Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Co-Chairs of the Senate Caucus on Poland, along with Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced bipartisan passage by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of a resolution they introduced honoring the 70th Anniversary of the Warsaw […]

I am pleased to recognize rosieMADE as an outstanding small business. This is a new company that has grown and adapted for the past two years. rosieMADE has achieved success as an online marketplace, supplying quality gifts and products made in the USA by women-owned businesses. I congratulate everyone at rosieMADE on their success and wish them the very best in the future.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Risch made the following statement after learning that the Obama Administration has finally acknowledged that Russia has violated the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty: “It may not have the same visual and emotional impact as Russian troops entering Ukraine, or the shooting down of a civilian airliner, but when […]

Washington, D.C. ­– U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Jim Risch (R-ID) today released the following statement expressing disappointment regarding the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia filing criminal charges against former President Mikheil Saakashvili and numerous senior leaders of the previous government: “We are extremely disappointed and concerned that the […]

Commonsense tells us the president would do well to immediately, publicly, and loudly rescind his executive order of 2012. That action would reverse the flood of unaccompanied illegal immigrant children to the United States, since it was that executive order that unleashed this flood.

Idaho County needs adequate resources to provide a gun range not only for its citizens but also for its law enforcement. The Idaho County Sheriff's Office currently lacks the ability to effectively train their staff in firearm duty because they do not have facilities in the area. Also, the recreational use of firearms is common among Idahoans; many use it as an opportunity to teach safe and responsible practices to younger generations. Passing this bill will fill a major void in firearm training and practice for Idaho County citizens and ensure safe and responsible gun use in the county for

I am happy to know that this vital legislation is on its way to becoming law. Predating the existence of the wilderness areas, private land owners had received permits to maintain and repair water diversions that existed on national forest system lands. Many of the permits have since expired leaving those who own the water diversions without options for maintaining their water systems. This legislation will protect these private property rights and give the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to reissue and issue special use authorizations to the owners of these diversion facilities within the Frank Church and the Selway-Bitteroot

Today's briefing at the White House was very useful. Not surprisingly, much of the graphs, weather data, and other information were provided by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise. I’m very proud of the work that NIFC does every year. As we brace for this fire season in Idaho and the west, the nation relies very heavily on the work done in Boise. As always, funding relating to fighting fires is a difficult problem that we are working every day to solve.

John Evans was one of the most civil and gentle people I dealt with in the political process over the years. He was a committed Idahoan who deeply loved his state. Being in the banking business, he had a clear understanding of free markets and their importance in a free society. His leadership was greatly respected. Vicki and I send our condolences to Lola and the entire Evans family, who we have always considered good friends.

When it comes to Cybersecurity and protecting critical infrastructure, nobody does it better than the dedicated individuals at the Idaho National Lab. I am pleased that the committee included this important amendment in the Intelligence Committee’s Cybersecurity legislation. American businesses and private citizens are attacked on a daily basis and have little or no recourse. This legislation would promote information sharing on cyber threats between the private sector and the government to protect those businesses and private citizens. This bill remains a work in progress as it moves through Congress, however.