As expected, Representative John Mica was elected to chair the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure when the new Congress convenes in January.

Mica will be the first congressmen from Florida to hold the position. The transportation committee handles the country’s highways, roads, public transit, aviation, railroads, waterways, infrastructure resources, Coast Guard, economic development, public buildings and emergency management, according to Daytona Beach News Journal

“Today our government, elected leaders, and Americans everywhere have no choice but to do more with less,” Mica said in the release. “This will also be the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s mandate.”

President Barack Obama has said that he wants to pass a $50 billion infrastructure-spending bill next year, and Mica’s committee will now oversee the process — which might be potentially be problematic for the President’s long-term transportation goals.

According to WSJ, the congressman will prioritize passing a multiyear bill to serve as the nation’s blueprint for transportation spending. He has also mentioned that he wants to pass an aviation bill, that would work to modernize the U.S. air-traffic control system.

Mica has also wanted to get the private sector more involved with public transportation projects. As our budget falls, Mica is hoping the private sector can pay for the difference.

“With limited resources, cutting red tape to complete stalled projects and better utilization of the federal government’s assets are top priorities,” Mica said in a statement. “Improving our infrastructure will ensure a strong backbone for our economy.”

Mica will succeed current Chairman James Oberstar (D., Minn.), who lost a re-election bid last month.

Unlike most of his republican counterparts, Mica has actually come out in support of high speed rail — though he says he doesn’t like the way it is being handled right now.

“I am a strong advocate of high-speed rail, but it has to be where it makes sense,” Mica told the Associated Press. “The administration squandered the money, giving it to dozens and dozens of projects that were marginal at best to spend on slow-speed trains to nowhere.”

Mica said that he would like to focus HSR on the north east corridor where the population is significantly more dense.