<home> -- <press releases News from Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo Congresswoman Bordallo Visits Servicemembers In Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bahrain FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 28, 2009 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today returned from a House Armed Services Committee Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bahrain. The delegation, led by Congresswoman Bordallo, visited U.S. servicemembers stationed in these locations and received briefings to assess the progress of Operation Enduring Freedom and the plan for draw down of forces in Iraq. Congressman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts joined Congresswoman Bordallo in the delegation. While abroad, the Congressional Delegation met with the Honorable Karl Eikenberry, United States Ambassador to Afghanistan; Ms. Greta Holtz, Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Provincial Affairs in Iraq; Deputy Chief of Mission in Iraq, Ambassador Robert Ford; as well as local leaders from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bahrain. The CODEL also spent time aboard the USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) and met with the sailors who are forward deployed supporting missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. “I always appreciate the opportunity to visit with our men and women in uniform serving our nation in harms way,” Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo said today. “I am so proud of our servicemembers from Guam deployed around the world, especially those in the Middle East. I brought mementos from home including gugaria and Chamorro cookies. The trip highlighted the continued oversight that is needed in Congress to make sure reform is realized by the people of Afghanistan and that they find economic growth and long-term stability in their region.” # # # matthew.mateo@mail.house.gov or andrew.tenorio@mail.house.gov |
