Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) today welcomed Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz for National Lab Day on Capitol Hill. Through demonstrations and exhibits, energy industry leaders from across the country highlighted best practices for environmental management and stewardship – the theme of today’s lab day. Risch, co-founder and co-chair of the Senate […]

The Hill By: Senators James E. Risch and Angus S. King Date: September 13, 2016  In the 2015 novel Ghost Fleet, the U.S. is challenged in a future war by a technologically savvy enemy. The enemy exploits the cyber vulnerabilities in a U.S. military that has grown overly reliant on highly networked and computer-dependent weapons platforms. Left […]

“Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, told her that hunting was important to his constituents and questioned whether she could see that importance.”    Justice Elena Kagan talks about her warm relationship with her late colleague Antonin Scalia Arizona Daily StarAugust 31, 2016By: Elizabeth Eaton Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan reminisced Wednesday night about the late Justice […]

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Risch selected three college students from the state of Idaho to serve as interns in his Washington, D.C. office this summer. The interns have had the opportunity to engage at the national level of government while assisting with constituent services and legislative research. “Interning in the U.S. Senate is […]

Judge Nye is a sound and principled jurist and I applaud my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee for unanimously voting to move his nomination to the Senate floor for a final vote. I will continue to work with my colleagues to have Judge Nye’s nomination confirmed as expeditiously as possible. The people of Idaho are depending on it.

Washington, DC – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), and Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) introduced The Wildfire Mitigation Assistance Act to provide more funding to mitigate the effects of wildfires and prevent future fires. The bill treats wildfires in the same manner as other natural disasters by […]

WASHINGTON – As Congress considers measures to prevent the Zika virus threat, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are calling on President Obama to support relief from the overregulation of pesticide users, including mosquito control authorities, in order to more effectively address current and future threats to public health. While the Senate is considering legislation […]

I supported the FAA reauthorization because it gives critical certainty to aviators, airports, and consumers across the board. The inclusion of reforms that reduce government regulations on pilots is especially important to Idaho’s general aviation community. In addition, terror attacks across the world have made the safety and security of our airports an even greater priority. While there is still more to do, this bill goes further in making American travelers safer at home and abroad. What we’ve passed today represents a comprehensive approach to solving our the transportation needs as we look toward the future.

This legislation ensures that we take the necessary steps to defend ourselves against potentially catastrophic threats by establishing a coordinated effort to help protect essential infrastructures. I'm proud that solutions to many of these infrastructure and security challenges are being developed in my home state at the Idaho National Lab. For those of you have not had the opportunity to visit the Idaho National Lab, it is a world leader in critical infrastructure and control systems research. Leading the reinvention of infrastructure security, the Lab is developing techniques that can account for both physical and cyber threats. I have no

Laws exist to keep our families safe, and all Idahoans should be able to trust local governments to uphold the rule of law. Today, I supported two important pieces of legislation-the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act, to cut off federal funds for cities that encourage illegal immigrants to seek refuge in their communities, and Kate’s Law, to increase penalties for illegal immigrants who commit crimes when they reenter the United States. It is unacceptable that an estimated 350 cities across our nation are harboring illegal aliens, in complete violation of our immigration laws, and undermining the safety of our communities.