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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement regarding announcement of a temporary truce in Libya. The truce comes after months of clashes between the United Nations-backed backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and its rival, the eastern-based Libyan...

Washington, D.C. — Top foreign policy leaders in the Senate and House today called on the administration to reverse its reported plan to cancel more than $4 billion dollars in funding for American diplomacy and development efforts. Senators James E. Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, John Barrasso (R-WY), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) today sent a letter to...

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement following news that Saudi Arabia has released dual U.S. citizen Dr. Walid Fitaihi from prison as he awaits trial:  “I welcome reports that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has released dual U.S. citizen Dr....

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement ahead of the end of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, expected tomorrow: “Tomorrow, as a...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement on the first anniversary of the Zimbabwean military opening fire on opposition activists and innocent civilians, killing at least six of them and injuring many more.  "As Zimbabweans mark this somber anniversary,...

Washington, DC -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, made the following statements regarding...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a business meeting during which members approved one piece of legislation, S. 1441, Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act of 2019.  “This bipartisan bill would sanction companies operating vessels that lay pipes...

Washington, D.C. – Chairman Risch made the following statement regarding ongoing protests in Hong Kong, and in response to the Chinese government’s July 29 press conference: “I am deeply concerned by the Chinese government’s statements yesterday that further demonstrate a complete unwillingness to listen to the Hong...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a business meeting during which members approved one piece of legislation, one treaty, 13 nominees, and nine Foreign Service Officer lists.    “I am glad that members of my committee came together...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a full committee hearing on "Reviewing Authorities for the Use of Military Force", with witness testimonies from The Honorable David Hale, under secretary for political affairs at the Department of State, and Mr. Marik String,...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding Senate consent to ratify four bilateral tax protocols:   “I could not be more pleased that the Senate came together today with such an overwhelming majority to approve the four tax...

Washington, DC – In response to news that Turkey began receiving the first shipment of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air-missile system, U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has introduced legislation to address a growing gap between the United States and Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabia Diplomatic Review Act of 2019 (SADRA), along with original cosponsors Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Chris...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a hearing on "Defense Cooperation: Use of Emergency Authorities under the Arms Export Control Act", with witness testimony from The Honorable R. Clarke Cooper, assistant secretary, political-military affairs at the Department...

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement ahead of planned protests in Sudan on June 30, 2019, which are being held to pressure the military junta to transition power to a civilian government, and also to mark the anniversary of the...

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement after the Senate defeated an amendment to the NDAA that would limit the president's authority to use military force against Iran:   "At a time when there are heightened tensions between the U.S. and the...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a committee business meeting during which members approved eight pieces of legislation, four treaties, and one nomination.   “I am pleased that the committee favorably  reported four important tax treaties to...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a committee business meeting during which members approved eight pieces of legislation, four treaties, and one nomination.   “I am pleased that the committee favorably  reported four important tax treaties to...

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement regarding the reports of a failed coup in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region and violence in the capital, Addis Ababa, on Saturday, June 22, 2019: "This weekend's attacks on regional officials in Amhara and the...