First elected to Congress in 2000, Mark Steven Kirk represents the Suburban Chicago 10th Congressional District of Illinois. Reelected in 2002 and 2004 with overwhelming majorities, Congressman Mark Kirk is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee where he serves on three subcommittees that approve the budgets of the Departments of Justice, Commerce, State, Veterans Affairs and Defense.
Congressman Kirk grew up in the 10th District and recounts an early brush with death as shaping his future, leading to a career in public service. At age 16, he nearly drowned in Lake Michigan and would later tell the Chicago Tribune, "to be given a second chance has to mean something. For me, that means making a difference through public service."
Representative Kirk began his career in 1984 as an aide to his predecessor, Congressman John Edward Porter, eventually serving as his Chief of Staff. He later served in the World Bank, the State Department, the law firm of Baker & McKenzie, and as a counsel for the U.S. House International Relations Committee.
Congressman Kirk is a Naval Reserve intelligence officer who served during conflicts with Iraq, Haiti, and Bosnia. He has served four tours at sea and three in Panama. Kirk holds the rank of Commander and in 1999 the U.S. Navy named him 'Intelligence Officer of the Year' for his combat service over Kosovo.
Kirk is the only member of Congress to serve stateside during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was an air crewman over Iraq protecting the northern no-fly zone as part of Operation Northern Watch. Commander Kirk continues to serve one weekend a month in the Pentagon.
Since taking office, Congressman Kirk focused on issues important to his 10th District constituents including: securing $55 million to expand Chicago area's Metra North Central commuter rail line and saving the North Chicago Veterans Hospital from closure by arranging a merger with Great Lakes Naval Hospital. When youth violence shocked Chicago's North Shore communities, Congressman Kirk convinced the Chicago Bulls' owner to build a community basketball facility for the children of North Chicago.
Consistently rated by the National Journal near the exact "Center of the House," Congressman Kirk reflects the thoughtful, independent tradition of the 10th District. His work to clean up Waukegan Harbor, reduce mercury in Lake Michigan, restore the Great Lakes and preserve open space earned him recognition by the League of Conservation Voters as one of 13 "environmental champions" in Congress.
As co-chairman of the moderate Tuesday Group caucus, Congressman Kirk is leading a Suburban Agenda in Congress to meet the needs of north suburban families. The Suburban Agenda includes legislation to help teachers keep classrooms safe, give parents new tools to protect kids from on-line predators, create 401(Kids) tax-deferred savings accounts for college, eliminate the nation's top drug gangs and preserve green, open space.
Congressman Kirk graduated from New Trier East High School and attended the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico before earning a B.A. with cum laude from Cornell University. He holds a Master's Degree from the London School of Economics and once worked for a Member of Parliament. Kirk earned a law degree from Georgetown and has conducted military or official missions to more than 40 countries.
Congressman Kirk and his wife, Kimberly, live in Highland Park.
