Sen. Thune meets with singer Bono on Africa CODEL

The eight-day congressional delegation attended by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) was undertaken to allow the lawmakers to exercise “oversight of Department of Defense, Department of State, and USAID activities in Africa,” according to a news release from Thune’s office.

Attendees wanted to “understand the impact of U.S. sponsored counter-terrorism programs and projects relating to health, economic development, and strengthened trade relationships with African nations,” the release continued. 

The meeting with Bono occurred Thursday in Ghana, where the singer was working with an organization he founded, ONE, which fights extreme poverty and preventable diseases in Africa.

“(W)e were excited that a distinguished congressional delegation visited Ghana and other African countries this week to see the progress thanks to smart, effective U.S. investments and the hard work of Africans on the ground,” ONE said in a news release on its website.

The Daily Republic also reported that the CODEL met with Joshua Bolton, who served as White House chief of staff under President G.W. Bush, and visited schools funded in part by Millennium Challenge Corporation grants and USAID-supported programs.

Several other lawmakers are traveling the world this week on CODELS while the Senate remains in pro forma session.

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) led a three-senator delegation to Israel on Sunday that began with a meeting with President Shimon Peres, the Israeli television news station Arutz Sheva reported. Sens. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) joined Inouye in Israel after stopping off in Tunisia.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), meanwhile, is headed to India “to discuss expanding ties between the two nations.” Warner is traveling with with four other lawmakers, the English-language Hindustan Times of India reported Sunday.