Chairman's Press
Risch, Menendez, Gardner, Coons Statement on China’s Indictment of Canadian Citizens Kovrig and Spavor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, and Chris Coons (D-Del.) today released the following statement after the Chinese government announced it will prosecute two Canadian citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, on alleged spying charges. Kovrig and Spavor were detain… Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Chairman Risch Welcomes Foreign Relations Committee Summer Interns
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recently welcomed eight new committee interns for the summer term. "I'm glad to welcome a new group of talented interns to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for this summer," said Risch. "As we continue to face unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these students and recent graduates will have a firsthand look at how Congress handles major global issues. I am confident they w… Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
Risch, Menendez, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Reaffirming U.S.-Ecuador Partnership
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, were joined by Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), in introducing a Senate resolution yesterday reaffirming the partnership between the United States and the Republic of Ecuador. The bipartisan resolution recognizes the restoration and advancement of economic relations, security, and developmen… Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Chairman Risch Opening Statement at Hearing on COVID-19 and U.S. International Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention, and Response
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a full committee hearing on COVID-19 and U.S. international pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response, with witness testimony from Mr. James Richardson, director of foreign assistance at the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Chris Milligan, counselor at the U.S. Agency for International Development, and Mr. Garrett Grigsby, director of global affairs at the U.S. Department of Healt… Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Chairman Risch: America Will Continue to Support the Aspirations of the Syrian People
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, provided the following remarks during a virtual event titled "Protecting Syrian Civilians: Implementing the Caesar Act" hosted by the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, in cooperation with the Syrian Emergency Task Force. The event focused on the implementation of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. "Hi, I'm Senator Jim Risch,… Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Chairman Risch Applauds Signing of Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act Into Law
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the following statement after President Trump signed the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 (S.3744) into law: "I am glad President Trump signed the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act into law today," said Risch. "The internment of at least a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities is reprehensible and inexcusable, and the Chinese Communist Party and government must be held to acc… Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Chairman Risch Hosts SFRC Virtual Coffee with King Abdullah II of Jordan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today hosted a virtual committee coffee with King Abdullah II of Jordan to discuss the strong, strategic relationship between the United States and Jordan. "The United States and Jordan share a long history of mutual cooperation on issues ranging from security to trade. This relationship is one based on shared values and regional objectives," said Risch. "Jordan has been central to promoting peace… Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on Administration’s Announcement of Caesar Act Designations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the administration announced 39 designations under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act and Executive Order 13894 to begin a sustained campaign of increased economic and political pressure against the Assad regime. "I welcome today's action, which reflects a government-wide effort to ensure justice and accountability for the Syrian people. This send… Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Senate Approves Risch-Menendez Resolution Lauding State Department Professionals for Repatriation Efforts During COVID-19
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 statements after the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan resolution this week lauding State Department professionals for their efforts to bring home Americans stranded abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with U.S. embassy staff around the globe and in collaboration with the United States Transportation Comma… Continue Reading
June 10, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on State Department's 2019 International Religious Freedom Report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to the State Department's annual International Religious Freedom Report: "The State Department's release of the 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom reminds us that as Americans, we are fortunate to live in a country where we can worship freely. Unfortunately, this report shows us that there is no shortage of countries that continue to d… Continue Reading
June 08, 2020
Risch, Menendez, Engel, McCaul Statement on Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act
WASHINGTON - This month, provisions of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act go into effect, sanctioning those who back the Syrian regime, including Russia and Iran. Ahead of the implementation, 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 U.S. Representatives Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the follow… Continue Reading
June 05, 2020
Chairman Risch Touts Global Pandemic Solutions Bill on Senate Floor
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took to the Senate floor this week to discuss his Global Health Security and Diplomacy Act (GHSDA), legislation to better detect, deter, and contain infectious disease outbreaks overseas before they become global pandemics. "We want to talk about - what do we do when this happens in the future?" said Risch. "How can we create [a capacity] that just like a fire department, when the bell rings t… Continue Reading
June 04, 2020
Chairman Risch: World Bank Should Enforce Strict Accountability Measures on Zimbabwe Grant
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter this week to World Bank President David Malpass calling for strict accountability and transparency measures for the announced $7 million grant to support the COVID-19 response in Zimbabwe. "I urge the World Bank to impose very strict benchmarks and transparency and accountability measures on the $7 million grant and any future programs for Zimbabwe to ensure that procurement processe… Continue Reading
June 04, 2020
Risch, Menendez Lead SFRC Members in Recognizing Tiananmen Square Anniversary
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 led a bipartisan group of Senate Foreign Relations Committee members in recognizing the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Senators Risch and Menendez were joined by Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), J… Continue Reading
June 03, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on Anniversary of Khartoum Massacre
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the 'Khartoum massacre' in Sudan, when hundreds of Sudanese were injured, went missing, or lost their lives: "The 'Khartoum massacre' marked a low point in Sudan's historic transition and in the military council's leadership of the country following the ouster of President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. Sudan's current civilian-l… Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Risch Leads Bipartisan Call for Administration to Hold Members of Nicaragua’s Judiciary Accountable for Human Rights Violations
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and James Lankford (R-Okla.), today sent a letter to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin encouraging the administration to hold members of the Ortega regime in Nicaragua accountable for human rights violations. "We write in support of additional actions… Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Risch, Menendez, Gardner, Markey, Rubio, Cardin, Merkley Call on UNSC Leadership To Hold an Immediate Meeting on Hong Kong
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, Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), today sent a letter to the United Nations permanent representatives for Estonia and France, the current and incoming president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), in support of the United States Mission to the United Nations' (U… Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Risch, Murphy, Cardin Introduce Comprehensive Global Health Bill to Prevent Future Pandemics
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), last week introduced the Global Health Security and Diplomacy Act (GHSDA) to better detect, deter, and contain infectious disease outbreaks overseas before they become global pandemics. "The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated, once again, that infectious diseases respect no borders - an outbreak anywhere in the world can quickly become a threat ev… Continue Reading
May 27, 2020
Risch, Rubio, Menendez, Gardner, Markey, McGovern, Smith Applaud House Passage of Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), along with Representatives Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.), today applauded House passage of the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 (S.3744). This bipartisan bill is an important step in countering the totalitarian Chinese go… Continue Reading
May 27, 2020
Chairman Risch on State Department’s Certification Regarding Hong Kong
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's certification to Congress that Hong Kong does not continue to warrant treatment under United States laws in the same manner as U.S. laws were applied to Hong Kong before July 1997: "It is not surprising that Secretary Pompeo has determined that Hong Kong no longer enjoys the high degree of autonomy that its people were… Continue Reading
