WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Donald Norcross traveled with a bipartisan congressional delegation to Munich, Afghanistan and Iraq to meet with world leaders and visit New Jersey troops serving on the front lines.

In Iraq, he met with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Bagdad, and consulted with Nechirvan Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, in Erbil – just 30 miles minutes from the battle against ISIS in Mosul. In Afghanistan, Norcross met with U.S. military leaders to discuss our strategy for defeating the Taliban and visited with troops.  

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to thank the men and women on the front lines protecting our nation. They’re risking their lives to defend our freedom and we owe them a great debt of gratitude,” Norcross said. “In my briefing with military commanders, they confirmed ISIS is still a serious threat to security and stability in the Middle East – but the support we’re providing to the Iraqi Army and Kurdish forces is finally starting to turn the tide against the terrorists. We must continue to support their mission and defeat terrorism where ever it exists.”

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While in Iraq, Norcross met with the country’s director of refugee services to discuss their thorough vetting processes, and in his meeting with the Iraqi Prime Minister, al-Abadi expressed concerns with President Donald Trump’s travel ban being used as a recruitment tool for terrorists.

“Banning refugees and Iraqi citizens who are helping our troops isn’t just un-American, it’s a threat to our security. I urge the administration to listen to officials on the ground in the Middle East, before attempting to reapply this misguided policy.”

Norcross also participated in the Munich Security Conference, where he met with NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Curtis Scaparrotti and world leaders to discuss national security and increasing pressures from Russia.

“From military action in the Ukraine to meddling in our own election, we’re witnessing heightened tensions with Russia unseen since the cold war,” Norcross said. “We must reassure our allies in Europe that we will continue to support NATO and work with them to defend freedom across the world.”

Congressman Norcross traveled through six countries in six days to meet with the military leaders. It was his fourth trip to visit our troops in the Middle East.

From Iraq, Norcross traveled directly to Oaklyn, New Jersey, where he recognized a hometown hero for his service in the military, and participated in a town hall to practice the very democracy our men and women are fighting to defend.  

As the father of a veteran, supporting our men and women in uniform is personal for Congressman Norcross. He is one of only two New Jersey representatives, and the state’s only Democrat, to serve on the Armed Services Committee. Click here to learn more about Congressman Norcross’ bipartisan record on defense issues and the work he’s doing on behalf of our troops  

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