Mark Kirk facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Mark Kirk
Official portrait, 2010

United States Senator from Illinois
In office November 29, 2010 – January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Roland Burris
Succeeded by	Tammy Duckworth
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 10th district
In office January 3, 2001 – November 29, 2010
Preceded by	John Porter
Succeeded by	Bob Dold

Personal details
Born	Mark Steven Kirk (1959-09-15) September 15, 1959 (age 65) Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Kimberly Vertolli (m. 2001; div. 2009)
Education	Cornell University (BA) London School of Economics (MSc) Georgetown University (JD)
Website	(Archived)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1989–2013
Rank	Commander
Unit	Naval Intelligence
Battles/wars	NATO bombing of Yugoslavia Operation Northern Watch

Mark Steven Kirk (born September 15, 1959) is an American retired politician and lawyer. He served as a U.S. Senator for Illinois from 2010 to 2017. Before that, he was a U.S. Representative for Illinois's 10th congressional district from 2001 to 2010.

Mark Kirk is a member of the Republican Party. He describes his views as socially liberal and fiscally conservative. He is the last Republican to serve Illinois in the U.S. Senate.

Born in Champaign, Illinois, Kirk studied at Cornell University, the London School of Economics, and Georgetown University Law Center. He worked as a lawyer for many years. In 1989, he joined the United States Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer. He was called to active duty for the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and later for Operation Northern Watch in Iraq. He reached the rank of Commander and retired from the Navy Reserve in 2013.

Kirk was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000. In November 2010, while serving his fifth term, he won two elections for the Senate. He won to finish the last few months of former Senator Barack Obama's term and to serve the next six-year term. He became a Senator on November 29, 2010. In January 2012, Kirk had a stroke. He returned to his Senate duties almost a year later. In 2016, he ran for re-election but lost to Democrat Tammy Duckworth.

Early Life and Education

Kirk as president of Seal and Serpent in 1981.

Mark Kirk was born in Champaign, Illinois, to Judith Ann and Francis Gabriel Kirk. He graduated from New Trier East High School in 1977. He then attended Blackburn College for two years.

After that, he briefly studied at the Autonomous University of Mexico. He then transferred to Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. While at Cornell, Kirk was the president of the Seal and Serpent social fraternity. Later, he earned a master's degree from the London School of Economics. He also received a law degree (Juris Doctor) from Georgetown University Law Center.

Early Career and Public Service

While at Cornell University, Kirk worked at a nursery school. After getting his master's degree, he taught for one year at a private school in London. He later worked in Congressman John Porter's office, becoming his chief of staff.

After 1990, Kirk worked at the World Bank. He also served as an aide at the State Department, helping with the peace process in Central America. He practiced international law for two years. Then, he spent four years as a lawyer for the House International Relations Committee.

Military Service and Achievements

Kirk became an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve in 1989. In 1999, he was called to active duty for Operation Allied Force, which involved bombing Yugoslavia. He served as an intelligence officer from April to June 1999.

In May 2000, the National Military Intelligence Association gave an award to the Intelligence Division Electronic Attack Wing Aviano, Italy. Kirk was a lead intelligence officer for one of the squadrons in this group. In March and April 2000, Kirk flew over Iraq as part of Operation Northern Watch. This operation enforced a no-fly zone over northern Iraq.

Kirk served three two-week reserve deployments in Afghanistan. He retired from the Navy Reserve in May 2013, after 23 years of service. A special ceremony was held for his retirement in December 2014.

Military Awards and Recognition

Mark Kirk received several awards during his military service. These include:

Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Services Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
National Defense Service Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
NATO Medal for Kosovo

His uniform also showed the Navy Information Dominance Officer badge.

In 2010, Kirk clarified statements he had made about being named "Navy Intelligence Officer of the Year." The National Military Intelligence Association gave the Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award to the entire Intelligence Division Electronic Attack Wing at Aviano. Kirk was a lead intelligence officer for one of the squadrons in that group. He later apologized for this and other errors.

U.S. House of Representatives

Kirk during the 107th Congress

Elections to the House

Mark Kirk was elected to the House of Representatives in 2000. He won with 51% of the vote. He was reelected easily in 2002 and 2004. In 2006 and 2008, he defeated Democrat Dan Seals by similar margins.

Time in the House

During his time in the House, Kirk was known for his moderate voting record. He often voted more liberally on social issues and more conservatively on foreign policy.

He was a member of important groups, including the House Iran Working Group. He also co-chaired the House U.S.-China Working Group and the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. He was also the chair of The Tuesday Group, which is a group of moderate Republicans in the House. He served on the House Appropriations Committee.

In 2004, Kirk helped pass an amendment. This amendment required the Congressional Budget Office to compare projected spending with actual spending each year. He also worked to reform the intelligence community.

