For Immediate Release
May 4, 2006

Congressman Pitts to Visit Iraq

Will Be Part of First Congressional Delegation
to Meet with New Iraqi Prime Minister

Washington – Congressman Joe Pitts’ (R, PA-16) announced today that he will be traveling to the Middle East in the coming days as part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation.  The delegation will make stops in Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Greece, and Germany and will include visits with foreign heads of state as well as U.S. military personnel.

“I firmly believe in the work we are doing in Iraq, and I’m grateful for the chance to assess the situation there firsthand,” Congressman Pitts said.  “It is important that the leaders of Iraq’s newly elected democratic government understand the support they have in the U.S. Congress, and I look forward to conveying that message personally.”

Congressman Pitts will join a bipartisan delegation comprised of lawmakers on the trip overseas.  The delegation will be the first to meet with the newly appointed Iraqi Prime Minister, Jawad al-Maliki.  The delegation will also meet with U.S. troops serving in Iraq and receive a briefing from General George W. Casey, Commanding General of the Multi-National Force in Iraq.

In addition to Iraq, the delegation will travel to Turkey, Jordan and Greece to meet with heads of state and assess relationships with allied governments.  In Germany, delegation members will visit wounded soldiers at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

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