Ranking Member's Press
Risch, Booker Introduce Resolution Calling for Review of U.S. Policy Toward South Sudan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) today introduced a resolution reiterating U.S. support for the people of South Sudan in their quest for lasting peace, stability, and democracy following the 10th anniversary of the country's independence. The resolution also calls for a review of U.S. policy toward South Sudan given the persistent intercommunal violence, humanitarian crisis, and corruption in the co… Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nominations Hearing for Assistant Secretary of State for DRL, Ambassadors to Israel, Canada, Costa Rica, New Zealand
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 Thomas R. Nides, nominee to be ambassador to the State of Israel, Mr. David L. Cohen, nominee to be ambassador to Canada, and Dr. Cynthia Ann Telles, nominee to be ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica. The second panel consisted of Ms. Sarah Margon, nominee to be ass… Continue Reading
September 21, 2021
Risch: Biden’s UNGA Speech Shows Foreign Policy Mismanagement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after President Biden’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA):“President Biden’s speech at UNGA today shows the serious mismanagement of foreign policy under this administration. He celebrated the disastrous retreat from Afghanistan, which continues to have serious security and humanitarian implications, not to mention the unknown number o… Continue Reading
September 21, 2021
Risch, Crapo on Extension of Land Border Restrictions with Canada
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement on the administration’s decision yesterday to extend land border restrictions with Canada:“We regret the administration’s decision to extend restrictions on non-essential travel from Canada to the United States at land ports of entry. These excessive restrictions exist despite U.S. Depa… Continue Reading
September 17, 2021
Risch: There Must be Accountability for Tigray War
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to the administration’s announcement of an executive order authorizing sanctions on those responsible for perpetrating human rights violations in Tigray:“After months of threatening action, I’m glad the administration has finally established a program to impose financial sanctions on certain persons and entities perpetrating human rights ab… Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Risch Welcomes Stronger Defense Cooperation with UK, Australia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the administration’s announcement of an enhanced defense technology cooperation with the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia:“I am pleased to see the Biden Administration working closely with the UK and Australia to deepen defense technology cooperation, especially in undersea warfare. I have called for such cooperation in many venues, including my report on … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Nominations Hearing for Assistant Secretaries, Representative to NATO, Ambassador to France
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 Julieta Valls Noyes, nominee to be assistant secretary of State for population, refugees, and migration, the Honorable Denise Campbell Bauer, nominee to be ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the United States to the French Republic, Ms. Julianne Smith, nominee to be United States per… Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
ICYMI: Risch with Bret Baier on Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Bret Baier on Fox News to discuss today’s committee hearing on the administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.To watch on YouTube, click here.To download the video file, click here. When asked for a reaction on today’s hearing with Secretary Blinken, Risch responded:“[The administration is] out of step with the American people - the vast majority of the American people wat… Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Ranking Member Risch Opening Statement at Hearing Examining the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan
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 examining the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The committee heard witness testimony from Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. Ranking Member Risch gave the following remarks:“Thank you very much Mr. Chairman.“Secretary Blinken, good morning and welcome back to our committee. You are doing the right thing testifying here t… Continue Reading
September 11, 2021
Risch: We Must Not Allow Terrorism to Gain a Foothold Once More
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement marking twenty years since the September 11 th terrorist attacks on our homeland. "Today's anniversary of the horrific attacks on our homeland on September 11, 2001 is especially solemn. Twenty years later, it is still hard to comprehend these acts of pure evil. Vicki and I continue to mourn the lives lost as a result of those attacks. We owe our deepes… Continue Reading
September 09, 2021
Ranking Member Risch: IAEA Should Censure Iran
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement ahead of next week's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting: "The IAEA Board of Governors should censure Iran for its failure to engage with the IAEA's investigation and for obstructing its monitoring activities. Iran's recent actions are not consistent with its claims to have a peaceful nuclear program, and instead indic… Continue Reading
September 09, 2021
Risch, Burr Request GAO Report on Global Biosecurity Risks
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Richard Burr (R-N.C.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, today sent a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro requesting a Government Accountability Office report on U.S. government oversight of certain federally funded international biological research to ensure potential national security risks to the United States are appropriately consid… Continue Reading
September 02, 2021
Ranking Member Risch on Ukrainian President Zelensky’s White House Visit
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on President Biden’s meeting with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday:“Yesterday’s meeting between President Biden and President Zelensky was long overdue. And while I welcome the meeting, I am very disappointed that the White House chose to schedule it during a period when the Senate was out of session and unable to greet our friend and partner.… Continue Reading
August 30, 2021
Ranking Member Risch on U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the last U.S. military plane left Kabul, Afghanistan:“To the men and women in uniform who risked so much over the last 20 years, there are no words that appropriately recognize your steadfast determination and the sacrifices you have made to keep Americans safe. Our military kept the faith, and we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be re… Continue Reading
August 26, 2021
Ranking Member Risch on Bombings in Kabul
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after several reports of explosions in Kabul:“Reports of military and civilian casualties at the hands of terrorists in Kabul are horrifying, and deeply sad. I pray for those who have lost their lives, and those injured.“Today’s bombings outside of the airport and around Kabul serve as the official return to rule by terrorism in Afghanistan. As these b… Continue Reading
August 25, 2021
Risch: Investigation into COVID Origins Must Continue
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the reportedly inconclusive intelligence assessment on the origins of COVID-19 briefed to the president earlier this week:“China’s unwillingness to share data and information relevant to identifying the origins of COVID-19 is truly shameful. Yet, the work to identify how this virus started and spread must continue.“As I wrote to the president last month, … Continue Reading
August 25, 2021
Risch Office Helps Idahoans Leave Afghanistan
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on his office's efforts to bring Idahoans home from Afghanistan: "One of the most important functions that a congressional office serves is to assist our constituents when they need help. That need has rarely been greater than as of late, when we had a number of Idaho residents reach out for help when they suddenly needed to get out of Afghanistan jus… Continue Reading
August 24, 2021
Ranking Member Risch on 30th Anniv. of Ukraine’s Independence
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence:“Congratulations to Ukraine on 30 years of independence. Ukraine has faced many difficulties over the years, but the Ukrainian people have worked hard, overcome many obstacles, and sacrificed much to ensure the success and Western orientation of their country.“Amid today’s celebrations, however, Ukraine… Continue Reading
August 21, 2021
Risch and Colleagues Urge POTUS to Ensure Safe Evacuation of American Citizens and Allies from Afghanistan
BOISE, Idaho - U.S Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) in a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to take the necessary steps to ensure all American citizens, allies, and partners wishing to leave Afghanistan are safely evacuated. The letter further urges the president to see that American Mark Freichs, who is still being held hostage by the Taliban, is se… Continue Reading
August 19, 2021
Risch, Rubio Lead Senate Colleagues in Letter to Sec Def Demanding Accountability for U.S. Military Equipment Abandoned in Afghanistan
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), ranking member of the subcommittee overseeing the Western Hemisphere, led U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va… Continue Reading
