[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 175 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6718-S6719]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO MARK KIRK

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, Senator Mark Kirk has never been one to 
be intimidated by a challenge. He is willing to work hard even when the 
going gets tough. He never shies away from a tough debate, and he 
always comes prepared. He has been defying the odds for a long time and 
inspiring others along the way.
  Nearly 5 years ago, Senator Kirk suffered a debilitating stroke--one 
that threatened to end his Senate service nearly as soon as it had 
begun. In the blink of an eye, Kirk went from juggling constituent 
meetings and committee hearings to lying in a hospital bed wondering if 
he would ever walk again or talk again or read again.
  If Senator Kirk had decided to just quit the Senate and focus on his 
recovery, no one would have blamed him.

[[Page S6719]]

But he didn't do that. He never lost hope. He never gave up. He set his 
sights on getting back to work for the people of Illinois and the 
Nation. That is exactly what he did.
  We were there to witness his triumph several months later. Cane in 
hand, a smile on his face, Joe Manchin to one side, Joe Biden to the 
other, one foot in front of the other, Senator Mark Kirk climbed and 
climbed and climbed. He ascended each of those 45 Capitol steps to the 
top of this Chamber as we all cheered him on.
  Mark could rest assured no one was going to let him fall that day. 
And Senator Manchin could rest assured that he wouldn't have to go 
another day waiting for his buddy to return.
  Days after Mark's stroke, Senator Manchin hopped on a flight to 
Chicago to check on his friend in person. He saw firsthand the many 
challenges Kirk had to overcome in recovery. But he never doubted 
Mark's will, determination, or desire to get back to work.
  Kirk, he said, is like the Energizer Bunny. He just keeps going and 
going and going.
  Manchin and Kirk might seem like an unconventional pair. One is a 
Democrat, the other a Republican. The West Virginian is an outdoorsman, 
the Illinois Senator is a gamer. Senator Manchin is a mountaineer, and 
Senator Kirk ascends skyscrapers.
  But as the senior Senator from West Virginia put it, they ``just 
clicked from day one'' and quickly became the best of friends. Now they 
go boating together. They meet for lunch nearly every Thursday. And 
they support each other. The support of good friends like Senator 
Manchin has been critical to Senator Kirk's dramatic recovery.
  He has found support in other places, too, including the mailbox. A 
few weeks after his stroke, Jackson, a 9-year-old fellow stroke 
survivor from Illinois, wrote Senator Kirk to share his own story and 
some words of encouragement. ``Do not give up on yourself,'' Jackson 
wrote. ``All the hard work is worth it.''
  ``P.S.,'' he said, ``I think kids should get paid to go to school.''
  The pair quickly became pen pals and even picked up a new joint sport 
of tower climbing in their rehabilitation.
  Senator Kirk calls Jackson his personal hero. Last year, he invited 
him to visit Washington and be his guest at the State of the Union. To 
hear Kirk tell it, he may have never made it back for that address at 
all without Jackson's support and kind words.
  I know the support he received from his fellow home State Senator 
didn't go unnoticed either. After Mark's stroke, Senator Durbin visited 
Kirk's staff, offering to help out however he could.
  Senator Kirk's story reminds us that the Senate can be more than just 
a place of work, it can actually be a family. In his own words, ``The 
things that divide us in politics are infinitesimal compared with the 
dignity of our common humanity.'' It is a powerful message, and I think 
it is one we can all learn from.
  Senator Kirk said that America's men and women in uniform represent 
``the greatest force for human dignity on Earth.'' He is right. And the 
work he has done to help us meet the obligation our Nation has to 
military families and our veterans will endure beyond his term.
  Mark Kirk, a veteran himself, understands the sacrifices our 
servicemembers and their families make each day on our behalf. He knows 
they deserve our full support, not only when they are on Active Duty 
but also after their tours are complete.
  That is why he has worked to help guarantee the quality of health 
care that our heroes are counting on. It is why he has worked to help 
eliminate corruption within the VA so that our veterans receive timely 
care as well.
  He has proven himself as a leader on national security issues too. He 
understands the value of our alliances and worked to strengthen them, 
especially with Israel.
  He has a clear-eyed view of our adversaries too and has never been 
afraid to speak out or take action, from North Korea to Iran. When it 
comes to Iran specifically, Senator Kirk was the tip of the spear on 
this issue, bringing attention to the threat of Iran's aggressive 
behavior and pushing for legislation to help hold Tehran accountable.
  He has long been an advocate for critical Iran sanctions like those 
extended just this past week, even when the administration pushed back 
and even when Democratic colleagues pushed back too. He doesn't back 
down, and thanks to efforts like his, we were able to see the 
legislation through.
  So, yes, Senator Kirk may be leaving the Senate, but he has cast a 
long shadow here. And he is not done yet. We know he will not stop 
looking out for our country. We know he will not stop advocating for 
stroke survivors. We know he is not going to stop. He will just keep 
going and going and going as he always has.
  Senator Kirk reminds each of us that it is possible to persevere 
through even the most difficult of obstacles life presents. So, today, 
we thank him for the impact he has made on this body, for the 
inspiration he has been to so many, and for the years he has dedicated 
to serving the people of Illinois.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic whip is recognized.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, has the Chair announced the business of 
the Senate?

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