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Mica bids farewell to Transportation chairmanship at portrait unveiling
For veterans of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, it is hard to picture Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) being at a loss for words.
But as Mica's official portrait was unveiled Wednesday at the Capitol, the loquacious Florida lawmaker who is relinquishing the gavel of the Transportation Committee next year did not know exactly what to say.
"I don't know about you guys. It's kind of awkward having your picture like this," Mica said during a 45-minute ceremony in the Transportation Committee's hearing room in the Rayburn office building.
Mica's portrait is being hung now because, despite winning reelection to an 11th term last month, he is facing term limits implemented by the Republicans when they took control of the House in 2010. The rules call for lawmakers to step down after six years as ranking member or chairman of a particular committee, unless they are given a waiver by leadership.
Mica had briefly sought a waiver after one was given to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) after his unsuccessful vice presidential bid, but House leaders instead tapped Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) to take over the Transportation Committee next year.
Shuster (R-Pa.) and the ranking Democrat on the panel, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) delivered remarks honoring Mica Wednesday.
Shuster called Mica "a good friend and a mentor in my 12 years in Congress.
"I wouldn't be standing here as chairman-elect if it wasn't for the great help that John Mica ... and the responsibility that he placed on me during his chairmanship, so I will forever be grateful for what you've done," Shuster said.
 Rep. Mica unveils his portrait at the Capitol. (Keith Laing) |
Shuster acknowledged the transition that was taking place on the transportation panel, however.
"The chairman as always gave me some marching orders, but today I told him 'nah, I'm not going to do that," Shuster said as he deviated from his prepared remarks introducing Mica's wife.
The incoming Transportation Chairman jokingly added that he knew Mica would be watching him as he helms the panel from his new portrait.
"One portrait in here, it seems to me the eyes move when I move," Shuster said to laughs. "That's going to be really uncomfortable for me."
During his remarks, Mica returned the quip, saying "Shuster, my eyes will move."
He added that he was looking forward to "continued service" in the House of Representatives, even as he gives up his Transportation Committee gavel.
"This is not a memorial service by any means," Mica told attendees at his portrait unveiling.
Mica is expected to remain on the Transportation Committee after he gives the gavel to Shuster. His portrait was painted by artist Ned Bittinger, and it will be added to the collection of the Curator of the House, the committee said.
The Transportation Committee said that Mica will be the 16th leader of the panel to have a portrait drawn, and he will be the sixth committee chairman from Florida to have one.
Mica is joining former Florida Reps. Claude Pepper (D; Rules Committee); James Andrew Haley (D; Interior and Insular Affairs); Dante Fascell (D; Foreign Affairs); Don Fuqua (D; Science and Technology) and Bill Young (R; Appropriations).
