During his second visit to Iraq, U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, said he saw substantial changes in the country -- changes he said could lead to reduced U.S. troops in Iraq.

Iraqi city streets are packed with cars, hospitals and schools have opened, and the government, as well as the military and police, are strengthening, Goodlatte said during a phone conference Saturday from Kuwait.

"Their standard of living is improving at a very rapid pace," said Goodlatte, who last visited Iraq in 2003.

"If they are given the freedom to rebuild and operate without the fear of insurgents, I think they have tremendous potential."

Goodlatte and five members of a congressional Agricultural Committee traveled to Iraq from Kuwait on Friday. They are scheduled to return to the United States on Monday after the eight-day trip that included stops in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Pakistan and Bulgaria.

"It's certainly very important for members of Congress who cast votes to put brave men and women in dangerous situations to go over" and assess the reconstruction effort, Goodlatte said.

Goodlatte met with U.S. Gen. George Casey, the commander of the coalition forces in Iraq, who Goodlatte said is satisfied with the progress of the Iraqi military and police.

"He believes by the end of 2006 we'll see about 80 percent of the Iraq military operation completely independent of U.S. support," Goodlatte said.

That report, and the progress of Iraq's government, economics and agriculture, left Goodlatte feeling "cautiously optimistic" that the U.S. military can reduce the number of troops in Iraq soon.

"Iraqis would like us to leave ... when the situation is stabilized," Goodlatte said.

Goodlatte, chairman of the Agriculture Committee, also met with the Foreign Agriculture Service at the U.S. Embassy and the Iraqi Minister of Agriculture. They reported that miles of irrigation canals, choked with weeds during Saddam Hussein's regime, have been cleared, creating an increase in the production of crops, according to Goodlatte.

Goodlatte also met with U.S. troops, including some from Virginia, for dinner at Camp Victory near Baghdad.

"That's always one of the highlights of these trips," he said.

The Recording Industry Association of America, Motion Picture Association of America and AT&T donated DVDs, CDs and calling cards, which Goodlatte gave to the troops.