Reid leads contingent to Latin America during break

RENO (AP) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and six other senators left Sunday on a trip to Latin America.

The Nevada Democrat and his colleagues are scheduled to visit Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Paraguay.

Plans call for them to meet with the presidents of Guatemala, Colombia, Paraguay and Mexico, as well as key labor and trade officials.

"The purpose is to strengthen ties to an important region in the world," Reid spokesman Federico de Jesus told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "It's also a region that has been ignored and neglected by the Bush administration."

The senators plan to address trade, immigration, anti-drug and human rights issues during their meetings, he said.

They also plan to discuss a proposed free trade agreement with Colombia that has stalled in Congress.

Other senators making the trip are Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.; Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; Kent Conrad, D-N.D.; Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.; and Robert Menendez, D-N.J.

Reid plans to return Dec. 2, two days before the Senate returns from Thanksgiving break.

Reid spokesman Jon Summers said the trip marks Reid's second trip to the region as Senate majority leader. He visited other South American countries last December, he said.