Chairman's Press
Risch, Menendez Request Administration Investigation into Novichok Poisoning of Alexei Navalny
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting that the administration consider whether the Russian government poisoned Alexei Navalny with a chemical nerve agent. "We are very concerned by assessments that Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny was poisoned in August 2020, by a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok family," the mem… Continue Reading
September 29, 2020
Chairman Risch on Passing of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the passing of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah: "I offer my deepest condolences to the people of Kuwait on the passing of His Highness, Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His Highness was a deeply respected leader and an unwavering partner to the United States. We honor his tireless efforts to mediate conflict and foster pea… Continue Reading
September 28, 2020
Risch Reaffirms Support for Credible Legislative Elections in Venezuela
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the upcoming illegitimate elections in Venezuela: "The Venezuelan people continue to suffer atrocities at the hands of a nearly totalitarian, criminal regime. For more than a year, Nicolás Maduro has worked to consolidate power by violently attempting to take over the National Assembly, naming a regime-controlled electoral council, taking control of po… Continue Reading
September 25, 2020
Chairman Risch Welcomes Foreign Relations Committee Fall Interns
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recently welcomed five new committee interns for the fall term. "The Senate Foreign Relations Committee majority is glad to welcome five new interns for the fall term," said Risch. "While Capitol Hill looks a little different during the COVID-19 pandemic, these students and recent graduates are experiencing firsthand how Congress handles major global issues. I am confident they will do an excell… Continue Reading
September 24, 2020
Chairman Risch to Iran: Deterrence Has Been Restored
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today warned Iran of the potential consequences of its actions during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. policy in the Middle East. "I want to drill down very, very specifically on the outside chance that the Iranians are monitoring this. I want to say clearly, deterrence has been restored. Soleimani is dead. His replacement is a weak, weak substitute for Soleimani - he does no… Continue Reading
September 24, 2020
Chairman Risch Opening Statement at Hearing on U.S. Policy in a Changing Middle East
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a full committee hearing on U.S. policy in a changing Middle East, with witness testimony from Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and U.S. Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela Elliott Abrams. Chairman Risch gave the following opening statement: "This hearing will come to order. "I thank our witnesses for appearing today to discuss recent events i… Continue Reading
September 23, 2020
ICYMI: Chairman Risch Discusses Transatlantic Alliance and China at CEPA Forum
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday gave virtual remarks during the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) Forum in which he discussed the transatlantic alliance and the shared threat that China poses to the United States and Europe. Highlights: On the transatlantic alliance and the shared threat of China: "Together, the United States and Europe helped create an open system of rules, norms, and institutions that up… Continue Reading
September 22, 2020
Chairman Risch Applauds Committee Passage of 15 Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today held a committee business meeting during which members approved 15 nominees. "Processing nominations continues to be a core responsibility of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and I am glad the committee approved another fifteen nominees this morning," said Risch. "I am especially pleased to be sending ambassadorial nominees for Japan and Ukraine to the full Senate for confirmation. Th… Continue Reading
September 17, 2020
Chairman Risch Opening Statement at Hearing on Advancing U.S. Engagement and Countering China in the Indo-Pacific and Beyond
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a full committee hearing on advancing U.S. engagement and countering China in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, which included discussion of the STRATEGIC Act, legislation Risch introduced earlier this year. The committee heard witness testimony from Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Julie Chung, Senior Bureau Official for European and Eurasian Affairs Ph… Continue Reading
September 16, 2020
ICYMI: Chairman Risch Discusses Middle East Peace on TODAY Show
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recently spoke with Keir Simmons of the TODAY Show to discuss yesterday's Abraham Accords signing ceremony at the White House. When asked whether he thought the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia might soon follow the lead of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel, the chairman responded: "Saudi Arabia has got all kinds of challenges and they nee… Continue Reading
September 15, 2020
Chairman Risch Attends Historic White House Signing Ceremony with Israel, UAE, and Bahrain
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today attended a signing ceremony at the White House where the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Bahrain formally normalized diplomatic relations with Israel. Also in attendance at the ceremony were President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. "It was … Continue Reading
September 14, 2020
Risch, Menendez, Murphy, Rubio, Durbin Lead Colleagues in Introducing Resolution in Support of Belarusian People
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), today introduced a resolution condemning the crackdown on peaceful protestors in Belar… Continue Reading
September 11, 2020
Risch: Normalization of Relations between Israel and Bahrain is Another Historic Breakthrough
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the announcement of diplomatic relations between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain: "Today's agreement between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain to establish full diplomatic relations marks another historic breakthrough, and is something I've been directly involved in encouraging. As these agreements demonstrate, former opponents and rivals have increasi… Continue Reading
September 08, 2020
Risch, Cardin Lead Colleagues in Condemning Violence in Anglophone Cameroon
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues, along with Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), J… Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
Risch, Menendez Joint Statement on Belarus
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on ongoing violence and unrest in Belarus following the presidential election earlier this month: "It has been nearly three weeks since President Alexander Lukashenka stole another presidential election, and our admiration for the Belarusian people continues to grow. Belarusians have shown the world that they will… Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
Chairman Risch: Taiwan Imports of U.S. Ag Products is Important Step in the U.S.-Taiwan Relationship
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement regarding today's announcement that the government of Taiwan is lifting restrictions on imports of beef and pork from the United States: "Taiwan is an important friend and partner of the United States, and a model for democracy in the Indo-Pacific. Opening up additional trade and economic avenues with Taiwan, which is already the number two trading partner of my home… Continue Reading
August 27, 2020
Chairman Risch: U.S. Response to PRC Aggression in SCS is Right Move
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on recent Trump Administration actions to impose visa restrictions on individuals involved in the People's Republic of China's (PRC) illegal activities in the South China Sea and to add PRC companies that support these activities to the Department of Commerce's Entities List: "The Trump Administration is right to impose visa restrictions on individuals invo… Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Risch, Menendez, Engel, McCaul Statement on Third Anniversary of Rohingya Genocide
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Representatives Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today released the following statement on the third anniversary of the Burmese military's violent crackdown on Rohingya: "Three years after the Burmese security forces' genocide against the Rohingya, around… Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Risch, Menendez, Inhofe, Reed Send Message of Support to Philippines in Wake of Bombings on Jolo Island
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement after two explosions on Jolo Island, Philippines resulted in multiple Philippine military and civilian casualties: "We extend our sincere condolences and a strong message of suppor… Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Chairman Risch: Snapback of Iran Sanctions Will Make World Safer
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding the president's announcement that the United States will ask the UN Security Council to restore all nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, triggering a "snapback" of sanctions related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA): "I concur with the Trump Administration's decision to initiate a 'snapback' of sanctions on Iran, something I have urg… Continue Reading
