Biden nominates Risch as delegate to UN General Assembly

Idaho Republican Sen. Jim Risch is one of two U.S. senators nominated by President Joe Biden as congressional representatives for the United States at the 77th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, according to a press release from the White House.

Risch will join Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, and three public delegates for the General Assembly meeting beginning Sept. 13 in New York City.

As the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Risch has focused on protecting the security and interests of the American people, the press release said.

Risch is also focused on U.S. policy with China, and he has worked on several pieces of legislation related to competition with China. He published a report on how the United States and its transatlantic allies should tackle shared challenges posed by the Chinese government in the coming years and decades, according to the release.

Risch also stated he is focused on confronting Russian influence, strengthening NATO and improving global health security.

Leahy is the president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate and chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Foreign Operations and State Department Subcommittee for more than 30 years, the release said, and played a central role in the restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba during the Obama administration.