News and updates from the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho.
Washington, D.C.
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On International Religious Freedom Day, I remain committed to supporting all people as they practice their God-given right of religious freedom. Christians and people of all faiths in Idaho, across the United States, and around the world deserve to worship freely and without fear of persecution.
The corrupt Cuban regime bears sole responsibility for its failed socialist policies. Rather than making meaningful changes to support the Cuban people, the regime continues its campaign of oppression and exploitation to preserve its grip on power.
The regime is desperately attempting to hold onto power, instead of making immediate, significant, and irreversible political & economic reforms to help the Cuban people. It uses its annual #UN embargo vote to claim the international community is on its side so it can keep enriching those in power while exploiting its own people.
We can and must both protect our national security and encourage investment in the U.S.. However, weakening our export restrictions to support expanding memory chip production in China poses risks to U.S. national security and competitiveness.
EXCLUSIVE: SK Hynix conditions new US factory on more US chip equipment exports to China, sources say reut.rs/4yRgdMk reut.rs/4yRgdMk
Protecting Idaho families means confronting human trafficking, including eradicating scam cities, at home and abroad. The State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons Reports will guide action to hold traffickers and the governments that enable them accountable.
The horror wrought by Hamas’ October 7th terrorist attack which killed over 1,200 innocents, including 47 Americans, must never be forgotten. I have worked with this administration to help ensure that Hamas and other terrorist organizations never cause such suffering again.
The FBI, working with State, has done great work protecting Idahoans and Americans from the “scam cities” I highlighted at our August hearing. I look forward to working with the Admin to disrupt these scam networks and protect Americans.
FIRST ON FOX: FBI Director Kash Patel says Operation Blackout is expanding the bureau’s global hunt for sprawling scam compounds targeting Americans — especially seniors.
The FBI says the operation has seized roughly $17 billion tied to the schemes, while a separate prevention effort has stopped about $1 billion in additional losses.
Patel says the networks operate from massive compounds across Southeast Asia, the Middle East and increasingly Africa, using trafficked workers to target Americans through texts, calls, social media and crypto scams.
No one should be persecuted for their faith. I thank @SenTedBuddNC for his leadership on reauthorizing USCIRF. Senate passage ensures this commission can continue exposing religious persecution and holding oppressive regimes accountable. budd.senate.gov/2026/09/30/b…
The Admin is right to identify major drug-producing countries. These deadly drugs don't stay overseas; they reach communities across Idaho and America. We must dismantle the cartels, maintain secure borders, and keep these poisons away from Idaho families. state.gov/releases/office-of…
Last year alone, Idahoans reported losing $34 million to online investment scams. Sanctions on Xinbi Guarantee and the seizing of infrastructure and digital wallets used by this criminal network are good steps forward. We must shut these scammers down for good.
Five years ago, Kabul fell to the Taliban following the Biden admin’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. The chaotic retreat emboldened our adversaries and put American servicemembers, including Idahoans, in harm’s way. We will never forget their service and sacrifice.
Today we honor the Idahoans and Americans whose courage and sacrifice brought victory in World War II. Freedom is never free. We honor their legacy by keeping America strong and preserving peace through strength.
After four years in Russian prison, Robert Gilman is finally coming home. This administration has secured the freedom of more than 100 Americans, but the work is not finished until Stephen Hubbard and every wrongfully detained American are released.
Today, after more than four years of detention in Russia, Robert Gilman is on his way home to be reunited with his family. Mr. Gilman joins over 100 Americans whom President Trump has freed during his second term in office.
We thank Russia for working with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to release Mr. Gilman and allowing him to receive the necessary medical treatment here in the United States.
While we appreciate this positive step, we are still seeking the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans, including wrongful detainee Stephen Hubbard. The President will not stop until all unjustly detained Americans are home.
Happy Independence Day to the people of Ecuador. A strong U.S.-Ecuador partnership helps stop deadly drugs before they reach communities in Idaho, strengthens our economies, and keeps China’s malign influence out of our hemisphere.
Congratulations to Colombian President @ABDELAESPRIELLA on his inauguration. I look forward to working together to crush narcoterrorism, stop the flow of deadly drugs from reaching Idahoan and American communities, and ensure our shared hemisphere is safer.
For too long, the Ortega-Murillo regime has brutalized the Nicaraguan people and threatened regional stability. The U.S. can't act alone. It's time for our regional partners and the OAS to stand up for freedom in the Americas.
Today Senior Bureau Official Kozak addressed the Special Meeting of the @OAS_official Permanent Council on Nicaragua. His message was clear: We must act now to defend our region’s security and peace.
As Bolivia celebrates its Independence Day, I reaffirm America's support for a democratic, secure, and prosperous future. I look forward to strengthening the U.S.-Bolivia partnership as Bolivia advances the reforms needed to restore economic opportunity and stability.
Those strange texts and phone calls are not harmless spam. They are part of a multibillion-dollar criminal enterprise tied to human trafficking, money laundering, and drug smuggling. We must shut these scammers and scam centers down for good. foreign.senate.gov/press/rep…
Reports that Aung San Suu Kyi met with the Myanmar representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross are welcome, but not enough. The military junta must allow family contact, provide information about her health, and immediately and unconditionally release her.