James Risch

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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. Few individuals have devoted more of their lives to serving their community than Dirk Kempthorne. From his first elected office, student body president at the University of Idaho, it was clear that Dirk was a true statesman who was born to serve. Over the decades that followed, Idahoans repeatedly put their trust in him, electing Dirk as mayor of Boise, U.S. Senator, and ultimately as Governor. In each role, Dirk carried that trust with humility and purpose, always putting the needs and hopes of Idahoans first. As the 51st mayor of Boise, Dirk led Idaho's capital city through a transformation period. Following decades of uncertainty, demolition of historic buildings, and stalled development, Dirk brought people together to chart a new course. Under his steady, locally driven leadership, Boise experienced unprecedented job growth and the revitalization of infrastructure and commerce. Dirk's tenure led to many of the Boise landmarks residents and visitors know today, including the Grove Plaza, Boise Centre, and the Wells Fargo Building. Dirk carried that same approach to the U.S. Senate after his election in 1992. Dirk quickly made his mark in Congress, recognized by then- Majority Leader Bob Dole as ``one of the Senate's rising young stars.'' While in DC, Dirk advocated for Idaho and the West on several key committees, including Armed Services, Small Business, and Environment and Public Works. He also authored and passed several important pieces of legislation, including the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, which provided much-needed relief for State and local governments burdened by Federal regulations. Equally significant was his leadership in writing the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996, a bipartisan effort that passed the Senate unanimously and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The legislation, which gave local communities and water systems the flexibility to meet local needs while protecting public health, was drafted in collaboration with officials from all levels of government, water providers, public health experts, and environmental advocates. It was emblematic of Dirk's unique ability to build consensus and deliver real results. Dirk returned home after one term and was elected Idaho's 30th Governor in a decisive victory. As Governor, he built upon the strong foundation set by his predecessor and mentor Phil Batt and guided Idaho into the era of prosperity and resilience we enjoy today. Dirk prioritized the responsible stewardship of Idaho's natural resources, establishing the department of environmental quality and office of species conservation. He also secured the then largest ever appropriation for our State parks and developed wolf and grizzly bear management plans, balancing States' rights and proven, community-based solutions. Governor Kempthorne also championed the historic GARVEE bond program, delivering unprecedented funding toward long-overdue transportation improvements across the State. At the same time, Dirk implemented numerous economic development and education efforts, including an initiative focused on ensuring every Idaho child could read at grade level by the third grade. In addition to his many legislative successes, Dirk was pivotal to leading Idaho and her people through the economic recession of the early 2000s and the aftermath of 9-11 with steadiness and compassion. In 2006, Dirk was once again called to serve his country when President George W. Bush appointed him as the 49th U.S. Secretary of the Interior. There, Dirk brought Idaho's common sense and shared values to the executive branch. He spearheaded the Department's work to ensure America's public lands were preserved and managed wisely, balancing conservation with the needs of the communities that depended on them. As he had done throughout his life, Dirk prioritized collaboration and local input, particularly when it came to forest health, species management, and wildfire prevention. Dirk's dedication to the outdoors continued to his last day, through his support for the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise and The Peregrine Fund. Another core pillar of Dirk's leadership was his steadfast advocacy for the men and women of our armed services. Most recently, Dirk had devoted his talents to initiatives supporting the families of servicemembers, like Operation Military Blessings, and the commissioning of the USS Idaho. Dirk's leadership on the USS Idaho Commissioning Committee helped ensure not only the success of the ship but also raised enough to provide scholarships to every crew member and their family for the life of the ship. It is only right that his incredible legacy will live on in the heart of the USS Idaho, its engine room, which is named in his honor and bears a plaque reading: ``The Honorable Dirk A. Kempthorne, A Driving Force for the Great State of Idaho, Whose Legacy Endures, Above and Below the Waves.'' Idahoans owe a debt of gratitude to Dirk Kempthorne for a lifetime spent shaping what he called the ``43rd star in the galaxy of states that make up the greatest nation in the world.'' As we mourn this remarkable leader, we pray for Dirk's loved ones, including his children Heather and Jeff, and his bride of nearly 50 years, Patricia. We were all honored to know Dirk and to have served alongside him. Dirk was our friend, a dedicated public servant, and advocate for Idaho, our veterans, our great outdoors, and more. He will be dearly missed.