Thornberry, Frelinghuysen Journey to Middle East, Visit the Troops

Washington, DC, November 1, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11), and the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mac Thornberry (TX-13), have returned to the United States from Iraq following a weekend visit to the Central Command area of operations. Thornberry and Frelinghuysen met with key military leaders and troops.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11), and the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mac Thornberry (TX-13), have returned to the United States from Iraq following a weekend visit to the Central Command area of operations. Thornberry and Frelinghuysen met with key military leaders and troops.

Thornberry and Frelinghuysen are charged with Congressional oversight of the United States' efforts to defeat the terrorist threat and support countries in the region that share our values and goals. Thornberry's panel sets policy for the Department of Defense and Frelinghuysen's panel funds operations of the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community.

The purpose of the trip was to conduct oversight and explore policy, strategy, and funding issues associated with the deployment of U.S. and Coalition forces in the region. Oversight included examination of regional dynamics, threat trends, military-to-military cooperation with coalition partners, counterterrorism efforts, U.S. force posture in the region, and resource requirements.

They also visited with U.S. Marines in Beirut, Lebanon, and soldiers in Baghdad, Iraq, among other locations.