(OVERLAND PARK, KAN.) – Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District-KS) prepared for an upcoming trip to Iraq by returning to Washington, D.C., to attend a top secret briefing conducted by officials from the Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency. Members of Congress were updated on the situation in Iraq and the capture of Saddam Hussein.

“I am proud to represent our nation as part of my upcoming visit to Iraq,” Moore said. “The trip will provide an important opportunity to explore how we can continue to work with the Iraqi people to establish a government that assures them the freedom they deserve. Additionally, I hope to visit with soldiers from Kansas to listen to their needs and concerns and see what I can personally do to support their important work.”

Moore will travel to Iraq in early January as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation to examine the progress of the reconstruction efforts. The trip will include meetings with Middle Eastern leaders in Jordan and Israel to discuss efforts to reconstruct Iraq, counter terrorism, and examine the issue of weapons of mass destruction.

In Iraq, the congressional delegation will meet with representatives of the Coalitional Provisional Authority and attend a reception with the Iraqi Governing Council and Ministers. Several field visits have been planned to provide members the opportunity to gather information about the health, welfare, and morale of our troops. In addition to a stop at military headquarters, Moore will tour a hospital, a humanitarian organization project site, a contractor work site, and an Iraqi police station.

“For months I have listened to the concerns of military personnel and their families in Kansas about how to best support our troops and maintain a strong, motivated army,” Moore said. “This trip is an opportunity to hear firsthand from those serving on the front lines. I want to learn all that I can about the challenges our military are facing so we can provide them with the resources they need to accomplish our missions.”

Other members of the congressional delegation include Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT), Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC), Rep. James Greenwood (R-PA), Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ).