By Staff
WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Fred Upton announced Wednesday that he is returning to Iraq.
This week's trip comes nearly a year after he last visited the Persian Gulf region.
Cass County's congressman led a bipartisan delegation to Iraq last October.
Upton, R-St. Joseph, will soon depart on the 14-hour flight from Andrews Air Force Base and will return after the weekend.
Due to security concerns, his staff withheld exact dates and times.
Upton will be traveling with three other members of Congress, both Republican and Democrat.
Upton led a bipartisan delegation to Iraq last year from Oct. 6-10 which included: Reps. Jim Davis, D-Fla., Mike Castle, R-Del., Greg Walden, R-Ore., Amo Houghton, R-N.Y., Wayne Gilchrest, R-Md., Ron Kind, D-Wis., and Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y.
The delegation visited several areas of Iraq, including Baghdad and Tikrit.
They met with Ambassador Paul Bremer, presidential envoy to Iraq, to get an update of the reconstruction efforts and were briefed by several military and government officials responsible for the work. Members also spent time talking with American troops, including some from their own districts.