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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded the Senate's confirmation of Brian Bulatao to be Under Secretary of State for Management. Bulatao was confirmed by a vote of 92-5.   “Since day one of my chairmanship, I have been working to move...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a hearing on "The Future of Arms Control Post-Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty," with testimony from Andrea L. Thompson, under secretary for arms control and international security at the Department of State,...

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement about attacks carried out by elements of Sudan’s security forces: "I condemn in the strongest terms the use of violence, specifically the firing of live ammunition, against unarmed Sudanese protesters on Monday,...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators and Foreign Relations Committee members Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) released the following statement after this week’s elections in South Africa.  “As members of the...

Washington, D.C. – Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), senior members of the committee, today sent a letter to President Trump to express their concern over...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined with committee members Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.),...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a hearing to review the FY 2020 USAID Budget Request, with testimony from USAID Administrator Mark Green.  Chairman Risch gave the following opening statement, as prepared for delivery: "This hearing will come to order. ...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement in response to the Iran regime's announcement today that they will halt compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Deal: "Iran's announcement today is a sign of desperation and a...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) have introduced a resolution condemning the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka, offering sincere condolences to the victims, to their families and friends, and to the people and nation of Sri Lanka, and...

WASHINGTON – Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined today by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) in introducing a Senate resolution reaffirming the importance of a close partnership between the United...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a business meeting at which the committee approved nine nominees.    “I am glad to see nine of the president’s nominees advance through our committee today,” said Risch. “All of these...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today appeared on Bloomberg TV’s “Balance of Power” to discuss the ongoing situation in Venezuela in addition to news that the administration plans to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, the impact of...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a hearing on "The Humanitarian Impact of Eight Years of War in Syria," with testimony from witnesses Ben Stiller, Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, The United Nations Refugee Agency, and David Miliband, President and CEO of...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded Senate confirmation of R. Clarke Cooper to be Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs. Cooper was confirmed by a vote of 90-8. “Mr. Cooper is preeminently qualified for the job of Assistant...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement in support of today's announcement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the U.S. will no longer grant sanctions waivers to nations that import Iranian oil:  "I welcome the administration's announcement that...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement on the Easter morning terror attacks in Sri Lanka that killed more than 200 people, including several U.S. citizens:  “No person of faith should fear for his or her life in a place of worship,” said...

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following statement about the removal of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir from power by the Sudanese military: "We stand in solidarity with the Sudanese people, who for months have taken to the...

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today commended his Senate colleagues for their overwhelming support of General John P. Abizaid (Ret.), to be U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. General Abizaid was confirmed by a vote of 92-7.  “I commend my colleagues...

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today convened a hearing on the State Department's budget request for FY 2020, with testimony from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.   Chairman Risch gave the following opening statement: "Good morning and welcome. Our topic today is the...

WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined by a group of 15 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo encouraging him to raise key issues and concerns with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah...