U.S. Rep. Ray Lahood, R-Peoria, has taken himself out of the running for Republican National Committeeman from Illinois in favor of a trip to Lebanon.

LaHood, who is of Lebanese descent, said he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to go on a congressional trip to watch the Lebanese parliament elect Gen. Michel Suleiman, who has been commander of that country’s armed forces, as president, followed by Suleiman’s swearing in. Both take place this weekend.

“I’ve been in Congress 14 years, and this will be my 13th trip to Lebanon,” LaHood said Friday, as he prepared to leave with other members of Congress that evening. “I think it’s important to send a signal – not only from Congress, but from our government – that we’re vitally interested in Lebanon.”