Congress takes a recess in Europe

Hurry! Hurry! Time is running out to get on a couple of super-fine congressional-delegation trips (codels) to Europe over the congressional recess. We understand that seats may still be available.

Did you have a fine time with Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia, on his trip just last month to Dublin, Vienna and Prague?

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Then you might want to sign up for his latest — but it leaves after work on Friday, so get packing. This one goes to Rome for the weekend and then on to Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi. After that you hit the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, and then it’s on to Moscow, with a stop in Lisbon on the way home.

You’ll be back “by noon on July 3rd,” our invite says, “to allow members to catch afternoon flights back to their districts,” so you can sit in the back of that festooned convertible and wave at the crowds on the Fourth.

Sure, maybe your spouse might find this codel a bit hectic — too many stops in just 10 days. We tend to agree. But remember, this is business class all the way on a military jet. This means you leave your passports and luggage at the Rayburn Building and your bags will await you in your rooms at every stop. This is no-lines travel. Can’t get easier.

The reason for the trip, we’re told, is to “examine the European financial crisis” and check out “foreign operations of the U.S. government.” And what a better time to do that than this weekend, as you wander about the Piazza Navona or dine in Trastevere?

Didn’t do the Burton codel last month? You can still see beautiful Prague in early summer. Just hop on the mil-jet leaving Sunday afternoon with a 10-member (plus spouses and staff) bipartisan delegation to Germany (visiting troops there), and Krakow in Poland, and Budapest, Prague and London.

This one is led by House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.), Steve Scalise (R-La.), Aaron Schock (Ill.), Mac Thornberry (R-Tex.), Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga..) also on board.

The idea, we understand, is to talk about NATO’s role in Libya, shore up relations with the allies — a bit frayed these days — and chat about strategic initiatives. And don’t miss a glorious sunset stroll on the Charles River bridge. You’ll be awed by the stunning Prague skyline.

There is one drawback to this trip: You won’t be back until Tuesday, which means you’ll miss the hometown fireworks.

Hmm. Okay, so here’s what you do. Just have the mayor announce you were called away on pressing foreign policy matters and how everyone knows you’d much rather be in Bakersfield than Budapest or London.

While the Burton codel is in Rome this weekend, Sens. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) are taking a group of top CEOs to Tunisia and Egypt for three days. This is not Loop-recommended, for obvious reasons. Maybe in a few years.