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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today appeared on Bloomberg TV’s “Balance of Power” to discuss the ongoing situation in Venezuela in addition to news that the administration plans to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, the impact of U.S. sanctions on Iran,...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a hearing on "The Humanitarian Impact of Eight Years of War in Syria," with testimony from witnesses Ben Stiller, Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, The United Nations Refugee Agency, and David Miliband, President and CEO of...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded Senate confirmation of R. Clarke Cooper to be Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs. Cooper was confirmed by a vote of 90-8. “Mr. Cooper is preeminently qualified for the job of Assistant...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement in support of today's announcement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the U.S. will no longer grant sanctions waivers to nations that import Iranian oil:  "I welcome the administration's announcement that...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement on the Easter morning terror attacks in Sri Lanka that killed more than 200 people, including several U.S. citizens:  “No person of faith should fear for his or her life in a place of worship,” said...

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement about the removal of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir from power by the Sudanese military: "We stand in solidarity with the Sudanese people, who for months have taken to the...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today commended his Senate colleagues for their overwhelming support of General John P. Abizaid (Ret.), to be U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. General Abizaid was confirmed by a vote of 92-7.  “I commend my colleagues...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a hearing on the State Department's budget request for FY 2020, with testimony from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.   Chairman Risch gave the following opening statement: "Good morning and welcome. Our topic today is the...

WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined by a group of 15 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo encouraging him to raise key issues and concerns with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement regarding the State Department's announcement of plans to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO):   “With the full...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement regarding the passage of a Senate resolution in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and in recognition of the great accomplishments the organization has made over the past 70...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a committee business meeting during which members voted out 23 nominees and seven other pieces of legislation.   “I am pleased that our committee was able to come together today and vote out a sizable number...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a hearing on "NATO at 70: A Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century". The committee heard testimony from Mr. Ian  Brzezinski, Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and Dr. Karen Donfried, President of the German...

Chairman Risch Statement on Women Activists Released in Saudi Arabia Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement following news reports that the government of Saudi Arabia has temporarily released three of the 11 women activists who are imprisoned and currently on...

Chairman Risch Statement on Women Activists Released in Saudi Arabia Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement following news reports that the government of Saudi Arabia has temporarily released three of the 11 women activists who are imprisoned and currently on...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with their colleagues Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Chris Murphy (D-CT), have introduced bipartisan legislation in support of the North Atlantic Treaty...

WASHINGTON – In the wake of this month’s terrorist attack in New Zealand, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (D-Idaho), the Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined by Senators Gary Peters (D-Mi.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Senate Majority Leader...

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement regarding nominations: “There are a number of vital positions that are waiting to be filled at the State Department. Today our committee had the opportunity to hear from three very qualified nominees...

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement regarding the administration’s announcement of new sanctions on 14 individuals and 17 entities related to nuclear weapons development in Iran:  “I applaud the Trump administration’s...

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement after voting in opposition to S.J.Res.7, a joint resolution that directs removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Yemen:   “There is no arguing that, after four years of conflict,...