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James E. Risch

James E. Risch is a Republican U.S. senator for Idaho.

Current office
U.S. senator
Jurisdiction
Idaho
Seat or institution
Idaho · Senate Class 2
Research date
October 19, 2026
Career contextSelected public recordsCommitteesEvidence

Party in the source: Republican. A party label is directory information, not an endorsement.

Understand the person’s background

Career context

Official Congressional Directory career notes (compiled October 2025): prosecuting attorney, Ada County, 1970-74; president, Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association, 1973; Idaho State Senate, 1974-88, 1995-2003 (Assistant Majority Leader, 1996 / Majority Leader, 1976-82, 1997-2002; President Pro Tempore, 1983-88); lieutenant governor, Idaho, 2003-06, 2007- 09; governor, Idaho, 2006-07; small business owner; rancher / farmer; former partner, Risch, Goss, Insinger, Gustavel law firm; elected to the U.S. Senate on November 4, 2008; reelected to each succeeding Senate term.

Attributed Congressional Directory material compiled through October 1, 2025, published February 20, 2026. This is historical career context, not a newly verified biography of every detail.

Committees and subcommittees

Committees are smaller groups that study subjects, consider legislation, and oversee programs. Membership alone does not establish a policy position. Learn how committees work →

BodyTypeSource-reported role
Committee on Energy and Natural Resourcesstandingmember
Subcommittee on Energysubcommitteemember
Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Miningsubcommitteemember
Subcommittee on Water and Powersubcommitteemember
Committee on Foreign RelationsstandingChairman
Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policysubcommitteemember
Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policysubcommitteemember
Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperationsubcommitteemember
Subcommittee on Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy, and Environmental Policysubcommitteemember
Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorismsubcommitteemember
Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Developmentsubcommitteemember
Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issuessubcommitteemember
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurshipstandingmember
Select Committee on Ethicsselectmember
Select Committee on Intelligenceselectmember
United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Controlcaucusmember

Senate assignments were collected October 19, 2026. Historical source-listed bodies are excluded from current assignments.

Evidence to explore, not a score

Selected public records

This is an illustrative collection across documented service, not an exhaustive career archive or a complete statement of policy positions. Missing records do not establish opposition, absence, or inaction. How the examples were selected →

