QUICK FACTS

QUOTES

While President Obama is in Boise tomorrow he should meet with Pastor Abedini’s wife Naghmeh so that he can fully comprehend the human rights violations being committed against her husband by the Iranian government and the anguish this is causing an Idaho family.

Latest News

Jim Risch BIOGRAPHICAL FACTS:

James E. "Jim" Risch (Born May 3, 1943, in Milwaukee, WI) is a U.S. Senator, representing Idaho. Risch was first elected to the Senate in 2008.

Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter appointed Risch to the Senate seat to succeed Senator Larry Craig, who indicated his resignation on September 30, 2007.

He ran for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2014. Risch defeated challenger Nels Mitchell in the general election on November 4, 2014.

Risch previously was a member of the Idaho State Senate from 1975 to 1988 and 1995 to 2002. He also served as Lieutenant Governor of Idaho from 2003 to 2006 and 2007 to 2009 and as the Governor of Idaho from 2006 to 2007.

Risch is a rancher, attorney and politician from Ada County. He was the first Roman Catholic to serve as Governor of Idaho in over 90 years.
Based on analysis of multiple outside rankings, Risch is an average Republican member of Congress, meaning he will vote with the Republican Party on the majority of bills.

Biography

Risch was born in Milwaukee, WI. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee from 1961 to 1963, then transferred to the University of Idaho where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He obtained his B.S. in Forestry in 1965 and continued his education at the University of Idaho College of Law, serving on Law Review, and receiving his J.D. in 1968.

Risch entered politics in 1970, at age 27, winning election as Ada County Prosecuting Attorney. While serving in this capacity, he taught undergraduate classes in criminal justice at Boise State University and served as the President of the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association.

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Risch's academic, professional and political career:
2009-Present: U.S. Senator from Idaho
2007-2009: Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
2006-2007: Governor of Idaho
2003-2006: Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
1995-2002: Idaho State Senate
1982-1988: President pro tempore of the Idaho State Senate
1975-1988: Idaho State Senate

Jim Risch SENATE CAREER:

U.S. Senate

2015-2016
Risch serves on the following committees:
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Subcommittee on Energy, Chairman
Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining
Subcommittee on Water & Power
Select Committee on Ethics
Foreign Relations Committee
Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation
Subcommittee on Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy, and Environmental Policy
Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development
Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, Chairman
Select Committee on Intelligence
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

2013-2014
Risch served on the following Senate committees:
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Subcommittee on Water and Power
Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining
Subcommittee on Energy
Foreign Relations Committee
The Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs Ranking Member
The Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Women's Issues
The Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection, and Peace Corps
The Subcommittee on European Affairs
United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

2011-2012
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Energy Subcommittee on Energy (Ranking Member)
Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests
Subcommittee on Water and Power
Foreign Relations Committee
Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs
Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs (Ranking Member)
Subcommittee on African Affairs
Subcommittee on European Affairs
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics
United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

OFFICIAL CONTACT INFORMATION:

WEBSITES:

https://twitter.com/JimRisch