The Public Record
Mark Kirk is a former Republican U.S. Senator from Illinois, serving from 2010 to 2017. He was the first Republican to win a U.S. Senate seat in Illinois since 1970. During his time in office, Kirk was known for his moderate positions on various issues, including support for same-sex marriage and a focus on national security. He served on several Senate committees, including the Armed Services Committee and the Appropriations Committee. Kirk's tenure was marked by his efforts to promote bipartisanship and address fiscal challenges facing the country.
I rise today to honor a Freedom Fighter from Chicago, IL, an American Hero, SGT William Steele. He is a man who proudly went off to war for his country. On June 25, 2009, William lost his leg and almost his life after an IED explosion in…
I rise with great concern regarding a program just revealed in the Sunday New York Times--outstanding work by Robert Pear--``U.S. Plans Stealth Survey on Access to Doctors.'' I am asking my colleagues to join me in sending a letter to…
I ask to be recognized for 10 minutes as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Afghanistan
under General Petraeus, the deployment of a local army is critical to winning a war. In Iraq he used extra U.S. troops to sustain military momentum against an enemy until a well- trained local Army was trained and ready for action…
I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To preserve congressional oversight into the budget…
On behalf of Senator McCain, I call up amendment No. 493. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from Illinois [Mr. Kirk], for Mr. McCain, proposes an amendment numbered 493.
Last year, the Congress passed significant new sanctions on Iran and others, including the United Nations and the European Union, also imposed sanctions.
I would like in this context to focus on the economic policy, to look at where we are right now, the state of the economic union and the State of Illinois. If we look at basic numbers we see we will take in about $2.1 trillion in tax…
I worry that Government always makes the wrong decision because Congress pressures it to lose money as opposed to a private entity.
I think there would be a growing concern, Mr. Chairman, on this Committee that the program be allowed to recover its own costs.
I just would hope that maybe we could give you one overarching authority saying notwithstanding any other of the directions we have given you, you have overarching authority to waive the requirements of Congress so that the program can be…
Any way we can just not reauthorize this, kind of like three strikes and you are out, rather than having the Federal taxpayer getting taken to the cleaners over and over again?
Since we have been underwriting these guys since 1973, perhaps it might be the time to stop.
Your mission should be to make it as easy as possible to comply with Federal law.
The ideal way, for me, is a flatter, fairer tax, like what the Gang of Six may come up with to lower the rate to 28 percent.
I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn
last week, I spoke on the floor regarding the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is managing director of the International Monetary Fund, due to the serious criminal charges he is now facing in New York. Mr. Strauss-Kahn has since…
My hope is that your job is economic development, and we keep it on that, without the SEIU or other unions coming in.
I am pretty certain a lot of the participants in London and other places of the world are very much hoping that happens.
I ask unanimous consent to be recognized as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________
I rise to commend the work of our Navy operating off the coast of Somalia. Over the weekend, the USS Stephen W. Groves encountered a pirate mothership, a captured Taiwanese fishing vessel, the Jih Chun Tsai. The pirates aboard exchanged…
I am pleased to join my colleagues Senators Menendez, Lautenberg and Durbin in introducing the State Ethics Law Protection Act. This legislation would ensure that States are allowed to pass meaningful ethics reform laws without being…
Politicians like Mark Kirk
