Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), who has been a member of the Transportation & Infrastructure committee since he was first elected to Congress in 1992, has been confirmed by House Republicans to serve as its chairman in the 112th Congress. The committee has jurisdiction over a broad range of issues, including those that affect aviation. Mica’s Florida district encompasses Daytona Beach, home of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Another House panel that has a lot of say about aviation policy issues is the powerful Appropriations Committee, which will be led by Rep. Harold Rogers (R-Ky.), who was elected to his 16th two-year term in November. A member of the committee since 1983, he has served on eight subcommittees and has chaired both the subcommittee on homeland security and the subcommittee on aviation. Meanwhile, the House last week voted for a 17th time to extend aviation programs, taxes and Airport and Airways Trust Fund spending authority through Sept. 30, 2011. The Senate is working on the same bill.