"I am looking forward

to being with and assuring our troops that the Congress and America support

them as they continue doing a fantastic job of rebuilding Iraq under dangerous

circumstances. They took the fight to the terrorists and will end the

threat facing the freedom of our nation," said Collins.

"Together, we will give

thanks to God for our freedom. Americans should pause on this Thanksgiving

Day to pray for our troops who are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and many

parts of the world in the war against terrorism," he said.

Traveling with Collins will

be Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Anibal Acevedo-Vila (D-PR), along

with their staffs, military escorts and representatives from the White

House and the nation's intelligence community.