Ensign, Porter traveling abroad during August recess

WASHINGTON -- At least two members of Nevada's congressional delegation will travel abroad at taxpayer expense this month while Congress is in recess.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., left Saturday for India and will return on Thursday.

Ensign will visit Bangalore and Chennai -- India's third and fourth largest cities, respectively, which are located in the southern part of the country, according to spokesman Tory Mazzola.

"It's an educational trip where he will meet with business leaders and tour training centers to explore ways to keep America competitive," Mazzola said.

Ensign is being accompanied by his 15-year-old son, Trevor. They will spend three days of the trip volunteering at an orphanage near Chennai, which is on the southeastern coast of India, Mazzola said.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee is paying for Ensign's travel while the senator is paying his son's expenses, including commercial flights to and from India.

Mazzola added that the time Ensign is volunteering at the orphanage is at his own expense.

Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., plans to make his fourth trip to Iraq by the end of the month, according to spokesman Matt Leffingwell.

Although the departure date and other details are uncertain, the trip will include Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., and other lawmakers, Leffingwell said.

A call to the House Armed Services Committee, which is organizing the trip, was not returned.

"(Porter) will be going for an update on how effective the troop surge has been in Iraq," Leffingwell said.

Porter wants to make his own appraisal before Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, comes to Washington next month to deliver his assessment of the surge.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., plans to make fundraising trips outside Nevada during the August break. Reid spokesman Jon Summers declined to say where the fundraisers would be.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., plans to depart Las Vegas for Israel on Thursday for a trip that will be paid for by the American Israel Education Foundation.

Berkley will join House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and about 25 other members of the House on the trip, according to Berkley spokesman David Cherry.

E-mails and calls to Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., inquiring about his plans were not returned.