What James E. Risch said, and what was done

“Madam President, as a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho.”

“Madam President, the Gem State is made strong by the hardworking, dedicated, and selfless actions of Idahoans. Across our State, hundreds of thousands of veterans, first responders, volunteers, and public servants go above and beyond for the communities they call home.”

“Mr. President, I want to join my colleague, the distinguished ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee. We are in the same spot on this bill and on the amendment.”

“Mr. President, the Gem State is made strong by the hard-working, dedicated, and selfless actions of Idahoans. Across our State, hundreds of thousands of veterans, first responders, volunteers, and public servants go above and beyond for the communities they call home.”

“Mr. President, as a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho.”

“Mr. President and fellow Senators, I come to the floor here to support the bill we are going to vote on here pretty quickly, and that is on a Russia and Iran sanctions bill.”

“Mr. President, I am going to talk for a minute about H. Con. Res. 86, the item of business that is before the U.S. Senate this morning. This is a House concurrent resolution, which states, in operative part: Congress directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“Madam President, I am going to be very brief on this as I have given this speech I can't remember how many times before as the other side has attempted to help Iran and bring these resolutions forth that would stop the President from pushing back against Iran and the terrible things that they have done.”

“Mr. President, with my colleague Senator Mike Crapo, we honor Sheriff Chris Goetz of Idaho as he announces his retirement after more than 17 years as sheriff and nearly three decades of service with the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office.”

“Mr. President, section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act requires that Congress receive prior notification of certain proposed arms sales as defined by that statue. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed.”

“Mr. President, Idaho's small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our communities. These small businesses not only employ our friends and neighbors but also provide invaluable goods and services that showcase Idaho's ingenuity and shared values.”

“Congratulations to Cory and Haley Koole and the entire Blue Fox team for being selected as an Idaho Small Business of the Month for June 2026. You are an outstanding example of what it means to be one of Idaho's Local Gems.”

“Mr. President, I rise with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Representative Mike Simpson to recognize the significance of the Submarine 1st Generation Westinghouse, also known as the S1W prototype plant, and commend the crews who safely demolished it.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the Owyhee County Historical Museum, celebrate the opening of its new Mike Hanley Wagon Barn, and mark the beginning of the Outpost Days.”

“Mr. President, Idaho's small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our communities. These small businesses not only employ our friends and neighbors but also provide invaluable goods and services that showcase Idaho's creativity and values.”

“Mr. President, I rise with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Representative Mike Simpson to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the city of Blackfoot. Officially incorporated on January 16, 1901, the city of Blackfoot has helped shape the agricultural heritage that has defined Idaho for generations.”

“Mr. President, I rise with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Representative Mike Simpson to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce. The history of Pocatello and Chubbuck begins with the Oregon Trail, which ran through the Portneuf Gap just south of the two cities, drawing pioneers, gold miners, and settlers to the region.”

“Mr. President, today, I come to the floor, once again, after numerous--and I have lost count of how many of these the Democrats have tried--to set the legal record on the war powers straight and in plain terms.”

“Mr. President, I rise with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher to honor the life and legacy of our dear friend Dirk Kempthorne, who recently lost his hard-fought battle with cancer.”

“Mr. President, as everyone in this Chamber knows, Israel is one of the closest allies in the Middle East. No one can discount the fact that without Israel and President Trump's maximum pressure campaign, Iran would have nuclear weapons, would still be exporting terror throughout the region, and would still pose a significant military threat to its neighbors and, indeed, to a good share of the rest of the world.”

“Mr. President, I come to the floor today to oppose the resolution we are going to vote on here in just a little bit. I think this is the--I don't know how many times I have been here on this--but this is the same old, same old again.”

“Mr. President, I am not going to speak for a long time. I have given this speech over and over again. Some people say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting to get the same results.”

“Transmittal No. 26-49 Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act Annex Item No. vii (vii) Sensitivity of Technology: 1.”

“Non-Major Defense Equipment: The following non-MDE items will be included: aircraft and munitions support and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; minor modifications and maintenance support; U.S.”

“Mr. President, I come to the floor today in strong support of a bill that I have supported from the very beginning, that being the SAVE America Act.”

“Mr. President and fellow Senators, this is--I have lost count now--the fourth or fifth time I have come to the floor to once again defend America against these dangerous, obstructive resolutions that the Democrats have been putting out here.”

“What they are asking us to do is to put our tail between our legs and leave the battlefield and surrender the battlefield to the Iranians. We are not going to do that.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Boise Airport. This milestone is a celebration of the airport's history and its contributions to our regional commerce, travel, and national defense.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to oppose the resolution that my Democrat friends brought here to the floor. It is very short--only a few pages long--but the operative part of it is only 18 words.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to honor the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise, ID, as it celebrates its 150th anniversary. This historic landmark has played a vital role in the spiritual and cultural fabric of our community since its founding in 1876, symbolizing growth, resilience, and our unwavering faith in God.”

