Chairman's Press
Risch Applauds Senate Approval of North Macedonia Accession to NATO, Calls on European Partners to Do the Same
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate voted to approve the accession of North Macedonia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): "Today's long-awaited, nearly unanimous vote to approve the accession of North Macedonia into NATO is a strong symbol of the U.S. Senate's support for the strongest and most successful political-military alliance in the history of the world… Continue Reading
October 22, 2019
Chairman Risch Opening Statement at Hearing on Turkey's Offensive in Northeast Syria
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a full committee hearing on Turkey's offensive in northeast Syria, with witness testimony from the Honorable James F. Jeffrey, special representative for Syria engagement and special envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS at the Department of State, and Mr. Matthew A. Palmer, deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Afairs at the Department of State… Continue Reading
October 17, 2019
Risch Statement and Floor Remarks on Turkish Aggression in Syria
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor about bipartisan legislation he introduced with Sen. Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in response to Turkey's military incursion into northern Syria and attack on America's partners in northeast Syria, including the Kurds. Additionally, Risch made the following remarks after the Trump administration's announcement of … Continue Reading
October 17, 2019
Foreign Relations Committee Leaders Announce New Comprehensive Syria-Turkey Legislation
WASHINGTON - Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced they are partnering to introduce new comprehensive legislation in response to Turkey's military incursion into northern Syria and attack on America's partners in northeast Syria, including the Kurds. The bipartisan legislation, which will be introduced soon, will require the administration to produce a strategy to defend our hard-won gains a… Continue Reading
October 16, 2019
Chairman Risch Opening Statement at Hearing on U.S.-Iran Policy
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a full committee hearing on U.S.-Iran policy, with witness testimony from the Honorable Brian Hook, special representative for Iran at the Department of State. Chairman Risch gave the following opening statement, as prepared for delivery: "This morning we have a hearing on a matter that is really of pressing national security importance - the relationship of the United States w… Continue Reading
October 10, 2019
Risch Applauds Magnitsky Sanctions Against Gupta Family's Grand Corruption Network in South Africa
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement applauding Thusday's announcement of Global Magnitsky sanctions designations against several leading members of the grand corruption network in South Africa led by the notorious Gupta family. "I welcome today's announcement of sanctions against members of the Gupta family whose complex and wide-ranging corruption network siphoned off billions of dollars of publi… Continue Reading
October 10, 2019
Risch Welcomes Singapore Senior Minister of State for Defense to Idaho
Boise, Idaho - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today met with Singapore's Minister of Defense Heng Chee How in Boise. Minister Heng is visiting Idaho to observe Exercise Forging Sabre, a biennial exercise held by the U.S. Air Force and Royal Singapore Air Force. The exercise is taking place at Mountain Home Air Force Base this year for the first time. Mountain Home has hosted a Singaporean F-15G training squadron since 2009. Sen. Risch also rece… Continue Reading
October 09, 2019
Risch Statement on Turkey's Actions Against the Kurds
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today regarding Turkey's incursion into Syria against the Kurds: "Turkey's aggressive actions raise serious concerns. Such an action lacks international support and risks a precipitous decline in the U.S.-Turkey relationship, as President Trump has robustly described. Continued Turkish aggression will derail international efforts to maintain pressure against the… Continue Reading
September 26, 2019
Risch Statement on Syrian Government's Use of Chemical Weapons Against Civilians
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today as U.S. intelligence confirmed that the Syrian government again used chemical weapons against its own people, in violation of international law: "Today, Secretary Pompeo confirmed what we have long suspected, which is that the Assad regime once again used chemical weapons against Syrian civilians in Latakia province in May. This horrific attack is just one… Continue Reading
September 25, 2019
Successful SFRC Business Meeting Includes Passage of Hong Kong Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a business meeting during which members approved four bills, four resolutions, two nominations, and one FSO list. "Today's business meeting was incredibly productive and was made up of a number of pieces of bipartisan legislation. I am particularly proud that the committee voted unanimously to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. After more than two decades of broke… Continue Reading
September 25, 2019