Selected responses, not a complete voting history
DateQuestion and measureRecorded responseRole / periodSource
September 30, 2026PN1129On the Nomination PN1129Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Secretary of LaborYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
September 28, 2026S. 4668On Passage of the Bill S. 4668A bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes.YeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
August 8, 2026PN1078On the Nomination PN1078Todd Blanche, of Florida, to be Attorney GeneralYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
August 8, 2026H.R. 6500On Passage of the Bill H.R. 6500An act making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2027, and for other purposes.YeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
August 7, 2026H.R. 5334On Passage of the Bill H.R. 5334An act to impose sanctions and other measures with respect to the Russian Federation, as championed by the late Senator Lindsey O. Graham, and for other purposes.YeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
March 23, 2026PN858On the Nomination PN858Markwayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, to be Secretary of Homeland SecurityYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
Show all 34 collected vote responses
Selected responses, not a complete voting history
DateQuestion and measureRecorded responseRole / periodSource
September 30, 2026PN1129On the Nomination PN1129Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Secretary of LaborYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
September 28, 2026S. 4668On Passage of the Bill S. 4668A bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes.YeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
August 8, 2026PN1078On the Nomination PN1078Todd Blanche, of Florida, to be Attorney GeneralYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
August 8, 2026H.R. 6500On Passage of the Bill H.R. 6500An act making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2027, and for other purposes.YeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
August 7, 2026H.R. 5334On Passage of the Bill H.R. 5334An act to impose sanctions and other measures with respect to the Russian Federation, as championed by the late Senator Lindsey O. Graham, and for other purposes.YeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
March 23, 2026PN858On the Nomination PN858Markwayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, to be Secretary of Homeland SecurityYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
July 1, 2025H.R. 1On Passage of the Bill H.R. 1A bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.YeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
March 14, 2025H.R. 1968On Passage of the Bill H.R. 1968A bill making further continuing appropriations and other extensions for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes.YeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
March 12, 2025PN12-42On the Nomination PN12-42Keith Sonderling, of Florida, to be Deputy Secretary of LaborYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
March 5, 2025PN12-5On the Nomination PN12-5Todd Blanche, of Florida, to be Deputy Attorney GeneralYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
March 3, 2025PN11-10On the Nomination PN11-10Linda McMahon, of Connecticut, to be Secretary of EducationYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
February 18, 2025PN11-9On the Nomination PN11-9Howard Lutnick, of New York, to be Secretary of CommerceYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
February 13, 2025PN11-12On the Nomination PN11-12Brooke Rollins, of Texas, to be Secretary of AgricultureYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
February 13, 2025PN11-8On the Nomination PN11-8Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., of California, to be Secretary of Health and Human ServicesYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
February 5, 2025PN11-14On the Nomination PN11-14Eric Turner, of Texas, to be Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
February 4, 2025PN11-5On the Nomination PN11-5Douglas Collins, of Georgia, to be Secretary of Veterans AffairsYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
February 3, 2025PN11-15On the Nomination PN11-15Christopher Wright, of Colorado, to be Secretary of EnergyYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
January 30, 2025PN11-3On the Nomination PN11-3Douglas Burgum, of North Dakota, to be Secretary of the InteriorYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
January 28, 2025PN11-6On the Nomination PN11-6Sean Duffy, of Wisconsin, to be Secretary of TransportationYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
January 27, 2025PN11-1On the Nomination PN11-1Scott Bessent, of South Carolina, to be Secretary of the TreasuryYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
January 24, 2025PN11-7On the Nomination PN11-7Peter Hegseth, of Tennessee, to be Secretary of DefenseYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
January 20, 2025S. 5On Passage of the Bill S. 5A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody aliens who have been charged in the United States with theft, and for other purposes.YeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
January 20, 2025PN11-13On the Nomination PN11-13Marco Rubio, of Florida, to be Secretary of StateYeaSenate service · 119th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
April 23, 2024H.R. 815On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 815)A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements relating to the eligibility of veterans to receive reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished through the Veterans Community Care program, and for other purposes.YeaSenate service · 118th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
June 1, 2023H.R. 3746On Passage of the Bill H.R. 3746A bill to provide for a responsible increase to the debt ceiling.NaySenate service · 118th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
November 29, 2022H.R. 8404On Passage of the Bill H.R. 8404A bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and ensure respect for State regulation of marriage, and for other purposes.NaySenate service · 117th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
August 7, 2022H.R. 5376On Passage of the Bill H.R. 5376A bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.NaySenate service · 117th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
August 10, 2021H.R. 3684On Passage of the Bill H.R. 3684A bill to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes.YeaSenate service · 117th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
March 25, 2020H.R. 748On Passage of the Bill H.R. 748A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage.YeaSenate service · 116th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
December 18, 2018S. 756On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment with an Amendment to S. 756)A bill to reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes.NaySenate service · 115th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
December 2, 2017H.R. 1On Passage of the Bill H.R. 1To provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.YeaSenate service · 115th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
April 17, 2013Manchin Amdt. No. 715On the Amendment S.Amdt. 715 to S. 649 (Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of2013)To protect Second Amendment rights, ensure that all individuals who should be prohibited from buying a firearm are listed in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and provide a responsible and consistent background check process.NaySenate service · 113th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
July 15, 2010H.R. 4173On the Conference Report H.R. 4173A bill to promote the financial stability of the United States by improving accountability and transparency in the financial system, to end "too big to fail", to protect the American taxpayer by ending bailouts, to protect consumers from abusive financial services practices, and for other purposes.NaySenate service · 111th CongressOfficial roll call ↗
December 24, 2009H.R. 3590On Passage of the Bill H.R. 3590An act entitled The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.NaySenate service · 111th CongressOfficial roll call ↗

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