“Mr. President, I make a point of order--raise a point of order--that this joint resolution is not entitled to privilege under 50 U.S.C. 1546a due to U.S. troops not being engaged in hostilities.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to raise a point of order on the War Powers Resolution before the Senate, which I reserve the right to do at the close of my remarks and after Senator Kaine moves the matter forward.”

“Mr. President, fellow Senators, we are about to vote on a War Powers Resolution, which is becoming common around here--and way too common, as a matter a fact.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Caroline Nilsson Troy on her well-deserved retirement after more than 31 years of dedicated service to the Gem State and the students, staff, faculty, and alumni at the University of Idaho.”

“Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo, Congressman Mike Simpson, and Congressman Russ Fulcher to honor Dr. Rick Waitley for his 32 years of dedicated service as the executive director of Leadership Idaho Agriculture, LIA, and more than half a century of advocating for the State's farmers and ranchers.”

“Mr. President, I rise today, along with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Representative Mike Simpson, to recognize Bill Carberry for his 24 years of dedicated service as airport manager of the Magic Valley Regional Airport.”

“Mr. President, reserving the right to object. I come here, like my colleague, to defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Since George Washington was President and he had to deal with a Congress, every President has had to deal with a Congress or Members of Congress who really wanted to be the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States.”

“If you don't think so, take him to court and sue him. That is what you need to do if you think that is what is right. There is no court in the world that is going to stop him from using the military might of the United States to protect the United States, which is exactly what he is doing here.”

“Mr. President, I agreed to respond to questions relating to this. There is nothing in this that has anything to do with pardoning or has anything to do with the other country that you are talking about.”

“Mr. President, Senator, first of all, that has been done over a number of years, and it has proven to be incredibly ineffectual. I have had lengthy discussions with the Secretary of State, who obviously is a person who has been focused on this area of the globe for a long time.”

“Mr. President, today, myself and my distinguished colleague from Montana, Senator Sheehy, rise in support of what is perhaps the most commonsense national security legislation that has come across the Senate floor this year.”

“Mr. President, I thank Senator Sheehy for those remarks. I think you are absolutely correct that Americans have no idea that some of their taxpayer dollars are actually winding up in the hands of terrorists.”

“Mr. President, I rise today, with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo, Representative Mike Simpson, and Representative Russ Fulcher, to recognize the retirement of Sandra Mitchell, a remarkable leader and advocate whose 50 years of dedicated public service have enriched the lives of Idahoans and our State's natural landscapes.”

“Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Congressman Russ Fulcher to pay tribute to a remarkable individual whose unwavering commitment has left an indelible mark on the Port of Lewiston and beyond.”

“Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I would like to make a few observations about this resolution. First of all, this couldn't come at a more inappropriate time.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to respond to Senator Kaine's S.J. Res. 90, and I would like to state clearly that the administration is very much opposed to this resolution, and they have put out a policy statement as of today stating that they strongly oppose S.J.”

“Mr. President, Idaho's veterans risked everything for our freedoms, and we owe them our immense gratitude. Many who returned from service continue to be mission-driven, highly skilled, dedicated to success, and have opened small businesses vital to the Gem State.”

“Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo, Congressman Mike Simpson, and Congressman Russ Fulcher to honor Mayor John Evans, a remarkable leader whose dedication and vision have profoundly shaped the Garden City community.”

“His date of inauguration-- as a foreign terrorist organization or specially designated global terrorist, any states in which those entities operate, or any non-state organization engaged in the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs.”

“Mr. President, reserving the right to object, allow me to say some things. As chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, I oppose this measure. Like everyone on this floor, we want--we all want the conflict in Gaza to end as quickly as possible.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Idaho's Basque community and the return of Jaialdi, a renowned celebration of Basque heritage, impact, and traditions in the heart of Boise.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to oppose the two resolutions that are in front of the body right now. These two resolutions are an attempt to stop munition sales to Israel that have been approved by the administration and are designed to provide Israel with defensive weapons that they need.”

“Mr. President, I thank Senator Ricketts for those very clear remarks that demonstrate exactly why this needs to be done. I myself for a long time have hoped to see our European partners wake up to the extreme threat that we all face from a nuclear Iran.”

“Mr. President, today, I rise with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Congressman Mike Simpson to celebrate the 125th birthday of Preston, ID. From the famous Preston Night Rodeo to the historic brick-and-mortar businesses along State Street, Preston has both a deep history and bright future to be celebrated.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to oppose this unhelpful resolution. It is a clear attempt to take a slap at President Trump and nothing more. President Trump's foreign policy successes have been several and should be celebrated not denigrated.”

“Mr. President, I come to the floor today to oppose the two resolutions we are about to vote on. What they are is they have to do with arms sales to Qatar and UAE.”

“Mr. President, today, I rise to celebrate National DRAM Day and recognize the historic invention of dynamic random access memory, DRAM. Patented by Dr. Robert Dennard on June 4, 1968, DRAM revolutionized computing and shaped the digital age.”

“Mr. President, the Committee on Foreign Relations has adopted rules governing its procedures for the 119th Congress. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, on behalf of myself and Senator Shaheen, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the Committee rules be printed in the Record.”

