Mica praises retiring Rep. Costello

{mosads}Mica added that he was “quite shocked to learn like everyone else that he was gonna hang it up,” but “all of us on this side wish you well,” referring to majority Republicans on the panel.

Referencing his brother, former Democratic Rep. Dan Mica, the Transportation chairman told Costello, “If you’re like my brother — he’s a big Democrat like you — there’s lots of money out there after Congress.”

Other lawmakers on the panel joined Mica in taking a moment to bid farewell to Costello.

For his part, the retiring Costello said at the beginning of his remarks Wednesday that “There are people back in my district, namely eight grandkids, who are happy with my decision.”

The comments came at the top of the Aviation subcommittee’s hearing on the FAA NextGen system, which the agency envisions installing by 2020 at a cost of about $22 billion.

The committee plans to look into the FAA’s proposal to have the NextGen system be installed to replace World War II-era radar technology in control towers by 2014 at the busiest airports, and nationwide by 2020.