Berkley traveling this week to Taiwan, Macau

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Shelley Berkley is in Taiwan this week after being invited to attend ceremonies marking 30 years of a U.S. diplomatic policy with the island republic, her office said.

Berkley, D-Nev., departed Saturday and will return to Las Vegas next weekend.

The travel for the lawmaker and her husband is being paid by an educational foundation associated with Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan, a spokesman said.

Berkley is the only federal lawmaker from Nevada traveling overseas during the weeklong Presidents Day congressional recess.

Aide David Cherry said Berkley was invited by President Ma Ying-jeou to mark the 30th anniversary of passage of the Taiwan Relations Act, the 1979 law that set a framework for U.S.-Taiwan ties after the United States normalized relations with rival mainland China.

The Nevada Democrat is chairwoman of the 146-member Congressional Taiwan Caucus, an informal organization of lawmakers with an interest in U.S. relations with the Asian ally.

Cherry said Berkley and her husband, Las Vegas kidney specialist Dr. Larry Lehrner, planned a side trip to Macau, the resort territory on mainland China where gaming magnates Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson operate casinos.

Cherry said Berkley and Lehrner are paying their own way to Macau.