U.S. Congressman John Mica (R-Fla.) will be honored on March
20 as the American Association of Port Authorities’ “Port Person of the Year”
during the association’s 100th anniversary Spring Conference event, March
19-20, at The Renaissance Washington, D.C. Downtown Hotel.
Each year, AAPA presents its “Port Person of the Year” award
to an individual or individuals who have made significant contributions to the
port industry, according to the association.
Celebrating its first century, AAPA selected Mica to receive
its most prestigious annual award based on his leadership of the House Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee, six transportation subcommittees (several of
which are crucial to America’s seaports), the association says, and his staunch
support of maritime and port infrastructure policy and investment priorities.
Nominated
last fall for “Port Person of the Year” by both the Port of Jacksonville and
the Port of New Orleans, AAPA’s Executive Committee approved Mica’s nomination
at its Jan. 18 meeting in Tampa.
In addition to receiving AAPA’s “Port Person” award, Mica
will give a keynote address during lunch. As part of his remarks, he is
expected to discuss what he and his congressional colleagues have been doing to
pass comprehensive surface transportation reauthorization legislation, just
announced as The American Energy and Infrastructure Act, and expand employment
opportunities to build the nation’s infrastructure.
“Chairman Mica understands that increased federal funding in
land- and water-side transportation infrastructure is an essential and
effective utilization of limited resources that will pay long-term dividends
through increased trade, sustainable job creation and tax revenues,” said AAPA
President and CEO Kurt Nagle in an association press release. “We greatly
appreciate leaders who understand and support our industry, and I’m very pleased
AAPA is honoring Chairman Mica with the ‘Port Person of the Year’ award for our
centennial year.”
Mica represents Florida’s 7th Congressional District and is
currently serving his 10th term in office. Last July, he rolled out an outline
for The American Energy and Infrastructure Act, which for the first time in
surface transportation reauthorization history includes a maritime title. Due
to the nation’s budgetary challenges, Mica is committed to enacting a long-term
reauthorization of federal transportation programs to allow for more
efficiencies, better planning and flexibility for state governments to
prioritize transportation projects, the association says.
Introducing the congressman will be the association’s 2012
chairman of the board, Jerry Bridges, executive director of the Virginia Ports
Authority.
“By selecting Chairman Mica as AAPA’s ‘Port Person of the
Year,’ we’re recognizing a highly visible and effective national leader who
understands the critical importance of ports and who doesn’t shy away from
including maritime and seaport challenges as he seeks solutions to the myriad
transportation problems facing this nation,” Bridges said. “With his focus on
ports, our often ‘invisible’ industry is beginning to enter the popular
consciousness as a worthwhile investment today to reap the economic benefits
for generations to come.”
Other speakers for this year’s AAPA Spring Conference
include political analyst, author and publisher Charlie Cook; International
Finance Corp. senior finance officers Ari Skromne and Han Cao; U.S. Rep. Janice
Hahn (D-Calif.); port industry economist John C. Martin; Canadian Ambassador to
the United States Gary Doer; and Adam Snider, transportation reporter for
Politico Pro.