Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today introduced Ryan Nelson at his nomination hearing to become the Department of Interior Solicitor. To watch Risch’s remarks, or to read the full transcript, continue below.

Click here to watch Risch's remarks. 

Risch's remarks:

“Thank you very much Madam Chairman. It's my honor and privilege to introduce Ryan Nelson who is here with us today. He has been nominated by the President to serve as Solicitor to the Department of Interior. Ryan, we are glad you have agreed to do this and we are appreciative of that. 

“Mr. Nelson lives in Idaho Falls, Idaho and is General Counsel for an Idaho based company. All of you are familiar with Idaho Falls, because you've heard me wax on and on about the merits of INL which is located there. 

“Most importantly to me, Mr. Nelson's family is here today - his wife and seven children. All seven children are here today for this hearing. We are so honored that you would bring your family along. 

“Mr. Nelson graduated from BYU law school with honors and clerked immediately thereafter for Judge Henderson in the D.C. circuit. He has had other clerkships, but most notably, he was the clerk on the Iran U.S. Claims Tribunal in the Netherlands. He has served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Environment and Natural Resources division of the Department of Justice and he has served as Special Counsel here in the United States Senate for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. 

“I think the President has made an excellent choice for the solicitor’s job, so I recommend him to the committee and have confidence that after we hear from him the committee will be well-disposed to send his nomination to the floor.”