Ranking Member's Press
Risch, McCaul Condemn Russian Aggression in Ukraine, Call for Implementation of Mandatory NS2 Sanctions
WASHINGTON - In response to Russia's massive military buildup on its border with Ukraine and in illegally occupied Crimea, the increase in fighting in eastern Ukraine, and Russia's anti-Ukraine disinformation campaign, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas), lead Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the below statement: "In the face of the Kremlin's hostile, unprovoked, and de… Continue Reading
April 15, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nomination Hearing for Under Secretaries of State
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today gave the following opening remarks at a full committee nomination hearing for the Honorable Victoria Nuland to be under secretary of State for political affairs and Ms. Uzra Zeya to be under secretary of State for civilian security, democracy, and human rights.“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.“We all know under secretaries of State serve an important role at the Department. They are responsible… Continue Reading
April 15, 2021
Risch: Administration is Foot-Dragging on NS2 Sanctions
U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the administration's announcement of new sanctions against Russia for the SolarWinds intrusion, reports of bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, and attempts to interfere in the 2020 U.S. elections: "We've heard for weeks that sanctions on Russia were coming, and now the administration has finally taken action. I commend the administration for these actions, … Continue Reading
April 14, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Joins Effort to Block Iran Sanctions Relief
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty's (R-Tenn.) Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2021 (S. 488), legislation to enable congressional review of executive branch proposals to terminate or waive sanctions imposed with respect to Iran. "It's increasingly clear that the Biden Administration's promises to 'lengthen and strengthen' the Iran nuclear deal are instead an attempt to re-enter the f… Continue Reading
April 13, 2021
Risch: Biden’s Plan to Withdraw U.S. Troops from Afghanistan Fails to Guarantee America’s Safety
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the Biden Administration's plan to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan by September 2021: "This plan fails to guarantee America's safety. I have long called for a responsible end to the war in Afghanistan, but for doing so in a manner that keeps Americans safe. A rushed and political decision to withdraw without consideration of our counter… Continue Reading
April 13, 2021
Risch, Cornyn, Colleagues Ask Biden to Fund Initiatives to Increase U.S. Semiconductor Production
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) joined U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) in leading a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden requesting that he fund the initiatives to restore semiconductor manufacturing to American soil from the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act that were signed into law as part of the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act. They wrote, "We write today to encourage you to p… Continue Reading
April 08, 2021
Ranking Member Risch on New Bipartisan, Comprehensive China Legislation
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on his new bipartisan, comprehensive China legislation with Chairman Menendez entitled the Strategic Competition Act. This legislation lays out a strategic approach towards Beijing so that the United States can effectively compete with China for decades to come. "It does a great service to the people of the United States and the world when we can find… Continue Reading
April 07, 2021
Risch, McCaul: Biden Administration Should Have Secured Concessions Before Resuming Assistance to Palestinians
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas), lead Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today released the following statement on the Biden Administration's decision to restart assistance to the Palestinians: "Resuming assistance to the West Bank and Gaza without concessions from the Palestinian Authority (PA) undermines U.S. interests. The PA is spending millions annually to co… Continue Reading
March 30, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Statement on State Department's 2020 Human Rights Report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding the State Department's annual human rights report released today: "The State Department's 2020 human rights report provides an opportunity to reflect on how fortunate we are as Americans to be able to exercise our unalienable rights every day. The freedoms of assembly, speech, religion, and the press are the foundation of our enduring democracy. "U… Continue Reading
March 26, 2021
Risch, Portman, Booker, Young, and Cardin Introduce Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021. The bill builds upon the success of the Abraham Accords, the peace and normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, by stating … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Bipartisan Group of Senators Make Case for Comprehensive Diplomatic Approach Towards Iran in New Letter to President Biden
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and 40 Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden outlining the pillars of a comprehensive diplomatic Iran strategy that will garner bipartisan support in Congress. "While we may have differing views on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of 2015… Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Remarks at Hearing on the State of Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today gave remarks at a hearing on the state of democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean. The committee heard witness testimony from the Honorable Luis Almagro, secretary general of the Organization of American States, Ms. Deborah Ullmer, regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the National Democratic Institute, and Dr. Ryan C. Berg, fellow at the American Enterprise Inst… Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves New Legislation to Confront Growing Threat of Terrorism in the Sahel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today praised the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's approval of S.615, their bipartisan legislation authorizing the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) program to combat the growing threat of terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa. Entitled the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Program Act, the bipartisan legislation establishe… Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Applauds Committee Passage of Legislation on Ethiopia, Syria, and the Western Hemisphere
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the committee approved two bills and 13 resolutions during a business meeting: "I am glad the committee came together today to pass a number of important pieces of legislation," said Risch. "First, I want to thank Senator Cardin and eight other members of this committee for partnering with me on S. Res. 97, a bipartisan resolution on Ethiopia. Whi… Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Risch, Menendez Applaud Committee Passage of Allies and Partners Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded committee passage of a resolution they introduced last week that reaffirms the importance of U.S. alliances and the unique strategic advantage they provide to the United States. "The United States and our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific and Europe face a challenging security environment of the 21st century, and we must continue … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Bolstering Democracy in Georgia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today gave remarks at a subcommittee hearing on bolstering democracy in Georgia. The subcommittee heard witness testimony from Mr. George Kent, deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of State, and Ms. Kara McDonald, deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the Department of State. Ranking Member Ris… Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nomination Hearing for Samantha Power to be USAID Administrator
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today gave the following opening remarks at a full committee nomination hearing for the Honorable Samantha Power, nominee to be administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). "Thank you Senator Menendez, I appreciate that. And Ambassador Power, thank you for agreeing to take this on. Thank you to your family. As the chairman noted, there's always sacrifices … Continue Reading
March 22, 2021
Risch, Menendez, Rubio, Durbin Call on Bolivian Government to Recommit to Democracy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) today released the following statement after the arrest of former Interim President Jeanine Áñez and other former officials in Bolivia: "We are concerned about the recent detentions of former senior officials in Bolivia. In 2019, the United States Senate adopted two resolutions in support of … Continue Reading
March 22, 2021
Risch, Menendez Introduce Resolution Reaffirming Importance of U.S. Alliances and Partnerships
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last week introduced a resolution reaffirming the importance of our alliances and the unique strategic advantage they provide to the United States. "U.S. alliances and partnerships are essential to advancing shared security, economic, and political interests with unity of purpose," said Ranking Member Risch. "As authoritarian nations expand their power… Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Risch Joins Resolution Condemning China’s Continued Crackdown on Hong Kong’s Autonomy
WASHINGTON - U. S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) led a bipartisan group of senators in introducing a bipartisan resolution condemning the Chinese government's ongoing crackdown against democracy and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong and Beijing's violation of the commitments it made in the legally binding international treaty known as the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration… Continue Reading
