(BAGHDAD, IRAQ)–Congressman Jim Langevin, a member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security and the House Armed Services Committee, departed Andrews Air Force Base Wednesday afternoon on official travel that included visits to Iraq and Jordan.  Langevin is currently in Amman, Jordan, and is scheduled for travel to Ramstein Air Base in Germany tomorrow.

  The Department of Defense requested that information pertaining to the trip be released only upon Langevin’s departure from Iraq, citing security concerns.

 Currently, Rhode Island National Guard units are performing security operations in Baghdad and elsewhere while a new Iraqi police force is trained.  Langevin met with Iraqi trainees at a new training facility in Amman, Jordan, and also met with Rhode Island National Guard troops who are now serving in military police roles in Iraq.

 Langevin, a former Secretary of State who led election modernization efforts at the state and national levels, also observed the progress being made toward political self-determination and a democratic government for the Iraqi people. 

 Tomorrow, Langevin will stop at Germany's Ramstein Air Base, where he will visit with injured American troops at Landstuhl military hospital.
 
 “The reconstruction of Iraq, both in terms of infrastructure and government, presents a historic opportunity to bring democracy to oppressed people who once lived in fear,” said Congressman Langevin.  “As Iraq develops a new system of governing by freely choosing its leaders, I was pleased to learn about the system being developed to achieve such a goal.  I also appreciated the opportunity to meet personally with Rhode Islanders to assess their needs and hear their front-line perspective on the progress of the war on terror.”

 The New England Patriots have sent to Iraq with Langevin Patriots ‘rally towels,’ photos autographed by quarterback Tom Brady, copies of Football Weekly and other team paraphernalia.  Hasbro has donated board games for the troops, and the Pawtucket Red Sox sent baseball caps.

 “I would like to thank the Patriots, Hasbro and the Pawtucket Red Sox for their generous donations to the Rhode Islanders participating in this mission,” added Langevin.  “Their kindness sends a message of gratitude for our troops’ great sacrifices and service.”

 Congressman Langevin has served on the House Armed Services Committee since he entered Congress in 2001.  Currently, he sits on the Subcommittees on Projection Forces and Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities.

 Upon beginning his second term in Congress, Langevin was appointed to be among the first members of the newly created House Select Committee on Homeland Security, where he is a member of the Subcommittees on Cybersecurity, Science, and Research & Development and Intelligence and Counterterrorism. 

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NOTE:  Digital photos of Congressman Langevin’s trip to Iraq may be viewed and used by the media by logging onto:  http://photos.yahoo.com/ri02photos