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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. Today, I am proud to honor Broken Bowl Catering in New Plymouth as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for April 2026. Jacob Bybee began Broken Bowl Catering in the spring of 2018. At just 14 years old, Jacob fell in love with culinary arts and always dreamed his path would lead to traditional restaurant ownership. After graduating from high school, a job offer with a Utah-based catering group gave him the opportunity to follow his passion and create an elevated experience for customers. Today, Broken Bowl Catering takes pride in playing a role in many of life's most important moments. Whether Idahoans are celebrating an anniversary or new beginning, Jacob and his team strive to provide high-quality and special experiences for all. Their commitment to exceptional food and service is shown through their control, clarity, and trust when working with clients behind the scenes. The name Broken Bowl comes from a story of faith that inspired Jacob during a challenging period. In the story, a follower faces a setback when his bow breaks, seemingly a final straw, but the follower turns to prayer, relying on his faith. Jacob has found himself in a similar place, and while he has never broken a bow, he has certainly broken a few bowls--each broken bowl representing lessons learned through adversity, shaping both him and his business. Congratulations to Jacob and the Broken Bowl Catering team on being recognized as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for April 2026. Your dedication to excellence makes Idaho proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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. The resolution isn't very long. It is a few pages long, and really, the operative language is very short. It says: Congress hereby directs the President to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran. That is all it says. It says: President Trump, put your tail between your legs and run. That is what this resolution says. Now, let me tell you where we are. First of all, I want to talk to Iran. Iran: Nobody is coming to help you, not the Russians, not the Chinese, not the North Koreans, not Venezuela, not Cuba. Nobody is coming to help you, Iran, except for the 47 people over here. The 47 people on this side of the room are trying to direct the President of the United States who is defending the United States--they are trying to direct him to remove the Armed Forces that we have--our brave, young men and women who are engaged in these hostilities--they are trying to remove them from these hostilities. These 47 people. Nobody else in the world. So to them I say: The President of the United States has not only the right to do this--I know you claim he doesn't--but he has the right to do this. Not only does he have the right to do this, he has the duty to do this. He took an oath to defend the people of the United States of America. How did we get here? Forty-seven years ago, Iran started this conflict. We did not. We did not start a war with Iran. We don't want a war with Iran. But we have to defend ourselves. Forty-seven years ago, they took over our embassy in Tehran and held all of our United States, American people who were employed in that embassy for 444 days. Finally, Ronald Reagan was elected President. We got them out. But since that time, Iran has killed thousands--not hundreds--thousands of Americans wherever they can find them. They do it with all kinds of methods including IEDs, which are deadly. Fortunately, President Trump in Trump 1 took out General Soleimani who was the godfather of that operation, and that has ratcheted back. But they are still killing them with IEDs. The President of the United States is defending the United States of America. You can pass all the resolutions you want. This President is going to defend this country. Now, I know you say it is illegal. If, indeed, it is illegal as you claim it is, you are in the wrong room. You ought to be in the room across the street in the U.S. Supreme Court, because if it is illegal, you should sue him and you should stop it. You are not doing it because you know you are going to lose that case. The President of the United States under article II of the Constitution gives the President the authority. He is doing it. This is not going to be a forever war. Indeed, if anything, it is ending what seems like has been a forever conflict with Iran. Mr. President, you are doing the right thing. You have done a great job thus far. This is going to end fairly quickly. Keep up the good work. My friends on this side of the aisle, vote to oppose this resolution.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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. Unlike some of our other allies, Israel has stood side by side with the United States, working hand in glove to advance our shared objectives and to keep American citizens safe. Passing these two resolutions would embolden our adversary Iran and call into question American reliability in the region. Refusing to send help to allies and to sell weapons to allies would be incredibly debilitating to our ability to work together. It would send the message that the United States is prepared to leave our ally Israel vulnerable to further Iranian attacks and put the tens of thousands of Americans who are living there at risk. This is not acceptable. Again, I come to the floor and tell Iran: No one is coming to help you, not China, not Russia, not North Korea, not Venezuela, not Cuba-- except for the 47 people that sit over here. They are trying to help you, Iran. We are not going to let that happen. We are not going to abandon our ally Israel. We are not going to abandon the fight that is taking place. We are going to win this fight and have already won it, to a very large extent. Let us not forget the Iranian regime has been exporting terrorism and chanting ``Death to America'' and ``Death to Israel'' consistently since the founding of this regime 47 years ago. Enough is enough. It is time to continue this until we get to the end. This is not going to be a forever war. The country of Iran is very badly debilitated right now. I would hope that common sense prevails and they reach an agreement with the administration and get to a permanent cease-fire. I would urge all of my colleagues: Oppose these resolutions. They will not help the United States of America. Vote on Motion to Discharge

