Female lawmakers finish Afghan visit

A bipartisan female delegation from the House has concluded a trip to Afghanistan where they assessed security conditions on the ground and visited female soldiers.

The group met with American troops, coalition commanders and Afghan leaders, Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) said in a statement.

{mosads}“The situation in Afghanistan remains fragile and highly complicated, yet there is a growing sense of confidence, deeply rooted in the recently held and very positive national elections,” she said. “This transition year will be critical to the country’s capacity to secure its future.”

In addition to Tsongas, the trip included Reps. Martha Roby (R-Ala.), Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.), Susan Davis (D-Calif.) and Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.).
 
Lawmakers spent Mother’s Day visiting with “military moms,” female soldiers who have children back home, as well as “female Members of Parliament, those involved in recruiting women into the Afghan military and police, Afghan women journalists, and leaders of organizations focused on advancing the role of women in civil society,” according to Tsongas, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.