U.S. Rep. John Mica, the Florida Republican who chairs the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, scored points in Washington last week -- a clear victor in the massively approved package that extends federal highway dollars through 2014.
The bill also keeps federal college-loan interest rates from doubling and the National Flood Insurance Program alive for another five years.
It remains to be seen if the bill translates positively into Mica's bitter primary contest with Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, which has been called Floridas nastiest.
But proponents of the long-term highway bill, the first for Congress in seven years, have given members of both GOP and Democrat campaigns boasting material: White House spokesman Jay Carney has said President Obama looks forward to signing the bill.
Among those praising the bill, which provides $120 billion on road and transit projects in part by extending a number of fuel and highway taxes, was the Florida Ports Council, which views the bill as a step in building up the nation's maritime trade.
The included provisions, such as continuation of SAFETEA-LUs Projects of National and Regional Significance program and the establishment of a national freight policy, are a good beginning, but our country still has a long way to go in recognizing the importance of adequate transportation infrastructure, Doug Wheeler, president of the Florida Ports Council, stated in a release.
"We are optimistic that our leaders can provide more action on releasing harbor maintenance funds for their intended purpose in the future.
For his part, Mica, R-Orlando, touted the bill as the most historic transportation reform bill since the Eisenhower legislation in 1956.
This bill will provide a major boost to our economy by putting Americans back to work building our nations bridges and highways, Mica emailed supporters over the weekend, noting that the Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill will save taxpayers $16 billion by consolidating or eliminating programs.
The bill failed to include the controversial TransCanadas Keystone XL Pipeline. But Mica and other Republicans used the omission of the pipeline to score concessions that should speed construction by reducing the environmental review process and allowing the state to build roads without the requirement for bicycle and pedestrian lanes.
Congress made major reforms, and reduces budget-busting measures that spend more than they take in, to help stabilize our nations budget, Mica wrote supporters. While I supported the inclusion of opening up the Keystone pipeline in the bill, I am confident that with this pressure and leverage, we will be able to push this through the Democrat-controlled Senate and the Obama administration.
While no bill is perfect, this bill is a benefit for our national industries and our local economy. Energy prices and project costs will benefit from this legislation.It was a victory to move these reforms through Congress, and be assured that I will strongly continue to support additional reforms to ensure that government is an advocate for our economy -- not an obstacle to prosperity.
Mica wasnt the only Florida representative touting the bill's envisioned benefits.
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami Gardens, announced the bill will create or save 2 million jobs, help students, and ensure that Florida is covered as the hurricane season is under way
The highway bill extension is good news for South Florida and the U.S., because it will create or save more than 2 million good-paying jobs," Wilson stated in a release. "Additionally, this agreement will keep student loan rates from doubling for recent college graduates, something they cannot afford because they have the highest unemployment rate of any age group in the nation. And, with it being hurricane season, South Florida can be reassured that the National Flood Insurance Program will continue to be there for us if we need it.
While this is good news, the highway bill does not increase the investment in our transportation infrastructure to the level we need in order to stay ahead of our competitors in the global economy. On this anniversary of President Eisenhower signing into law the bill that created the Interstate Highway System, I hope that my Republican colleagues will realize that they need to learn from one of their own and fully commit to rebuilding our surface transportation system so that it is once again the best in the world.
A spokeswoman for theU.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said there is not yet a list of projects in Florida that will be covered by the bill.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
