Congressman Mark Kirk is a member of the Navy Reserves. Use of his |
A Decorated Navy Veteran
Mark Kirk, a Navy Reserve Intelligence Officer holding the rank of Commander, served during conflicts with Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, and Bosnia. In 1999, Kirk was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his service in Kosovo. The U.S. Navy and National Military Intelligence Association named Kirk’s team the VADM Rufus Taylor Intelligence Unit of the Year for outstanding service during Operation Allied Force.
From December 2008 to January 2009, Congressman Kirk became the first House member to deploy to an imminent danger area since 1942 when he served as special advisor for counternarcotics in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Winning the Global War on Terror
Mark Kirk authored legislation to increase the reward for Osama bin Laden and establish Pashto-language radio service along the Afghan-Pakistan border. He remains a leader in enhancing the State Department’s terrorist rewards programs, increasing development work in the tribal region of Pakistan and boosting support to National Solidarity Program of Afghanistan.
Mark Kirk opposes bringing terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to the United States – and voted to allow our intelligence services to conduct life-saving surveillance on foreign terrorists operating on foreign soil.
Upgrading America’s Homeland Security
Mark Kirk serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, working to defend America from conventional and unconventional threats. As a member of the Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation, he authored the amendment requiring all TSA baggage screeners to be U.S. nationals. Additionally, Kirk-sponsored legislation to crack down on fake airport security badges is now in law (H.R. 2674).
Mark Kirk voted consistently to upgrade our nation’s border security. Last Congress, he voted to fund 3,000 additional border patrol agents, along with additional border security fencing, infrastructure, technology and facility construction (H.R. 2764). Congressman Kirk voted for the Secure Fence Act and the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act.
Stopping Iran’s Nuclear Program
We cannot allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. Mark Kirk, founder and co-chairman of the House Iran Working Group, remains the leader in Congress in stopping Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. This year, Congressman Kirk introduced legislation to restrict the flow of gasoline to Iran (H.R. 1985) and to enable public divestment from companies doing business in Iran (H.R. 1327). The Kirk Amendment to end U.S. financing for companies that deliver gasoline to Iran passed the House in July (H.R. 3801).
Mark Kirk’s Record on the U.S.-Israel Relationship
A Champion for Armenian-Americans