Ranking Member's Press
Senate and House Foreign Policy Leadership Condemn Coup in Sudan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement on the coup in Sudan:“We condemn in the strongest terms Monday’s coup by Sudanese security forces. The arrest and detention of Prime Minister Hamdok, other cabinet members,… Continue Reading
October 25, 2021
ICYMI: Risch in Defense News: The U.S. must reject a ‘sole purpose’ nuclear policy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today published an op-ed in Defense News on how the Biden Administration should reject a “sole purpose” nuclear policy in order to protect U.S. and allied security.“Sole purpose” is another name for “no first use”:“While administrations have considered shifting to a no first use policy, they inevitably understood it would damage U.S. and allied security. Indeed, the Obama administration studi… Continue Reading
October 22, 2021
Risch on Biden Administration’s Mixed Messages Regarding Taiwan
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after President Biden’s remarks last night regarding Taiwan and the White House’s subsequent clarification:“The administration is sending confusing messages on Taiwan. Words are important, and we can’t be careless in how we talk about an issue that is so vital to U.S. interests and the security of the Info-Pacific.“We must act decisively on our commitm… Continue Reading
October 22, 2021
Risch, Markey, Romney, Menendez Announce Resolution Marking 30-Year Anniversary of Cambodia Paris Peace Agreements
Senators call upon Cambodian government to live up to its commitments to democracy and neutrality. WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), chairman and ranking member of the East Asia Subcommittee on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced a resolution commemorating the landmark Cambodia Pari… Continue Reading
October 21, 2021
Risch, Inhofe, Portman Request Investigation into SIV Program Shortcomings Amid Afghanistan Withdrawal
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today sent a letter to the inspectors general of the Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Agency for International Development requesting they launch a joi… Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Risch, Coons Reiterate U.S. Support for Sudan’s Transition, Call For Peaceful Demonstrations Tomorrow
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Chris Coons (D-Del.), member of the Subcommittee on African Affairs and chairman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, today released the following statement on the challenges facing Sudan's transition to democracy and protests planned for Thursday in Khartoum:“Supporting Sudan's ongoing political and economic transition remains a top priority for the United St… Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nominations Hearing for Ambassadors to Japan and Singapore
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. The second panel consisted of the Honorable Rahm Emanuel, nominee to be ambassador to Japan, and Mr. Jonathan Eric Kaplan, nominee to be ambassador to the Republic of Singapore.Ranking Member Risch gave the following remarks for the second panel: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to both of our nominees for… Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nominations Hearing for Ambassador to China
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. The first panel consisted of the Honorable R. Nicholas Burns, nominee to be ambassador to the People's Republic of China.Ranking Member Risch gave the following remarks for the first panel:“Well thank you, Mr. Chairman.“Like many members of the committee, I have known Nick for a long time. We first met in the ear… Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Risch, Booker on Committee Passage of South Sudan Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) released the following statements on today’s committee passage of S.Res.380, a resolution reiterating United States support for the people of the Republic of South Sudan in their quest for lasting peace, stability, and democracy after 10 years of independence. The resolution also calls for a review of U.S. policy toward South Sudan given the persistent intercommunal … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Risch Meets with IAEA Director General Grossi
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi today: “Iran continues to steadily advance its nuclear program, while violating its international obligations and preventing the IAEA from fulfilling its monitoring responsibilities. Its failure to provide credible answers to the IAEA’s questions regarding its un… Continue Reading
October 18, 2021
Risch on Passing of Secretary Powell
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the passing of Colin Powell, a former four-star general in the United States Army who served as Secretary of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and National Security Advisor under four administrations:“Secretary Powell was a true leader who will be immortalized in history for his long career of distinguished service to our country. He serve… Continue Reading
October 14, 2021
Risch: Rejoining the UNHRC is a Disgrace
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the election of 18 new members to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC): "Today's UNHRC election is a sham - every country, including the United States, is running unopposed. The United States should not be lending its legitimacy to a body that includes perpetrators of human rights abuses like China, Venezuela, and Cuba. Additionally, the Council… Continue Reading
October 14, 2021
Risch, Shaheen, Menendez Lead Bipartisan Letter to Blinken Asking for Immediate Appointment of Official to Address Health Incidents
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the immediate appointment of a senior-level official to lead efforts on anomalous health incidents following the resignation of Pamela Spratlen. In the letter, the… Continue Reading
October 13, 2021
Risch on Upcoming Meeting between Biden and Kenyan President Kenyatta
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the upcoming meeting between President Joe Biden and Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta: "Kenya is an important strategic partner and strong U.S. ally in East Africa, and though it's long overdue, I'm glad President Biden is finally meeting with an African leader at the White House. From the U.N. Security Council to counterterrorism operations in the r… Continue Reading
October 12, 2021
Risch Leads 29 Colleagues in Introducing Comprehensive Afghanistan Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recently led 29 colleagues in introducing the Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight, and Accountability Act, legislation to address the outstanding issues related to the administration's rushed and disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. Joining Risch as cosponsors are Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John… Continue Reading
October 08, 2021
Ranking Members Warn Against Bypassing Treaty Process
WASHINGTON - The top Republicans on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, and the U.S. Senate Banking Committee expressed serious concerns with the Administration’s recent suggestions it is considering circumventing the Senate’s constitutional treaty authority in implementing a global tax agreement. Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Banking Committee Ranking Member P… Continue Reading
October 08, 2021
Risch: Abiy Must Show Leadership in Bringing Peace to Ethiopia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the swearing-in of Prime Minister Abiy and the devastating security and humanitarian crises facing Ethiopia:“As Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed begins his first full term in office this week, he must move beyond the politics of transition and begin tackling the hard truths underlying the many crises facing all Ethiopians. Decisive political leadership… Continue Reading
October 08, 2021
Risch Celebrates Taiwan’s National Day
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement ahead of Taiwan’s National Day on October 10:“I want to wish the people of Taiwan a happy national day. Taiwan is an important U.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific and a model of democracy in Asia. Over the last few years, the past year especially, Taiwan has been under enormous economic and military pressure from the People’s Republic of China. It is now mo… Continue Reading
October 05, 2021
Risch: Admin’s Declassification of U.S. Nuclear Stockpile is a Mistake
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the administration’s declassification of the number of active and inactive warheads in the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile:“The Biden Administration has repeated the Obama Administration’s mistake of declassifying the U.S. nuclear stockpile. China and Russia failed to reciprocate any transparency when the United States did this during the Obama era, an… Continue Reading
October 05, 2021
Risch, McCaul: Normalization with Assad Regime is Wrong
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today released the following statement on reports of U.S. partners pursuing normalization with the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria:“Bashar al-Assad has inflicted enormous suffering on the Syrian people, slaughtering hundreds of thousands of Syrians and committing crimes against humanity wi… Continue Reading
