U.S. Rep. David Price is in the Middle East this week on homeland security business.

Price, a Chapel Hill Democrat, left Jan. 4 for the trip, which has so far taken him to Israel, Jordan, Oman and Egypt. He returns Sunday.

Price, who leads the House’s homeland security funding subcommittee, has several issues on his to-do list, said spokesman Paul Cox.

He is visiting foreign ports to see in-person the security work that U.S. officials are doing there to pre-screen cargo bound for the United States. Price also is trying to learn new ideas for homeland security from countries such as Israel that face ongoing threats from terrorism.

And he is taking a look at how U.S. officials abroad are doing in processing the asylum claims of refugees from the war in Iraq.

So far on his trip, Price has met with foreign ministers in Egypt, Oman, and Jordan, and with the prime minister of Jordan, Cox said.

He also is scheduled to meet with Israel’s foreign minister and with business leaders in the Palestinian West Bank.