19 October 2015 – Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario received a bipartisan Congressional Delegation (CODEL) from the United States led by Representative Robert William “Bob” Goodlatte of Virginia, Chairman of US House Judiciary Committee on October 17.

Secretary Del Rosario briefed the US CODEL on developments in the West Philippine Sea and welcomed expressions of support from the Congressional delegation.

The US CODEL pledged to find more ways to deepen US assistance for the Philippine Government, particularly in terms of capability building for PH security and military forces.

Secretary Del Rosario and the US CODEL also agreed that it would be important for the Philippines to remain engaged in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) process.

The US CODEL was on an Asia-Pacific trip, visiting Hawaii, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Other members of the US CODEL are Rep. George Holding (Republican, North Carolina), Rep. Jason Smith (Republican, Missouri), Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (Democrat, Texas) and Rep. Hank Johnson (Democrat, Georgia). END