About Mark

Mark Kirk represents the 10th Congressional District of Illinois located in the suburbs north of Chicago.

Now in his fourth term, Congressman Kirk is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and serves on two of its subcommittees: State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, and Financial Services.

Congressman Kirk is co-chairman of the Tuesday Group, the caucus of mainstream Republican Members of Congress.  In that capacity, Mr. Kirk works to advance a suburban agenda that is pro-defense, pro-personal responsibility, pro-environment, and pro-science.

Congressman Kirk wrote a number of provisions which became law, including funding for commuter rail, improving veteran's health care, ensuring military voting, and boosting aviation security. Congressional Quarterly named Congressman Kirk as one of the "28 Emerging Leaders in Congress."

Kirk began his career on the staff of his predecessor, Congressman John Porter. He later served in the World Bank, the State Department, the law firm of Baker & McKenzie, and 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 served four tours at sea and three in Panama. The U.S. Navy named Kirk 'Intelligence Officer of the Year' in 1999 for his combat service in Kosovo. Kirk flew on missions over Iraq and continues to serve one weekend a month in the Pentagon. Kirk is the only member of Congress to serve stateside during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was an air crewman over Iraq during Operation Northern Watch.

Representative Kirk graduated from New Trier High School and attended the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico before earning a B.A. from Cornell. He holds a Masters Degree from the London School of Economics and a law degree from Georgetown.

Congressman Kirk and his wife, Kimberly, live in Highland Park, Illinois.