As Chairman of the U. S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senator Risch is the Senate’s leader on foreign policy; a position he has utilized time and time again to support the Jewish community and highlight the importance of Israel as a Jewish state to Jews and non-Jews alike.
In the last year alone, Senator Risch has stood strong against the Humas terrorist organization and tirelessly advocates for Isreal’s right to defend itself. Knowing that a nation’s number one priority is national defense and its right and obligation to defend itself Senator Risch publicly pushed back when the UN considered sanctions against Isreal stating: “I am disgusted that this outrageous idea [of downgrading Isreal’s status in the UN] has even been discussed, and will do all we can to ensure any changes to Israel’s status will come with consequences.” Senator Risch has called out his democrat colleagues on their abandonment of Isreal: “Some undermine Israel by holding up arms sales, refusing to sanction the International Criminal Court’s politically-motivated prosecution of Israelis, dictating how Israel can conduct military operations, and calling for Prime Minister Netanyahu to be replaced. By doing so, they damage our longstanding alliance with Israel and empower Iran and its proxies to act with impunity. My Republican colleagues and I will continue to do all we can to support our ally Israel.” Senator Risch also led 11 colleagues in introducing the Countering Hate Against Israel by Federal Contractors Act, which would prohibit the federal government from contracting with entities who boycott the State of Israel.
In addition to his strong stance promoting democracy throughout the world Senator Risch is known for his pragmatic approach to government. A Republican for decades and a budget hawk he frequently takes stands against bloated federal spending and the out-of-control federal debt. As the former chairman of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee he promoted free enterprise and economic competition. As Idaho’s 31st Governor he masterminded the largest tax cut the state had ever seen.