Chairman Risch Opening Statement at Hearing on U.S. Policy in Mexico and Guatemala: Ensuring Effective Policies to Address the Crisis at the Border
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a full committee hearing on "U.S. Policy in Mexico and Guatemala: Ensuring Effective Policies to Address the Crisis at the Border", with witness testimonies from the Honorable Kirsten D. Madison, assistant secretary for the Bureau of Narcotics and Law Enfrocements Affairs at the Department of State, and the Honorable Michael G. Kozak, acting assistant secretary for the Bureau of … Continue Reading
September 24, 2019
Risch Welcomes U.K. Foreign Secretary to U.S. Capitol, Reaffirms Special Relationship
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today met with Dominic Raab, foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, in the U.S. Capitol. Risch and Raab discussed the strong partnership and enduring special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K., along with a number of issues of mutual interest. "I enjoyed meeting today with Foreign Secretary Raab, and thanked him for his government's strong leadership with respect to the Iranian govern… Continue Reading
September 23, 2019
Chairman Risch Meets with Spanish Foreign Minister Borrell to Discuss U.S.-Spain Relationship
Relationship New York, N.Y. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today met with Josep Borrell, foreign minister of Spain and nominee to be the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. Risch and Borrell discussed the strong relationship between the U.S. and Spain and the continued need for the two allies to work together to maintain our mutual system and values as they come under threat from China. "I was glad … Continue Reading
September 23, 2019
Senator Risch Joins President Trump and Singapore Prime Minister Lee for MOU Signing Benefiting Mountain Home AFB
New York, N.Y. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore for a signing ceremony to extend a 1990 defense cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) that underpins strong and enduring U.S.-Singapore defense and security cooperation. The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. "Today the U.S. and Singapore took an important step … Continue Reading
September 18, 2019
Chairman Risch Opening Statement at Hearing on U.S. Policy in the Indo-Pacific: Hong Kong, Alliances and Partnerships, and Other Issues
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a full committee hearing on "U.S. Policy in the Indo-Pacific: Hong Kong, Alliances and Partnerships, and Other Issues", with witness testimony from The Honorable David Stilwell, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs at the Department of State. Chairman Risch gave the following opening statement, as prepared for delivery: "Good morning everyone, and tha… Continue Reading
September 16, 2019
Chairman Risch: Iran Continues to Sow Instability Across Middle East
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding the recent attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, which was reportedly perpetrated with Iranian weapons: "Iran continues to respond to diplomacy with violence and demonstrate the regime's refusal to act as a responsible member of the international community. The recent attacks against Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure underscore Iran's efforts to sow … Continue Reading
September 11, 2019
Risch Statement on 18th Anniversary of September 11th Terror Attacks
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks: "Today solemnly marks the 18th year since the September 11th terror attacks. It is still difficult and painful to fathom these acts of evil, and Vicki and I mourn the lives that were extinguished that fateful day. We also honor the first responders and the brave men and women who gave their lives in de… Continue Reading
September 10, 2019
Senators Urge Review of U.S. Export Controls Regarding Developments in Hong Kong
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, along with Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, led a letter to Secretary Pompeo and Secretary Ross requesting an assessment of the adequacy of U.S. export controls with respect to Hong Kong. The Senators expressed two concerns: Mainland China's potential abus… Continue Reading
August 30, 2019
Chairman Risch Statement on Chinese Communist Party’s Pressure on Hong Kong
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement in advance of tomorrow's 5th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party's decision to deny true universal suffrage to Hong Kong: "I am deeply concerned about recent developments in Hong Kong this past week, including the arrests and charging of pro-democracy activists," Chairman Risch said. "According to press reports, the Chinese Communist Party recently rejected a proposal … Continue Reading
August 26, 2019
Risch Statement on Anniversary of Initiation of Mass Atrocities Against the Rohingya
Washington, D.C.-U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement marking two years since the Burmese military began a series of mass atrocities against the Rohingya population: "Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the initiation of mass atrocities by the Burmese military against the Rohingya. The perpetration of murder and rape, and the destruction of entire villages, in addition to other atrocities, led to over 700,000 Rohi… Continue Reading
