Chairman's Press
Risch Statement on Senate Confirmation of Brett Giroir to Be U.S. Representative on WHO Executive Board
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Admiral Brett Giroir to be representative of the United States on the executive board of the World Health Organization (WHO). "I'm pleased the Senate confirmed Admiral Brett Giroir to be the U.S. representative on the executive board of the WHO today," said Risch. "This action ensures that the United States will be aptly repres… Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
Risch, Menendez, Gallagher, Courtney Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter in Support of Australia
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 Representatives Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), co-chairs of the Friends of Australia Caucus, today led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to express unwavering support for Australia amidst recent comments made by Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingye. The comments insinuated Australia may face economic retaliation after calling for… Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Risch, Young, Perdue, Rubio, Romney Introduce Legislation to Review and Improve Multilateral Aid
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Todd Young (R-Ind.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), today introduced the Multilateral Aid Review Act of 2020 (MAR Act) to review and improve the accountability and effectiveness of U.S. participation in international organizations. The MAR Act would establish an interagency task force with peer review to conduct an evaluation of how well multilateral institut… Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Risch, Menendez Commend Saudi-led Coalition’s Decision to Extend Unilateral Ceasefire in Yemen, Encourage Continued De-Escalation Efforts
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 released the following joint statement regarding the Saudi-led coalition's decision to extend the unilateral ceasefire in Yemen through Ramadan: "The Saudi-led coalition's decision to extend the unilateral ceasefire in Yemen through the holy month of Ramadan is a positive step - one we hope they will uphold and which we hope the Houthis will re… Continue Reading
April 28, 2020
Chairman Risch Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter to Pompeo on Beijing’s Efforts to Undermine Hong Kong’s Autonomy
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), along with Representatives James McGovern (D-Mass.), Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), co-sponsors of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, today sent a letter urging Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to fully implement the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and ensure that the… Continue Reading
April 27, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on Iran’s Launch of a Military Satellite
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to last week's launch of a military satellite by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC): "The Iranian regime continues to prioritize its malign activity over the needs of the Iranian people. In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak and the regime's pursuit of sanctions relief, Tehran has increased the IRGC budget and diverted limited resou… Continue Reading
April 24, 2020
Chairman Risch Leads SFRC Republicans in Letter to UN Secretary General Requesting an Independent Review of WHO’s COVID-19 Response
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and David Perdue (R-Ga.), yesterday sent a letter to United Nations (UN) Secretary General António Guterres requesting that the UN convene an independe… Continue Reading
April 19, 2020
Risch Leads Bipartisan Group of Senators in Condemning Arrests of Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Leaders
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, and Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Iss… Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
ICYMI: Risch, McCaul: Facing Unprecedented Challenge, State Department Brings 61,000 Americans Home
As seen in The Hill: By: U.S. Senator Jim Risch and U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul - April 17, 2020 Every year, an estimated 83 million Americans travel to a foreign country. Whether their travel is for work, pleasure, or a mission to help vulnerable people, they rarely have reason to feel uncertain about their return home. However, as the coronavirus pandemic began to sweep across the world, many Americans suddenly found themselves trapped abroad as governments around the globe placed immed… Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Risch, Menendez, Durbin Mark 80th Anniversary of the Katyn Massacre with Senate Resolution
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and co-chair of the U.S. Senate Poland Caucus, Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), today announced a Senate resolution commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Katyn Massacre. Eighty years after 22,000 Polish soldiers and civilians were executed by Soviet forces, the bipartisan resolution honors their lives and legacy, and re… Continue Reading
April 11, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on Anniversary of Removal of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the first anniversary of the removal of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir from power and the country's ongoing transition: "One year ago today, the removal of President Omar al-Bashir from power signified a crucial milestone for the Sudanese people as they sought to reclaim their country from a ruthless military regime. Sudan has undergone tremendous cha… Continue Reading
April 10, 2020
Risch, Menendez, Gardner, Markey Comment on Chinese Coast Guard’s Sinking of a Vietnamese Fishing Boat, Deployment of Military Aircraft in South China Sea
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 Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, today released the following statements in response to reports of the Chinese Coast Guard sinking a Vietnamese fishing boat near the Paracel Islands and the deployment of… Continue Reading
April 07, 2020
Chairman Risch Calls for Independent Investigation into WHO’s Handling of COVID-19 Response
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today called for an independent investigation into the World Health Organization's (WHO) handling of the COVID-19 response. "The WHO has failed not only the American people, it has failed the world with its flagrant mishandling of the response to COVID-19," said Risch. "Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus' apparent unwillingness to hold the Chinese Communist Party to even the minimum standard of glob… Continue Reading
March 30, 2020
Risch Warns Hungary Against Use of Crisis to Weaken Democracy
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding reports that Prime Minister Victor Orbán of Hungary is using the coronavirus pandemic to pursue greater executive powers: "I am very concerned by today's news that Hungary will be indefinitely ruled by executive fiat. The Hungarian Parliament, controlled entirely by Prime Minister Orbán's Fidesz party, has granted Orbán's requ… Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on DOJ Indictment of Nicolás Maduro
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the Department of Justice unsealed an indictment against Nicolás Maduro and members of his inner circle on narco-terrorism charges: "I commend the administration for maintaining steady pressure on Nicolás Maduro and his corrupt regime in Venezuela. Maduro's well-documented involvement in transnational criminal activities is a security th… Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on Bob Levinson
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the apparent passing of Bob Levinson, an American citizen who was held hostage by the Iranian regime for 13 years. Mr. Levinson went missing in 2007 and was the United States' longest held hostage. "I am incredibly saddened by recent reports from the Levinson family that Bob Levinson passed on while in Iranian custody," said Risch. "This is further eviden… Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Chairman Risch Speaks with Ambassador de Zela Regarding Evacuation of Americans in Peru
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today spoke with Peruvian Ambassador to the United States Hugo de Zela regarding the evacuation of Americans in Peru during the coronavirus pandemic. "I was glad to speak with Ambassador de Zela this afternoon to discuss the need for our countries to continue collaborating to execute a more consistent evacuation plan for our people," said Risch. "There are nearly 5,000 Americans in Peru, including… Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Risch Statement on Senate Confirmation of Alma Golden to be USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Alma L. Golden as the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) assistant administrator for global health: "As we fight this global Coronavirus pandemic, we need knowledgeable and experienced public health professionals at the helm of our public health institutions. I'm pleased the Senate confirmed Dr. Al… Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on Re-election of Luis Almagro as OAS Secretary General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to Luis Almagro's re-election as secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS): "I would like to congratulate Luis Almagro for his re-election today as secretary general of the OAS. Mr. Almagro has made significant progress in the last five years to build consensus among member countries of the OAS, and to keep the organization de… Continue Reading
March 17, 2020
Risch Condemns CCP’s Decision to Expel U.S. Journalists Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Chinese Foreign Ministry's announcement of the expulsion of U.S. journalists from China: "The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) decision to expel from China all U.S. journalists from three major press outlets is appalling. This is an unreasonable response to the recent actions taken by the U.S. State Department to increase the transparency of Chin… Continue Reading
