Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Today a bill authored by Congressman Mike Simpson to permit existing water diversions in Idaho wilderness areas was passed by the Senate committee with jurisdiction on the issue.  The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, of which Senator Jim Risch is a member, passed H.R. 876, the Idaho Wilderness Water Resources Protection […]

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Risch has named WestOne Logistics as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for November in recognition of their tremendous efforts and years of success.  The company will be recognized in the Congressional Record of the United States Senate. “I am pleased to recognize WestOne Logistics as an outstanding […]

Our founding fathers engineered a government where it was not easy to move legislation forward. These difficulties were designed to ensure differences were recognized and compromises would be necessary. This design makes us stronger, not weaker. Unfortunately, Senator Reid and his colleagues believe the ends justify the means and are willing to sacrifice our constitutional traditions in pursuit of expediency.

President Obama promised the American people time and time again that if they liked their current health insurance plan they could keep it, said Risch. "That promise was false; the proposal greatly changes millions of middle class Americans’ plans. This legislation preserves small employers’ and individuals’ ability to make their own insurance choices, allowing them to keep their important stop loss coverage."

I am pleased the Senate spoke unanimously in calling for the release of Pastor Abedini and detailing the inhumane treatment he has received. The government of Iran continues to violate Pastor Abedini's human rights through his imprisonment and abuse. Pastor Abedini's only crime is to peacefully exercise his faith and work to help meet the needs of the poor and most vulnerable in Iran. It is past time for Iran to release Pastor Saeed Abedini.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Risch today applauded the State Department for finally designating Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Risch has urged the State Department to do so for over two years. The Nigerian Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram is officially known as “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s […]

Washington, D.C. – The Idaho Congressional Delegation, including Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Raul Labrador, along with every lawmaker representing Oregon and Washington, urged the U.S. Energy Department (DOE) to maintain an independent Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) that puts Northwest power users first, in a bipartisan letter to Energy […]

I am deeply troubled that Secretary Kerry would rush to Geneva to enter into a deal with the Iranians, which by all accounts is temporary, incomplete, and a bad deal. The idea of a temporary deal is a broken record we have listened to before.

Washington, D.C. – Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch joined their colleagues Senators Jon Tester (D-Montana) and John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) in a large, bipartisan coalition calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to do more to ensure that rural America is not disadvantaged or left behind as the commission reforms and modernizes important programs. […]

Interning in the U.S. Senate is an excellent way to learn about the legislative branch of government and to see where much of our nation’s early history took place. This group of interns is qualified, serve Idaho well and show great promise.