Chairman's Press
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
August 19, 2020
Risch, Menendez Letter to Iraqi PM Expresses Support for Continued Partnership
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 Prime Minister al-Kadhimi of Iraq ahead of his official visit to the United States later this week. The senators express their continued support for a robust partnership between the U.S. and Iraq, and their desire to deepen that relationship for the benefit of both U.S. and Iraqi security and prosperity. "We write to welcome you … Continue Reading
August 17, 2020
Risch, Menendez Lead Colleagues in Encouraging Administration to Press for Structural Reform in DRC
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 Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Chris Coons (D-Del.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), today sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo encouraging the administration to use this historic opportunity to help address str… Continue Reading
August 14, 2020
Chairman Risch on U.S. Seizure of Iranian Fuel Delivery to Venezuela
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to the United States' seizure of an Iranian fuel shipment intended for the illegitimate Maduro regime in Venezuela, which would have allegedly benefitted Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization: "I commend the administration on today's action against Iranian attempts to violate U.S. sanctions and sup… Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
Chairman Risch: Agreement Between Israel and UAE Has Potential to Dramatically Improve Relationships Across Middle East
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 the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after speaking with the White House and Jared Kushner: "I applaud the historic agreement to fully normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE. This agreement has the potential to dramatically improve relationships across the Middle East… Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
Risch, Menendez Lead Bipartisan Senate Resolution in Solidarity with People of Lebanon Following Port of Beirut Blast
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, today were joined by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) in introducing a Senate resolution regarding the massive explosion in the Port of Beirut, Lebanon on August 4, 2020. The bipartisan resolution extends heartfelt condolences to the peop… Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Chairman Risch: Belarusians Deserve a Fair Accounting of Presidential Election
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to the arrest of and violence against Belarusian protestors by military units and riot police after Alexander Lukashenka claimed to have won a landslide victory in Belarus' presidential election over the weekend: "Over the weekend, the people of Belarus attempted to participate in a democratic process, and expected their votes to be counted trut… Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Senators Commemorate Anniversary of 1998 Embassy Bombings in Kenya and Tanzania
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Coons (D-Del.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), released a joint statement ahead of the 22nd anniversary of the bombings of the U.S. embassies … Continue Reading
August 05, 2020
Risch, Coons: Sanctioning Tagwirei Serves as Important Step Towards Curbing Corruption in Zimbabwe
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Chris Coons (D-Del.), member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, today commended actions by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Zimbabwe Sanctions Program, particularly with respect to combating corruption by Zimbabwe's elites. "Today's action by the Department of the Treasury to hold accountable those who perpetrate public corruption, particularly among Zimbabwe… Continue Reading
