Press Releases

RISCH STATEMENT ON PASSING OF FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARK RICKS BOISE, ID – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) issued the following statement regarding the passing of former Lieutenant Governor Mark Ricks: “Vicki and I were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our good friend Mark Ricks. In the years we served together in […]

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) recently joined 41 Senate Republicans in writing to Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew encouraging the Treasury Department to abandon proposed regulations that would significantly increase the estate tax burden on family farms and businesses. The proposed regulations, if finalized, would contradict long-standing legal precedent and greatly discourage families from […]

“Rarely do the American people benefit when the federal government attempts to substitute its judgment for that of state or local governments – particularly when the criteria used to inform that judgment are unclear, and that judgment is not supported by coherent and impartial facts.”   WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) joined a […]

Washington, DC – Citing the critical role that the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program plays on many rural county budgets, Idaho Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo Thursday sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid urging them to work together to ensure that the PILT program […]

Bipartisan Coalition of 29 Senators Call on Leaders to Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program   WASHINGTON – Citing the drain on many rural county budgets, Idaho Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, along with Oregon Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) have sent a bipartisan letter to Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Democratic Leader Harry Reid […]

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) supported, and the U.S. Senate passed, S.2848, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The bill, which authorizes critical water infrastructure projects across the country, included language to streamline the water resources process in Idaho. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. “Small […]

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), who introduced the bipartisan Securing our Energy Infrastructure Act, today met with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Under Secretary Suzanne Spaulding and Idaho National Lab (INL) Associate Lab Director Brent Stacey to discuss a new technology that will help protect America’s electric grid from cyber-attacks. “While the […]

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 […]