“Mr. President, Idaho small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our communities. These small businesses not only employ our friends and neighbors, but provide invaluable goods and services that showcase shared Idaho values.”

“Blue Label Dealer Program, HawkTech Arms is dedicated to providing firearms and addressing the needs of first responders. Finally, it is worth noting that the staff and owners of HawkTech Arms are active volunteers in the Treasure Valley community.”

“Idahoans to support the small businesses that make our State thrive. As a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am pleased to honor Bluetick Coffee during Support Local Gems as one of Idaho's Small Businesses of the Month for June 2025.”

“Mr. President, reserving the right to object, look, first of all, we have no disagreement with the suffering that is going on in Gaza. The problem we have here is, as we heard from both of these speakers, not one word was said as to whose fault this is.”

“Madam President, I want to respond to that. First of all, I commend the Senator for his appreciation for the suffering that is going on. It is horrible.”

“Mr. President, as a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month, I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of a small business in my home State of Idaho.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 160th anniversary of the Joyce Ranch in Owyhee County, ID--an extraordinary milestone in the history of Gem State agriculture and a testament to the enduring strength of family.”

“Joyce Ranch has been passed down by the same family since inception, a rarity in our rapidly changing world and a truly remarkable achievement. The legacy of Matthew Joyce and Idaho's rich agricultural history was carried on by his daughter Maggie Joyce Nettleton and her son Hubert, who played a pivotal role in maintaining the ranch through both challenges and triumphs.”

“Mr. President, on a more credible note, I hope, I am here to speak on two noms that we have coming up. There is going to be a vote on confirmation of Thomas Barrack to be Ambassador for Turkiye and a vote on Tilman Fertitta for the nomination to be Ambassador for Italy.”

“Mr. President, I come to the floor today in support of our friend David Perdue's nomination to be Ambassador to China. This is certainly one of the most important nominations and appointments that will come across this floor, and the President is to be commended for picking David Perdue for this position.”

“Mr. President, I have come here today in support of President Trump's nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was reported out of our Foreign Relations Committee recently.”

“Mr. President, today, I rise, with my colleagues Senator Mike Crapo and Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, to celebrate a significant milestone in the history of Idaho's capital city: the 100th anniversary of the Boise Depot.”

“Madam President, I rise today in support of President Trump's nominee to be Ambassador to NATO, Mr. Matthew Whitaker. First, the good news. NATO remains more than ever relevant to the security of the United States and to Europe.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Port of Lewiston, Idaho's only seaport and an economic cornerstone of north Idaho and the broader Pacific Northwest.”

“Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Washington, DC. Hon. James E. Risch, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: Pursuant to the reporting requirements of Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, we are forwarding herewith Transmittal No. 25-16, concerning the Air Force's proposed Letter(s) of Offer and Acceptance to the Government of Qatar for defense articles and services estimated to cost $1.96 billion.”

“Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I rise to object to this. Senator Sanders has brought us a resolution which very simply states that Russia must immediately and completely and unconditionally withdraw from the territory of Ukraine.”

“Mr. President, I respect my friend, but I vehemently disagree that this resolution is going to cause Vladimir Putin to end this war. My good friend says that Vladimir Putin could end this war.”

“Again, to my good friend Senator Sanders I would say that Putin does not have that ability. He simply does not have the ability. You talked about how he started this and how he could end it.”

“Mr. President, reserving the right to object, to my good friend from Illinois, I say I am going to object to this, and it is not because of the substance of the resolution.”

“Mr. President, I agree with my good friend from Illinois that this is amongst many, many facts that are going to be taken into consideration as the parties negotiate in what is going to be a very complex negotiation to get to the end point.”

“Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), Woman's Century Club in Nampa, ID--a remarkable organization that has been at the forefront of community service and education since its inception in 1900.”

“Mr. President, as a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each month I recognize and celebrate the American entrepreneurial spirit by highlighting the success of small businesses in my home State of Idaho.”

“Luckily, a group of loyal customers and former staff rallied to recruit Wanda Martinat, a longtime server at the Stagecoach, and customers Fred and Francie Oliver, to acquire the restaurant.”

“Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I want to rise today to talk about what Senator Coons is attempting to do here. I have to say, a lot of us have said for years that the greatest national security threat that Americans face is our skyrocketing national debt.”

“I am supportive of the Trump administration's efforts to reform and restructure the Agency in a way that better serves U.S. national security interests. I am fortunate enough to talk with Secretary Rubio virtually daily, sometimes multiple times a day, and I was aware this was coming.”

“Mr. President, first of all, to my good friend from Delaware, I know that he is aware that a number of the programs here have already received a waiver because the case was made for those programs, and that is appropriate.”

“Mr. President, I come to the floor today to talk about the ICC bill and the vote we are going to have immediately following the lunch hour. When the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister for defending their country against an unprovoked brutal attack on their homeland, the ICC was exceeding its mandate.”

“Ally that continues to be a force for political and economic stability in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Greece's capability to deter current and future threats, support coalition operations, and increase interoperability with the United States.”