Boehner to lead delegation to Latin America

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) will lead a congressional deelgation to Latin America, his office announced Monday. 

The group of seven lawmakers will visit Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, where they will hold discussions on trade and economics. 

"The mission of this visit is to help strengthen ties between the United States and our regional trading partners to support further economic activity that will help create new American jobs," Boehner said in a statement "I look forward to discussing issues of mutual interest, whether it is jobs and the economy, energy or trade, with leaders from these three nations."

The group of legislators will focus in particular on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement as well as other "economic security issues," according to Boehner's office. Energy-related topics will also be on the agenda. 

"The delegation also will focus closely on energy issues — studying the economic impact of pro-energy domestic policies being implemented by nations such as Brazil, and visiting with American energy producers forced to create jobs overseas by excessive Washington laws that keep most U.S. energy resources on federal lands under lock and key. We look forward to a productive visit," Boehner added. 

In the statement, Boehner's office said that the House would vote "in the coming weeks and months" on legislation that would fund new infrastructure projects with revenue from expanded domestic oil drilling. 

The delegation will include Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-Minn.), Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.), Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.).

— Andrew Restuccia contributed.