Jim Risch

Notable Quotes

"The America First Global Health Strategy will help us do more of what works, eliminate inefficiencies, and save more lives with less money."([foreign.senate.gov](https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/rep/release/risch-statement-on-america-first-global-health-strategy?utm_source=openai))

from America first global health compacts: rewiring U.S. health aid · Updated Feb 5

The Biden policy was ultimately nothing more than a virtue signal to the progressive left in an effort to influence domestic election politics—it was conceived of as a means to embarrass our ally Israel in its time of need.

from US bypasses Congress on Israel arms sales · Updated Feb 2

Stories

The Venezuela raid and congressional war powers

Force in Play

Defended administration's Venezuela operation

Congress last declared war in 1942. Since then, presidents have ordered military strikes 212 times without formal declarations—but never quite like this. On January 3, 2026, U.S. special forces raided the Venezuelan capital, captured President Nicolás Maduro in his residence, and flew him to New York to face narcoterrorism charges. Eleven days later, Vice President JD Vance cast the deciding vote to kill a Senate resolution that would have required congressional authorization for further military action. Now, over a month after the raid, the operation faces mounting legal challenges: Maduro's defense team filed motions on February 4 questioning the federal court's jurisdiction over the extraordinary rendition case, while the International Court of Justice and UN human rights bodies have issued statements characterizing the operation as a violation of international law.

Updated Feb 6

America first global health compacts: rewiring U.S. health aid

Rule Changes

Key Senate backer of America First Global Health Strategy

In 2025 the United States began dismantling its post-Cold War global health architecture: withdrawing from the World Health Organization, freezing most foreign aid, and abolishing USAID’s development role. On this foundation, the Trump administration unveiled an 'America First Global Health Strategy' that replaces large multilateral and NGO-run programs with tightly negotiated bilateral health compacts requiring partner governments to co-finance HIV, TB, malaria and outbreak response programs and gradually assume full responsibility. Kenya signed the first such deal on December 4, 2025, followed by Rwanda on December 5–6 with a $228 million compact; by early 2026, 15 nations had signed agreements committing over $16 billion, with the U.S. covering 100% of commodity costs in FY2026 before tapering support.

Updated Feb 5

US bypasses Congress on Israel arms sales

Rule Changes

Supporting administration's arms transfer approach

For decades, the State Department has followed an informal practice: before announcing major arms sales, wait for the top members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee to review the deal. The Trump administration has now bypassed this congressional review three times in twelve months, pushing through more than $18 billion in weapons to Israel without committee approval.

Updated Feb 2