Ranking Member's Press
Chairman Risch Calls for Independent Investigation into WHO’s Handling of COVID-19 Response
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today called for an independent investigation into the World Health Organization's (WHO) handling of the COVID-19 response. "The WHO has failed not only the American people, it has failed the world with its flagrant mishandling of the response to COVID-19," said Risch. "Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus' apparent unwillingness to hold the Chinese Communist Party to even the minimum standard of glob… Continue Reading
March 30, 2020
Risch Warns Hungary Against Use of Crisis to Weaken Democracy
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding reports that Prime Minister Victor Orbán of Hungary is using the coronavirus pandemic to pursue greater executive powers: "I am very concerned by today's news that Hungary will be indefinitely ruled by executive fiat. The Hungarian Parliament, controlled entirely by Prime Minister Orbán's Fidesz party, has granted Orbán's requ… Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on DOJ Indictment of Nicolás Maduro
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the Department of Justice unsealed an indictment against Nicolás Maduro and members of his inner circle on narco-terrorism charges: "I commend the administration for maintaining steady pressure on Nicolás Maduro and his corrupt regime in Venezuela. Maduro's well-documented involvement in transnational criminal activities is a security th… Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on Bob Levinson
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the apparent passing of Bob Levinson, an American citizen who was held hostage by the Iranian regime for 13 years. Mr. Levinson went missing in 2007 and was the United States' longest held hostage. "I am incredibly saddened by recent reports from the Levinson family that Bob Levinson passed on while in Iranian custody," said Risch. "This is further eviden… Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Chairman Risch Speaks with Ambassador de Zela Regarding Evacuation of Americans in Peru
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today spoke with Peruvian Ambassador to the United States Hugo de Zela regarding the evacuation of Americans in Peru during the coronavirus pandemic. "I was glad to speak with Ambassador de Zela this afternoon to discuss the need for our countries to continue collaborating to execute a more consistent evacuation plan for our people," said Risch. "There are nearly 5,000 Americans in Peru, including… Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Risch Statement on Senate Confirmation of Alma Golden to be USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Alma L. Golden as the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) assistant administrator for global health: "As we fight this global Coronavirus pandemic, we need knowledgeable and experienced public health professionals at the helm of our public health institutions. I'm pleased the Senate confirmed Dr. Al… Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on Re-election of Luis Almagro as OAS Secretary General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to Luis Almagro's re-election as secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS): "I would like to congratulate Luis Almagro for his re-election today as secretary general of the OAS. Mr. Almagro has made significant progress in the last five years to build consensus among member countries of the OAS, and to keep the organization de… Continue Reading
March 17, 2020
Risch Condemns CCP’s Decision to Expel U.S. Journalists Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Chinese Foreign Ministry's announcement of the expulsion of U.S. journalists from China: "The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) decision to expel from China all U.S. journalists from three major press outlets is appalling. This is an unreasonable response to the recent actions taken by the U.S. State Department to increase the transparency of Chin… Continue Reading
March 16, 2020
Risch, Barrasso, Rubio, Gardner Call on CCP to Stop Coronavirus Disinformation Campaign, Work with International Community to Constrain Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, today released the following statement in response to recent Chinese Communist Party (CCP) disinformation regarding the origins of COVID-19, a coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China: "Our top priority is to protect the Ameri… Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Risch Statement on Suspension of Travel Between the U.S. and Europe Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to the administration's announcement of a suspension of travel between the United States and Europe during the coronavirus pandemic: "This pandemic health threat respects no borders, and so we must all do what we can to protect our most vulnerable citizens. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I will continue my work and the work… Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Chairman Risch Statement on State Department's 2019 Human Rights Report
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to the annual human rights report released by the Department of State today: "The State Department's release of the 2019 human rights report reminds us that as Americans, we are incredibly blessed to be born with undeniable rights that allow us to live freely. Unfortunately, this report shows us that there is no shortage of countries that co… Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Chairman Risch Opening Statement at Hearing on Assad’s Campaign against the Syrian People
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a full committee hearing on the war in Syria, with witness testimony from Caesar, a Syrian military defector for whom the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act was named after, Mr. Omar Alshogre, a former Syrian prisoner and current director of detainee issues at the Syrian Emergency Task Force, and Mr. Raed Al Saleh, the head of the Syria Civil Defense (White Helmets): Chairman Risc… Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Risch, Coons Applaud Updating of Zimbabwe Sanctions List, Urge More Names to be Added
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Chris Coons (D-Del.), member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, today applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to update the list of sanctioned individuals for Zimbabwe following their January letter to Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo requesting an update. "We are pleased to see the Departments of Treasury a… Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Risch, Shaheen Praise Georgian Agreement to Amend Electoral System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, today released the following statements in response to an agreement signed this weekend in Tbilisi that is designed to calm political tensions in Georgia: "I am very glad to see an agreement reached by all sides of the Georgian political spectrum this weekend, and expect to see its full im… Continue Reading
March 07, 2020
Risch Statement on International Women’s Day
BOISE, Idaho - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement ahead of International Women's Day on March 8th: "Today, tomorrow, and every day are good days to celebrate women and their contributions at home and abroad. I am very privileged to work with energetic, knowledgeable, and influential women every day in both my personal and committee offices. Each of these women contribute uniquely to our team and I am deepl… Continue Reading
March 05, 2020
Risch, Menendez, Rubio, Co-Host Event with European Parliament on Persecution of Uyghur Minority
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, co-hosted an event yesterday with the European Parliament on the situation of the Uyghur minority in China. Jewher Ilham, daughter of Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti who has been jailed in China since 2014, gave remarks … Continue Reading
March 05, 2020
Risch Statement on ICC Decision Authorizing Investigation of Alleged U.S. Actions in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) ruling that its chief prosecutor can pursue an investigation into alleged U.S. actions in Afghanistan: "I am disappointed that the ICC has decided to pursue an investigation against U.S. personnel for alleged actions in Afghanistan. The prosecutor's original request was rightly rejected in April, but she… Continue Reading
March 03, 2020
Chairman Risch Welcomes Members and Speakers from Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish Parliaments
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today met with a group of members and speakers of parliament from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to discuss the importance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and continued transatlantic collaboration to counter malign activities from Russia and China. "I was glad to welcome a group of members and speakers from the Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Polish parliaments to the… Continue Reading
March 03, 2020
Chairman Risch Commends IAEA for Pushing Iran to Fulfill Its Obligations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement in response to a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that details Iran's lack of cooperation in accounting for undeclared nuclear sites and activities: "I commend Director General Grossi and his team at the IAEA for pushing Iran to explain its undeclared nuclear sites and activities. Submitting a second, separate report alongside its … Continue Reading
March 02, 2020
Risch, Menendez Statements on Arrests of Jimmy Lai, Former Lawmakers in Hong Kong
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statements in response to the latest round of arrests of Hong Kong protesters, including prominent businessman and publisher Jimmy Lai: "I am very concerned by the arrests of Jimmy Lai and several others last week," said Risch. "The Hong Kong government has been actively arresting and charging protestors and others who supp… Continue Reading