In 2006, Kirk supported expanding O'Hare International Airport. He also worked with Rahm Emanuel to clean up Lake Michigan. In 2008, he introduced a bill to bring back the assault weapons ban. In 2009, Kirk voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

United States Senate

Senate Elections

2010 Election

On July 20, 2009, Kirk announced he would run for the U.S. Senate. He wanted to win the seat held by Roland Burris, which had belonged to Barack Obama before he became president. In February 2010, Kirk won the Republican primary election.

He then ran against Democrat Alexi Giannoulias. Kirk won the election for the full six-year term, getting 48% of the votes.

2016 Election

After having a stroke in 2012, Kirk confirmed in June 2013 that he planned to run for re-election. In November 2014, he repeated his plans. Kirk won the Republican primary election. He then faced Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth in the main election.

During a debate in October 2016, Kirk made a comment about Duckworth's family history. Duckworth is a military veteran who lost both legs in the Iraq war. Her mother was a Thai immigrant. Due to his comments, the Human Rights Campaign withdrew their support for Kirk and endorsed Duckworth.

On November 8, 2016, Kirk lost to Duckworth by a significant margin.

Political Stances

Kirk is considered a moderate Republican. He was sworn in as the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois on November 29, 2010. He is seen as socially moderate and fiscally conservative. On June 7, 2016, Kirk withdrew his support for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. He said this was because of Trump's "attacks on Hispanics, women and the disabled like me."

Kirk was ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate. This means he often worked with members of the opposite party on bills.

Infrastructure and Transportation

In his first year in the Senate, Kirk worked with Senator Dick Durbin to help settle a disagreement. This helped keep the O'Hare International Airport modernization project on track. This project was expected to create many jobs.

Kirk and Durbin also worked together to get $186 million in federal money. This money was used to improve rail service from Chicago to St. Louis. Kirk also wrote legislation to encourage private investment in roads, transit, airports, and rail.

Environmental Policy

Kirk co-chaired the Senate's Great Lakes Task Force. In 2013, he introduced the Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act (GLEEPA). This law aimed to provide more money to protect the Great Lakes. It helps restore wetlands, control invasive species, and regulate pollution. Kirk has always supported efforts to keep invasive Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes.

Kirk agrees with the scientific consensus on climate change.

Illinois Debt Crisis

Kirk created a special board to study Illinois's debt problems. He later published a report highlighting the state's large debt and the need for pension reform. Kirk also introduced legislation to prevent federal bailouts of states facing financial struggles.

Anti-Corruption Efforts

Kirk and Representative Bob Dold introduced legislation to expand the reasons for ending federal pension payments to elected officials convicted of corruption. This bill became law in April 2012.

Social Issues

Kirk voted to re-authorize the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. On April 2, 2013, Kirk became the second Republican U.S. Senator to support same-sex marriage. He received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign, which supports LGBT rights.

Kirk supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). In November 2013, he voted for this law, which would prevent job discrimination based on gender identity. In January 2016, Kirk became the first Republican U.S. Senator to co-sponsor the Equality Act. This act would add sex to the protected categories under the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Labor Issues

In April 2014, the Senate discussed a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. Kirk said he would not vote for this bill. However, he did vote to extend federal funding for unemployment benefits. In March 2015, Kirk voted for an amendment to allow employees to earn paid sick time.

Gun Policy

Kirk is the only Republican U.S. Senator to receive an "F" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. In 2015, he received an award from the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. He supports background checks for gun sales. In 2013, he was the only Republican senator to vote for an assault weapons ban.

Other Policy Issues

In 2011, Kirk was one of only two Republicans to oppose a law that would allow American citizens to be held indefinitely without trial. After a Malaysian Airlines flight was shot down in 2014, Kirk called for a study into putting missile defense systems on commercial airplanes.

In 2014, Kirk supported re-authorizing the Export-Import Bank. After the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, Kirk was the first Republican Senator to say that President Obama's nominee should get a hearing and a vote.

Committee Assignments

During his time in the Senate, Mark Kirk served on several important committees:

Committee on Appropriations
- Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
- Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
- Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
- Subcommittee on Security and International Trade and Finance (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Subcommittee on Children and Families
- Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
Special Committee on Aging

Personal Life

Mark Kirk met Kimberly Vertolli, a Naval Intelligence Officer, in February 1998. They were married in 2001 and later divorced in 2009.

Stroke and Recovery

On January 21, 2012, at age 52, Mark Kirk had a stroke. Two days later, he had brain surgery in Chicago. He had weakness on his left side and spent several months at a physical rehabilitation center.

On May 1, 2012, Kirk went home from the rehabilitation center. He continued his recovery as an outpatient. A week later, his staff released a video showing him walking on a treadmill. Another video in August showed him walking without help at home. On November 4, he climbed 37 floors of the Willis Tower in a challenge.

On January 3, 2013, Kirk returned to the Capitol for the first time since his stroke. Vice President Joe Biden helped him up the Capitol steps. Kirk continued his role as Senator, sometimes using a cane or wheelchair. He said his public role motivated him to return to work. He also wanted to be an example for families dealing with stroke.

Images for kids

Official portrait, 2010