Ranking Member's Press
Risch Applauds Announcement on U.S.-Philippine VFA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the Philippine government’s decision to retract the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States:“The U.S.-Philippine alliance is stronger today because both nations have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the VFA. Strong defense ties through agreements such as the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Enhanced Defense Cooperatio… Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to the U.S. Capitol for a meeting with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "I was glad to welcome Prime Minister al-Kadhimi to the U.S. Capitol today to discuss our shared strategic interests," said Risch. "Iraq continues to be an important security partner in the fight against ISIS, and I strongly support efforts to expand our coo… Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Risch Joins Shaheen, Johnson, Colleagues in Bipartisan Statement on Breakdown of Georgian April 19 Agreement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chair and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), in a statement in response to the breakdown of the April 19th agreement reached earlier this year to addres… Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Senate Committee Approves Resolution Reaffirming Congressional Support for Cuba’s Pro-Democracy Movement
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 were joined by Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), ranking member of the subcommittee overseeing the Western Hemisphere, and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in releasing the following statements lauding the committee's approval of their bipartisan resolution condemning the Cuban government's violent response to the thousands of Cuban citizens … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nominations Hearing for Assistant Secretaries, Assistant USAID Administrator, Ambassador to Mexico
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 Donald Lu, nominee to be assistant secretary of State for South Asian affairs, Ms. Jessica Lewis, nominee to be an assistant secretary of State for political-military affairs, the Honorable Marcela Escobari, nominee to be an assistant administrator of the United States Agency for International De… Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Risch, Menendez, Portman, Murphy Applaud Committee Passage of Comprehensive Global Health Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) today applauded committee passage of the International Pandemic Preparedness and COVID-19 Response Act (S. 2297), comprehensive legislation to improve global health and pandemic preparedness and enhance COVID-19 response efforts. "After nearly 18 months of work, I am proud the committee was able to come … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Risch, Menendez, Rubio, Warner Stress Importance of Pursuing COVID Origins
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman and chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today sent a letter to President Biden asking the administration to take three crucial steps to get to the bottom of the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to prevent a similar calamity in the future. … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Meets with Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today met with Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita to discuss the U.S.-Japan alliance. "It was a pleasure to meet with Ambassador Tomita today. Japan is a key U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific, and I was grateful for the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual concern including Chinese aggression against Taiwan and further advancing our security alliance, including extended deterrence," said Risch… Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Risch Leads 12 Colleagues in Introducing UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led 12 colleagues in introducing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency Accountability and Transparency Act . This legislation outlines a comprehensive approach to cease U.S. contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), a successor entity, or to the U.N. regular budget for the support of UNRWA unless the Secretary of St… Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Senator Risch Meets with Iranian-American Journalist Masih Alinejad
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday met with Masih Alinejad, the Iranian-American journalist who was targeted in an Iranian kidnapping plot. "It was an honor to meet Masih Alinejad yesterday," said Senator Risch. "The Iranian regime's attempt to kidnap her on U.S. soil in order to silence dissent proves just how far the regime is willing to go to spread its terror agenda. This is just the latest of Iran's long list… Continue Reading
July 21, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Hearing on U.S. Policy on Turkey
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 hearing on U.S. policy on Turkey. The committee heard witness testimony from The Honorable Victoria Nuland, under secretary of State for political affairs.Ranking Member Risch gave the following remarks: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman.“One of the clear takeaways from this hearing is going to be that there is bipartisan agreement on the ma… Continue Reading
July 21, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Meets with His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan:“I was glad to welcome my friend, His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan, back to our committee today. The U.S.-Jordanian friendship is a long-standing one, rooted in a shared commitment to promote regional stability, address the drivers of conflict, and ensure the enduring defeat of the Islamic State a… Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Risch on U.S.-Germany Deal on Nord Stream 2
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 deal with Germany on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline:“This proposed “agreement,” to allow the completion of Nord Stream 2 between the United States and Germany is full of promises and assurances, but offers little in the way of meaningful measures to address the key national security threats Nord Stream 2 poses to U.S. allies and… Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nominations Hearing for Assistant Secretaries of State, Deputy 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 Dr. Karen Donfried, nominee to be assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs, the Honorable Mary Catherine Phee, nominee to be assistant secretary of State for African affairs, Ms. Anne A. Witkowsky, nominee to be assistant secretary of State for conflict and stabilization operations, and M… Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
ICYMI: Risch to Power: COVAX Buying Chinese Vaccines is Ironic, Strange
Watch full exchange here .WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday questioned United States Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power on the irony of China profiting from selling it’s sub-par vaccines to COVAX after refusing to donate money or vaccines to the global vaccine initiative. A transcription of their full interaction can be found below:Risch: “ Thank you, Mr. Chairman“I was just astounded … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Leading Senators, Representatives Unveil Bipartisan Resolution Reaffirming Congressional Support for Cuba’s Pro-Democracy Movement
Bicameral resolution calls for holding the Cuban Regime accountable for its violent response to citizens demonstrating for basic freedoms, democracy and respect for human rightsWASHINGTON - 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, and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), ranking member of the subcommittee covering the Western Hemisphere, Representatives Debbie… Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Risch Joins Rubio, Colleagues in Introducing Resolution in Support of Cuban People
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today joined U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), ranking member of the subcommittee overseeing the Western Hemisphere, in introducing a resolution in support of the courageous Cuban people as they lead historic protests throughout the island against six decades of repression and tyranny from the Castro and Díaz-Canel regime. The resolution highlights the dictatorship’s long record of oppressio… Continue Reading
July 14, 2021
Risch: Iran’s Attempt to Kidnap on U.S. Soil is Appalling, Admin. Must Cease Negotiations Immediately
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today urged the Biden Administration to suspend indirect negotiations with the Iranians in Vienna after four Iranian intelligence officials attempted to kidnap an American-based journalist:“Iran’s brazen attempt to kidnap an American journalist on U.S. soil is appalling and demonstrates just how little regard the Iranian regime has for ongoing negotiations. This level of criminality, in addit… Continue Reading
July 14, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Hearing on FY 2022 USAID Budget Request
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 hearing on the FY 2022 U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) budget request. The committee heard witness testimony from the Honorable Samantha Power, administrator of USAID.Ranking Member Risch gave the following remarks: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, Administrator Power, for being here today.“This is truly an… Continue Reading
July 13, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nominations Hearing for Assistant Secretaries of State, Ambassador to Vietnam
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 Ms. Monica P. Medina, nominee to be assistant secretary of State for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs, the Honorable Gentry O. Smith, nominee to be assistant secretary of State for diplomatic security, the Honorable Rena Bitter, nominee to be assistant secretary of State for consul… Continue Reading
