WASHINGTON, D.C. - Third District Congressman Jon Porter will be spending part of his holiday season visiting with heroes when he leads a congressional delegation to meet with American troops in the Middle East and Europe.  The delegation will depart from Washington on December 26 and return shortly after New Year’s Day, making stops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Pakistan and Germany.

“The brave men and women of our armed forces serving overseas put themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis,” said Porter.  “Visiting them where they serve is one of the best ways for members of Congress to find out what we can do to make their jobs safer and easier.”

The primary purpose of the trip will be to meet with military leaders for updates on progress being made in the war on terror.  The delegation will also tour a HUMVEE up-armored facility, visit wounded soldiers, make sure private and federal funds for Pakistan earthquake relief are being properly distributed, and explore agricultural conditions in a number of Middle Eastern countries.  As the first members of Congress to visit Iraq since last week’s historic democratic elections, the group will also be briefed on all aspects of the country’s new government.

In addition, Porter will be meeting with military medical staff to discuss nursing shortages, an issue he recently held field hearings on.  Porter is hoping to learn more about nurse recruitment and retainment in the military, as well as how Congress can ease the transition for nurses leaving the military for the private sector, where the national nursing shortage could reach 800,000 by 2020.

Joining Porter on the trip will be Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA), Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL), Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) and Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-MO).

While the group will be conducting official congressional business by day, at night, Porter (keyboards) will be joined by his “Second Amendments” bandmates Weldon (bass), Peterson (guitar and lead vocals), McCotter (lead guitar) and Hulshof (drums) to perform for the troops.  The bi-partisan band, which formed earlier this year and has played events ranging from a fundraiser for musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina to Farm Aid, will add holiday tunes to their usual rock n’ roll/country/blues play list.  Six evening performances are tentatively scheduled at various military facilities.

“This is one small way members of Congress can show the troops that we support them.  We’re not promising the greatest live show they’ve ever seen, but we are promising to play some familiar tunes and have a good time.  We’ll also be inviting any musically-inclined members of our military to perform with us onstage,” Porter concluded.

This will be Porter’s second trip to Iraq.  He accompanied a congressional delegation there in June of 2004.

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