The bipartisan US delegation, led by Rep. Silvestre Reyes, is expected "to call on senior representatives of the Philippine government, meet with its Philippine congressional counterparts, and lay a wreath at the American Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, to honor Americans and Filipinos who died defending freedom in World War II," the embassy said.

Reyes, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the visit is a "welcome opportunity" for members of the US Congress "to see, first hand, the close cooperation between our two countries on several fronts."

"We look forward to meeting with a number of senior officials from the Philippine government, as well as our counterparts in the Philippine Congress. We hope to learn more about the many strong aspects of the US-Philippines relationship, and to talk about ways that we can make our relations even stronger," he said in a statement.

He added that the US delegation planned to go to Southern Philippines, particularly in Zamboanga. " to meet with US troops currently supporting the Philippine Armed Forces there and to express our thanks for the warm and continuing welcome that we receive from the people of that city and region."

"Recent events remind us that our two nations are not just historical allies, but allies in today’s fight against terrorists," the Democrat representative from Texas stressed.

Reyes, who onced served as chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, founded the House Diversity and Innovation Caucus and co-founded the Congressional USO Caucus.

Other members of the delegation are Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (R,New Jersey), in his seventh term, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel; Rep. Heather Wilson (R,New Mexico), in her fifth term, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and a distinguished graduate of the US Air Force Academy, who also served in the Air Force until 1989; Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D, New York), in his fifth term, a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on International Relations and a member of the New Democrats Caucus and the Democratic Leadership Council; and Rep. C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger (D,Maryland), in his third term, serves on the House Appropriations Committee, as well as on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and is currently an Assistant Whip of the House of Representatives.

They are expected to fly home to the US today.