Where they traveled A Tribune review of travel by 28 Chicago-area members of Congress since 2011 Norway Sweden Ireland found that 23 of the senators and representatives went on 75 trips overseas, with England Denmark more than half of these trips paid for by private sponsors. Rep. Jan Schakowsky Finland went on 10 trips, the most of the group. The most expensive trip, Rep. Peter Germany Roskam’s trek to Taiwan, is under House ethics review. Belgium Estonia Poland Latvia France Czech Rep. Lithuania Canada Belarus Spain Italy Austria Slovakia Russia Hungary Mexico Vatican City Ukraine Cuba Malta Haiti Georgia Guatemala Dominican Libya Azerbaijan Panama Turkey Republic Israel Colombia Armenia Jordan Brazil Uzbekistan Liberia Argentina Kazakhstan Bahrain U.A.E. Ghana Uganda Ethiopia Kyrgyzstan Congo Afghanistan Tajikistan Yemen China South Rwanda Djibouti Korea India Kenya Somalia Thailand Japan Taiwan COUNTRIES VISITED NO OFFICIAL Locations Taxpayer-funded trip Other funding TRAVEL ABROAD ■ Rep. Rodney Davis (R) ■ Rep. Bill Foster (D) BY THE NUMBERS Australia ■ Rep. Robin Kelly (D) I Most expensive trip not funded by taxpayers, I Most-visited destination: Former representatives: Taiwan – Rep. Peter Roskam (R): $25,653 Israel, 12 trips ■ Rep. Jerry Costello (D) ■ Rep. Tim Johnson (R) TRIP TOTALS, BY LAWMAKER Trips Cost to Private New Zealand Lawmaker abroad Countries visited taxpayers Costs Examples of some trips Rep. Jan Schakowsky 10 9: Congo, Rwanda, Israel, $17,408 $130,033 Taxpayer-financed trip to Africa to discuss violence Democrat Austria, Spain, Brazil, Turkey, against women; several other trips were paid for Belgium, Ethiopia and associated with the Aspen Institute. Rep. Luis Gutierrez 6 11: Germany, Panama, Mexico, Latvia, $2,731 $67,658 One taxpayer-financed trip to Asia to deal with Democrat Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, supply routes to Afghanistan; three trips were paid Uzbekistan, Spain, Argentina, Ireland for by the Franklin Center for Global Policy exchange. Rep. Bobby Rush 6 6: Canada, Ghana, Liberia, Brazil, $0 $88,077 Trips to four continents with the Aspen Institute Democrat India, Ethiopia Congressional Program to discuss foreign policy, energy and education. Rep. Aaron Schock 6 10: Colombia, Poland, Hungary, $4,355 $42,755 Taxpayer-financed trips include meetings with Republican Czech Republic, Germany, England, government officials in Europe and a trade pact in Cuba, Turkey, Spain, India Colombia; other trips focused on trade relations. Sen. Dick Durbin 4 10: Lithuania, Belarus, China, $42,119 $0 Met U.S. troops in Djibouti and Bahrain; marked Democrat Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, anniversary of Lithuania’s break from Soviet Union; Uganda, Djibouti, Bahrain meetings in Europe on security and China on trade. Rep. Randy Hultgren 4 9: Israel, Afghanistan, Germany, $3,197 $2,559 Publicly funded trip to Israel to focus on diplomacy, Republican Turkey, Jordan, Ireland, Sweden, trip to Europe on transportation; privately funded Norway, Guatemala trip for Guatemalan prayer breakfast. Rep. Adam Kinzinger 4 10: Israel, Slovakia, Georgia, Yemen, $4,151 $15,712- Taxpayer-financed trips to Asia and Eastern Europe Republican Djibouti, Spain, Czech Republic, $16,712 for diplomacy and military affairs; privately funded Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Turkey trip to Israel to discuss issues in the Middle East. Sen. Mark Kirk 4 9: Bahrain, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, $20,667 $10,589 Publicly financed trips include touring missile- Republican Libya, Malta, Poland, Israel, Jordan defense systems in Poland; trip to Israel paid for by Chicago-area Jewish group. Rep. Dan