Mr. RISCH. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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. Today, I am proud to honor The Gathering Place in Rupert as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for March 2026. The Gathering Place quilt shop has been in business since 1998, after owners Ron and Joyce Jensen purchased the 100-year-old building in the historic Rupert town square. The couple undertook a significant remodel to meet the needs of their quilting store and transform the space into a vibrant, beloved destination. Ron and Joyce started the store to boost tourism to their small town and offer resources to local quilters. Since then, The Gathering Place has proven to be a successful tourist spot, gaining national recognition, and Joyce continues to serve new customers almost daily. With seemingly endless fabric, books, patterns, and samples, the store is a great destination for crafters and a staple within the Rupert community. Joyce, her three children, and 11 grandchildren, all of whom reside in Rupert, have carried on the store's success since Ron passed away. Together, the Jensen family hopes to keep running the store for years to come and weave The Gathering Place into Rupert history. Congratulations to Joyce, the Jensen family, and all employees at The Gathering Place on being recognized as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for March 2026. Your dedication to excellence makes Idaho proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, for the Committee on Foreign Relations I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the RECORDS on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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 statute. Upon such notification, the Congress has 30 calendar days during which the sale may be reviewed. The provision stipulates that, in the Senate, the notification of proposed sales shall be sent to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In keeping with the committee's intention to see that relevant information is still available to the full Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the notifications that have been received. If the cover letter references a classified annex, then such an annex is available to all Senators in the office of the Foreign Relations Committee, room SD-423.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. RISCH

Mr. RISCH. 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. The Democrats here have been doing the same things over and over and over again, and they are going to get the same result again tonight. Look, the conflict that we are in with Iran right now was not started by the United States. It was started by Iran when the Iranian regime took prisoner our staff at the Embassy in Tehran, 47 years ago, and held them for 444 days. And then, over the next 47 years, they have continued to kill Americans by the thousands--not by the hundreds, but by the thousands-- and they do it in the most insidious ways, with roadside bombs and that sort of thing, simply because they are Americans and they are present in the Middle East. The President of the United States said we have had enough. He had very good reason to pull the trigger at the time that he did, and, of course, those, as time goes on, will come out more and more. The fact of the matter is, we are in conflict. We have our brave young men and women on the ground. We have our brave young men and women fighting for the United States of America. So we need to back those people. We need to back the President of the United States. We all know this isn't going to go on very long, but it needs to be done. And our friends around us say: You need to get this done. Now that you are there, complete the job. The President is going to complete the job. I am going to end this with a couple of messages--the same message I have been giving for a long time. The first one is to the Iranians: This is over. You people have lost. You have no navy. You have no air force. You are running out of missiles and other materiel to fight this. This is going to be over very soon. And the other message I would have to the Iranians is: No one has come to help you. And--breaking news--no one is coming to help you-- with one exception, and I will talk about that in a minute. First of all, let me tell you who is not coming to help. The Chinese are not coming to help. The Russians are not coming to help. The North Koreans are not coming to help. The Cubans are not coming to help. The Venezuelans are not coming to help. The worst actors on the planet, who are friends of the Iranians, are not coming to help. This is all on you, Iran. No one is coming to help you--except there are 47 people over here who want to help you. They cannot help you. They have tried and tried and tried. They cannot help you. What is going to happen here on the floor today is, on our side of the aisle, we are going to stand behind the Commander in Chief. Most importantly, we are going to stand behind our fighting men and women on the ground because they are involved in a kinetic battle. When this happens--whatever happens--we, every American, should be standing behind our fighting men and women. They need to continue on. They need to complete the job. The President of the United States is going to do this. So to my friends on the other side of the aisle, stop this. Don't try to help the Iranians. You are the only entity on this planet trying to help the Iranians. Stop it. Vote with us. This is going to fail tonight. It would be nice if you joined us in standing behind our fighting men and women as we try to end the regime of the last bad actor in the region. I yield the floor.