Sen. Conrad leads congressional meetings with debt-crisis countries in Europe

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) is leading a congressional delegation in a five-country tour of Europe this week to assess the European debt crisis.

Conrad's group was in Spain on Wednesday, to meet with the Bank of Spain and various businesspeople, and was scheduled to travel to Greece, Ireland, Italy and Portugal before leaving Europe on Friday. Each of those countries has struggled with sovereign debt, which has led to a rolling crisis every year for the past several years as these countries struggle to restructure their debt.

A statement from Conrad's office said the "primary purpose of the delegation's visit to Madrid is to better understand the economic challenges facing Spain and other members of the Euro area."

Alan Solomont, the U.S. ambassador to Spain, said the visit "is an example of how the U.S.-Spain relationship is a top priority for the political leaders in the United States. The United States is committed to standing with Europeans and the people of Spain as they put in place a comprehensive solution to the current economic crisis in Europe."

Conrad's delegation includes Sens. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.).

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