On April 12, 2017, a U.S. Congressional Delegation led by the House Majority Whip, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), visited STRIKFORNATO’s headquarters in Oeiras, Portugal. The delegation was also composed by Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Rep. Glen Thompson (R-PA), Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA), Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS), Rep. Kevin Ferguson (R-GA), and Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-MI). The delegation was greeted by Brigadier General Karsten Heckl, USMC, who provided an update on STRIKFORNATO’s capability to execute full spectrum joint maritime operations and its role in NATO maritime Ballistic Missile Defense, in order to provide assurance, deterrence, and collective defense for the Alliance.