WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today applauded committee passage of three treaties:
South Pacific Tuna Treaty
“As China attempts to increase its influence in the South Pacific, it’s important we reaffirm and strengthen our cooperation and partnership with island nations in the region,” said Risch. “For several decades, the South Pacific Tuna Treaty has been an important part of our relations with the South Pacific Islands, and it remains an essential tool of engagement with the region. Today’s committee passage of amendments to the treaty is an important step in reaffirming and strengthening this partnership, and I hope the Senate will vote on these measures soon.”
Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition Agreements with Croatia
“Streamlining the process for securing evidence and testimony from Croatia is critical to ensuring we can enforce our laws in the United States,” said Risch. “Today, the committee moved mutual legal assistance and extradition agreements with Croatia that will do just that. I look forward to furthering our partnership with Croatia in this regard in the months to come.”
Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol
“Today’s committee passage of the Kigali Amendment reaffirms the Senate’s broad bipartisan support of legislation passed last Congress, the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, which implemented U.S. obligations under the Montreal Protocol,” said Risch. “This treaty will facilitate the transition to the next generation of refrigerants, which is beneficial to U.S. industry and will help them retain a strong, competitive advantage in the production of newer, more efficient substances that will replace HFCs globally. It will also help us better compete with China and ensure they are not able to dominate another global market.”
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