Lipinski 4 5: China, South Korea, Turkey, Italy, $13,797 $20,060 Taxpayer-financed trips to Italy and Vatican City Democrat Vatican City for the inauguration of Pope Francis and Catholic legislators conference. Rep. Peter Roskam 4 8: Taiwan, Ghana, Liberia, Estonia, $3,517 $56,289 Taxpayer-financed trip to Estonia and Georgia for Republican Russia, Georgia, Ireland, India trade and military affairs; privately funded trip to Taiwan on a fact-finding visit is under ethics review. Rep. Danny Davis 3 5: Japan, United Arab Emirates, $0 $39,047 Privately funded trip to Japan to discuss Japanese Democrat Bahrain, Qatar, Azerbaijan (Cost of 1 trip religious freedom; discussed energy policy in Turkey, not yet known) trade relations in the Middle East. Rep. Mike Quigley 3 7: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, $9,845 $0 Taxpayer-financed trips to tour Guantanamo Bay Democrat United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, and earthquake relief in Haiti; reviewed IED safety in Bahrain, Poland Middle East, toured missile defense systems in Poland. Rep. John Shimkus 3 5: Germany, Lithuania, Finland, $6,692 $0 Taxpayer-financed trips to Europe for the NATO Republican Estonia, Czech Republic Parliamentary Assembly. Rep. Tammy 2 3: Afghanistan, United Arab $12,447 Not yet Taxpayer-financed trips to Afghanistan to visit Duckworth Emirates, Thailand known troops; Thailand trip to “advocate for U.S. business Democrat and strengthen U.S.-Thai relations.” Rep. Don Manzullo 2 4: New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, $2,464 $0 Taxpayer-financed trip to Europe for political, Republican France economic and security issues, another to Australia (No longer in office) to discuss trade issues. Rep. Bobby Schilling 2 4: Cuba, Belgium, Afghanistan, $437 $0 One taxpayer-financed trip to inspect detention Republican Germany facilities at Guantanamo Bay, another to Europe (No longer in office) and Afghanistan to discuss policy and strategy. Rep. Brad Schneider 2 1: Israel $0 $26,390 Two trips to Israel to provide “context for the issues Democrat impacting the U.S.-Israel relationship” and to develop “knowledge and understanding of the Middle East.” Rep. Judy Biggert 1 1: Austria $0 $14,780 The Aspen Institute Congressional Program’s Republican “Nuclear Challenges for the U.S.” (No longer in office) Rep. Cheri Bustos 1 1: Israel $0 $19,304 Trip paid for by the American Israel Education Democrat Foundation to “get to know one of the U.S.’ key allies in a volatile region”. Rep. Bob Dold 1 1: Israel $0 $11,120 Trip paid for by the Jewish United Fund of Republican Metropolitan Chicago to discuss security challenges (No longer in office) the U.S. and Israel face together. Rep. Bill Enyart 1 3: Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, $10,777 $0 Taxpayer-financed trip to visit troops in combat Democrat Bahrain zone, see effects of war and troop draw-down. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. 1 1: Israel $0 $22,674 American Israel Education Foundation-sponsored Democrat trip to learn about Israel’s fight against terror and to (No longer in office) discuss “the quest for a lasting peace in the region.” Rep. Joe Walsh 1 1: Israel $0 $6,300 Trip paid for by the International Israel Allies Caucus Republican Foundation to explore the region, meet Israelis and (No longer in office) Palestinians and attend a rally hosted by Glenn Beck. Note: Does not include the cost of military air travel, which is sometimes used in publicly funded trips. SOURCES: Senate records, House records, the Congressional Record, LegiStorm, Tribune research TRIBUNE, MCT AND GETTY PHOTOS TRIBUNE.
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