Delegation Visits Troops, Inspects U.S. Military Health Care in Middle East Theater

Delegation visits troops, inspects U.S. military health care in Middle East theater
Rep. Boozman meets with Arkansas soldiers, Iraqi President

Rep. Boozman speaking with an Arkansas soldier in Kuwait, August 2006.

U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) visited with Arkansas troops and met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani as part of an American delegation to the Middle East.

The delegation included Secretary of Veteran's Affairs R. James Nicholson; Rep. Stephen Buyer (R-IN), Chairman of the House Committee on Veteran's Affairs; and committee member Rep. John T. Salazar (D-CO).

The delegation visited with American troops at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, on Tuesday before traveling to Baghdad, Iraq to receive briefings from top U.S. officials. While in Baghdad, the delegation met with President Talabani and members of his government at Talabani's home inside the Red Zone.

While in Kuwait, Rep. Boozman met with Arkansas soldiers to offer his support and gratitude for the work they are doing in theater, while discussing his work as part of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

"I am proud and honored to be able to give our soldiers a well-deserved pat on the back," Boozman said. "Their sacrifice, being here on the front lines, deserves our respect and praise.

"They know all too well the reality of our need to fight the war there, so that we do not have to fight it here," he added.

Rep. Boozman will also visit wounded troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Boozman will spend two days at the facility before returning stateside.

"Landstuhl is our largest hospital overseas, and it will be my honor to share with them the many good wishes and prayers that Arkansans have asked me to deliver on their behalf," Boozman said.

This is Rep. Boozman's fifth trip to Iraq. In late July, the House passed The Veterans Small Business and Memorial Affairs Act of 2006 (H.R. 3082), introduced by Rep. Boozman. The legislation would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish annual contracting goals for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into with small businesses that are owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans. It would also require the VA to maintain a database of eligible small businesses, and to provide them priority in VA contracting.

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