John Mica: “Having just arrived by air, it sounds like a simple thing, I just arrived by air, but remember back to September 11…”

“Having just arrived by air, it sounds like a simple thing, I just arrived by air, but remember back to September 11, September 12, September 13, and we see the impact that aviation has on every American. We see how dependent our economy has become on aviation. Mr. Speaker, I chair the subcommittee and I try to be fair, and the worst thing to do is get in the middle of a food fight in a delegation or delegations of Members affected by legislative proposal. I tried to be fair in this proposal. I have the greatest respect for the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde). No one is held in higher esteem than the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde). I have great respect for the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo). I have tremendous respect for the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller) and have worked with him on the Peotone question. As chair of the subcommittee, however, I have to look not only at their interests but the interests of the Nation and the interests of the American people. And this is a difficult battle.”