Lisa taking care of Congress

A Congressional delegation (CoDel is the official term) led by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is currently in Brazil.

Lisa is the charge, so she is spending a lot of time with the group.

Included in the delegation is our own congressman, Gerry Connolly (D-Va.). But Lisa got her picture taken with another DC-area congressman, Elijah Cummings, (D-Md.)

The group is off for Rio today and from there to other points in Latin America.

Before anyone complains about junkets and boondoggles...

Most congressional trips abroad actually do some good. For some congressmen and women it is the first time they can see first hand the results of diplomacy and international co-operation. For others it is an opportunity to see how a pet project is working.

In every case it is a chance for the governments of the countries the CoDels visit to make their case to the U.S. legislative branch. In countries such as Brazil, the politicians understand the separation of powers. In others, such as China and Cuba, they don't. In all cases it is an education for the CoDels and the government leaders they meet.

It is also a chance for the US diplomatic corps to show that they don't ONLY push cookies and watercress sandwiches.