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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a nomination hearing for Stephen E. Biegun to be deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of State. Chairman Risch gave the following opening statement, as prepared for delivery: “Today we will consider the nomination of Mr....

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, praised Senate passage of their Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act (S. 1838) today. The amended bipartisan bill was...

WASHINGTON – Today, the bipartisan leadership of several key Senate committees urged President Trump’s national security adviser to designate a senior coordinator dedicated to leading the nation’s effort to develop and deploy next-generation communications technologies. In a letter to Robert O’Brien, who was appointed as...

BOISE, Idaho – U.S. Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, earlier this week was asked by President Donald Trump to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, president of Turkey, during his visit at the White House. Risch remains resolute in his position that Turkey cannot retain S-400 air defense systems and...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) President and CEO Jamie Fly yesterday to discuss RFE/RL’s efforts to provide honest and accurate local news in places where the free press is under attack and journalism can be...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio (R-FL) initiated a process for the Senate to quickly pass their Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act (S. 1838). The process, known as the hotline, allows for Senate business to be conducted by unanimous consent. The amended...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today hosted a full committee working coffee with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the future of the NATO alliance and the threat of China as a global competitor. “I was glad to welcome my friend Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke today at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on China’s growing malign economic and political influence in the U.S., Europe, and across the globe, and the need for a cohesive transatlantic strategy and policy response. “The...

BOISE, Idaho – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today recognized the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the reunification of both Germany and Europe, and the end of communism in Europe. “The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was a significant victory for democracy across...

Boise, Idaho -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke on Friday at a foreign affairs lunch at the Idaho History Museum in Boise, Idaho, about the United States’ role as a global leader and the challenges associated with providing foreign assistance to developing nations. “I am deeply grateful for...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met today with Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas to discuss the strong partnership between the U.S. and Estonia, actions to strengthen NATO, and a mutual pledge to only use trustworthy technology suppliers in their respective communications...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a nomination hearing for the Honorable John Sullivan to be the U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation. Chairman Risch gave the following opening statement, as prepared for delivery: "Today we will consider the nomination of...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues, today met with Venezuelan Commissioner for Foreign...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today spoke with Sandra Smith on Fox News about the impact of the U.S.-led military raid against ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the successful termination of his second in command. “America’s memory is long and our reach is even longer....

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has released the following statement on the announcement of the successful U.S.-led military raid against ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: "Reports of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s death following a U.S. raid in Syria are welcome news and a triumph...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as Senators Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, introduced a resolution celebrating...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.), on Friday sent a letter to President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan concerning reports that journalists affiliated with Radio Ozodi, the...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding efforts of the government of Zimbabwe to spread misinformation and deflect blame for the dire economic conditions faced by the country: “Responsibility for the current political and economic...

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...

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...