Recently named to the Foreign Operations
Appropriations Subcommittee and starting active duty
later this month, U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Highland
Park) has the unique situation of serving as both a
member of Congress and helping our nation in the war
with Iraq. He mentioned his thoughts on the conflict
back in October while it was under House discussion.
"In recent years, Presidents Bush and Clinton
returned to our historic, constitutional practice of
Congress voting before sending uniformed Americans
into harm's way. Congress voted on U.S. military
actions in Kuwait, Haiti, Bosnia and Kosovo prior to
deployment. As a military officer involved in each of
these campaigns, I can report that the long
congressional debate and formal approval of our
missions made a difference improving our morale and
clarity of purpose," he stated.
"The decision to go to war is the most important
decision that I can make as a representative in
Congress. As a veteran, I see any potential military
action first through the eyes of the young men and
women who volunteered to wear the uniform and would
carry out such a mission."
In this interview with one of Congressional
Quarterly’s ’28 Emerging Leaders in Congress, Kirk
speaks about his start in politics, Iraq, North Korea,
and medical malpractice legislation.
Q: What are your goals this
session? How do they compare with your goals for the
last few years?
A: My primary goal is to help secure our country
from attack by renegade regimes and the terrorists
they sponsor. After 13 years as a reserve naval
intelligence officer, I was optimistic that our
security was assured following our victory in the Cold
War. When I was elected, I planned on focusing my
service on health care and education.
The events of September 11th demonstrated that we
live in a dangerous world and each generation is
called to defend our hard-won freedoms. My primary
goals as a new member of the Appropriations
Subcommittees funding the Justice, State, and foreign
assistance programs are to boost support for homeland
defense, enhance our intelligence and aid our allies
that stand with us in the war on terror. Once the war
in Iraq concludes, I plan to refocus my service on
restarting our economy, boosting retirement savings
and funding key transportation infrastructure projects
for Chicagoland.
Q: You started in politics by
working for Congressman Porter. What was your job? Has
this experience helped you with your own role in
Washington?
A: I served on my predecessor's staff for six
years. Few know the story of how John Porter led our
country to increase funding for biomedical research.
We think that we are within 10 years of curing
diabetes and making major breakthroughs against cancer
and heart disease. We can thank Mr. Porter for our
commitment to biomedical research. His example helped
me to hit the ground running in Washington. When I was
elected, the federal government was poised to close
our Veteran's Hospital and dithered on funding a key
transportation project that would relieve gridlock.
Working overtime, I used the contacts and knowledge
that I had to save our VA hospital and win $500
million in funding to expand Metra rail service in the
north and northwest suburbs. By these actions, I hoped
to honor our veterans and visibly improve our way of
life in Northern Illinois.
Q: War with Iraq has just
begun. Having served in the Navy, what do you think is
going through soldiers' minds at this moment? What do
you predict for Iraq after the conflict is over, and
how will the United States help to rebuild it?
A: Secretary Rumsfeld used to represent parts of
our district in the 1960s. I think that he and his
team have done a masterful job in defeating Iraqi
forces quickly and decisively. As a continuing naval
reservist, I will be going on active duty during the
Congressional recess at my post in the Pentagon. As I
wear the uniform, I think about the thousands of my
fellow sailors who fly into harms way each day over
Iraq. The crew of one aircraft carrier, U.S.S.
Truman, has been continuously at sea for a year.
That is a new record and underscores the time and
sacrifice that all members of the armed services give
when their country needs it most.
Q: Along with facing Iraq, we
must also remember our concerns with North Korea. What
do you think must be done with the situation? How can
we focus on North Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan all at
once?
A: As a Congressional staffer, I have been to every
province of North Korea. Over two million people
starved under their repressive Communist government
between 1996-98. Today, the United States feeds every
child in North Korea under the age of 15,
demonstrating our humanitarian ideals. As we support
their children, we cannot support their government.
President Clinton promised the North Koreans two new
nuclear reactors and free oil if they would give up
their nuclear weapons programs. It is now clear that
the North Koreans lied to him. I believe that we need
to build an international coalition with our Japanese
and South Korea allies to confront North Korea as a
coalition that will not permit them to sell nuclear
weapons to any other country.
Q: What are the most recent
constituent issues you have worked with? How have you
helped to make a difference for your district in
Congress?
A: I am proudest of saving our North Chicago VA
hospital. I also won support for $500 million to
expand Metra rail service to fight traffic gridlock in
Northern Illinois. Fighting for our people does not
always mean winning federal funding. A few months ago,
the gym in a local high school burned down. I
approached the Chicago Bulls to privately fund a set
of basketball courts to fill in. I was very proud when
the Bulls organization agreed. The privately-funded
facility will be ready this summer.
Q: Some of the last pieces of
legislation you have been a part of are about Impact
Aid. Explain more about it. How does this affect
students learning at military bases?
A: Impact aid is a critical program needed to
support the children of military families. In America,
most funding for schools come from local property
taxes. The houses on military bases are owned by the
federal government and cannot be locally taxed but
kids who live in these homes still report to our local
schools. Hundreds of military kids learn in Highland
Park, North Chicago and Glenview classrooms. Without
property taxes from such homes, local schools could go
bankrupt with so many kids coming from military
housing.
The federal Impact Aid program makes payments to
make up for the lost revenue. The quickest way for
members of our armed forces to take their mind away
from their job is to get an e-mail from home talking
about problems at school. We need Impact Aid to make
sure military kids attend well-funded schools. To
date, the federal government covers only half the cost
of educating military kids. The first bill I
introduced in Congress would require full funding to
provide support to military families.
Q: What is some legislation
coming up on the House floor that you agree with? Is
there anything you strongly disagree with?
A: I strongly agreed with legislation the House
just passed to reform the awards given to personal
injury lawyers who sue our doctors. In Illinois, we
are losing doctors like Ob/Gyns who cannot afford to
pay their rising malpractice insurance rates. 85% of
all neurologists in Illinois have been sued and the
trial lawyers claim that is because 85% of them are
"bad doctors." The system needs reform so that we can
build a country where we care for each other more and
sue each other less.
Mark
Kirk
Politics
Today:
Congressmen Mark Kirk (R-IL)