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House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) recently received the American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) “Port Person of the Year” award, which recognizes his support of efforts to improve the nation's maritime and port infrastructure.

Ports and maritime highways are as important to the U.S. transportation network as roads, bridges, airports and rails, said Mica at AAPA's 100th anniversary event recently held in Washington D.C.

“Ports are the nation's gateways and economic engines,” he said. “One of my goals is to ensure that the fees collected at our ports for harbor maintenance are no longer diverted to cover unrelated federal spending. These critically needed infrastructure resources must be dedicated for their intended purpose.”

Transportation reauthorization legislation pending in the House calls for investing all available trust fund resources in maintaining U.S. harbors.

“With larger and larger ships engaging in international trade and tourism, and the expansion of the Panama Canal, significant economic and employment opportunities are available to the United States, but only if our port and harbor infrastructure is ready for these challenges,” said Mica.