects which are authorized, including the important next generation getting the best technical equipment, going from a ground-based system to satellites, and getting better utilization out of our air space, and also using less fuel and more efficient utilization of our important airports.2 sources2010govinfo.gov
- I yield myself as much time as I may consume. The manager's amendment is pretty simple. First of all, we have tried to accommodate as many Members as we could with their requests and include on both sides of the aisle provisions that they requested that weren't in the original submission. Additionally, the manager's amendment makes technical corrections to provisions in the underlying bill, including those related to unmanned aircraft systems, ADS-B readiness verification, flight attendant fatigue, FAA access to criminal records databases, and also, as Mr. Coble said, who was with us earlier, just a small accommodation for another Member who wanted musical instruments, some provisions again in the bill. So we have tried to accommodate many of the Members who have had these questions. The manager's amendment also contains provisions regarding public- private partnerships to advance NextGen. If the government does it, it usually doesn't get done. If we have public-private partnerships and closely monitor that, we can have great success, reduce costs, and bring technology online that makes it even safer for people to fly at lower costs and with less personnel. We have protections for voluntary safety data submissions. We also have a provision that is very important for the European Union Emissions Trading scheme. This is very important, because they are trying to close us down or tax us as we enter some of their airspace.…2 sources2011govinfo.gov
congress.gov
Dec 1, 2016
Again, if you don't have communication, I mean, when they couldn't communicate--and we held funds up a couple of times. I think I participated in that to get your attention.
Dec 1, 2016
Okay. So you're about 5 percent. So the smoke--maybe this site that I cited that you can go on and see if Metro's on fire can be taken down pretty soon.
Dec 1, 2016
I assure you, Mr. Evans, it will have repercussions up here among your allies and your partners.
Sep 27, 2016
This is a simple amendment. It does make an adjustment to the benefit-cost ratio for any navigation project carried out by the Army Corps of Engineers with non-Federal funds. This gives the Secretary, after the completion of any portion of…
Sep 27, 2016
I have an amendment at the desk that I offer as the designee of the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Mullin). The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of title I, add the…
Sep 27, 2016
Today I am asking my colleagues for support of this noncontroversial amendment. This amendment would facilitate simply a land transfer from the Army Corps of Engineers to the Department of the Interior to hold in trust for the Muscogee…
Sep 27, 2016
I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: At the end of title I, add the following: SEC. 1__. ADJUSTMENT TO COST BENEFIT RATIO. For any navigation…
Sep 27, 2016
I think it will save money and actually benefit projects that start with non-Federal dollars and can be a great advantage to some of those ports and other waterways that are at a disadvantage because of the distance of the project. So I…
Sep 22, 2016
We can take the income, the revenue, just from these properties and turn it over.
Sep 22, 2016
And then the President's initiative, which I support, better utilization of existing space.
Sep 22, 2016
This is disgraceful, that we have Federal properties around the country--and the Department of Agriculture--again, went out there, visited, requested that we come up with a proposal.
Sep 22, 2016
The Trump Hotel, that's a public-private partnership. We're losing $6 million.
Sep 22, 2016
But, one, we don't have an inventory of vacant Federal properties or underutilized Federal properties. That's a given.
Sep 22, 2016
I think we've made a lot of progress--unfortunately, in the wrong direction.
Sep 21, 2016
We have got a few rotten apples in the barrel, and they are still in the barrel, and to me it is disgraceful that we haven't fixed the system that allows you to do your duty to clear the deck of people who need to be fired, removed, and…
Sep 21, 2016
It was absolutely appalling to see what took place in some of these instances, and it also to me is disgraceful that the Federal Government could be a partner into the abuse of women and employees and others and let them be subject to this…
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