[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16417-16418]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO MARK KIRK

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, on January 3, 2013, Senator Mark Kirk 
climbed the 45 steps to the U.S. Capitol, triumphantly returning to 
work after a year of intensive recovery from a stroke. To the cheers of 
colleagues and friends, he called it one of the greatest moments of his 
life.
  It was a moment of courage and determination that defined a life 
dedicated to serving the people of Illinois and of our Nation. From his 
service in the Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer, to the World 
Bank, the State Department, the House International Relations 
Committee, and five terms representing the 10th Congressional District 
of Illinois, Senator Kirk brought to this chamber a wealth of 
experience, wisdom, and commitment.
  I had the pleasure of working alongside Senator Kirk on the 
Appropriations, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and Aging 
Committees. His approach to legislating has been in the highest 
traditions of the Senate: Informed, passionate, and always civil. He 
looked at the issues before the Senate not through the lens of a 
political partisan, but rather through the lens of a pragmatic problem 
solver and consensus builder.
  Senator Kirk has been a valued ally on many fronts. We introduced the 
REGROW Act to accelerate the development of new therapies for patients 
living with such diseases as Alzheimer's disease and diabetes and to 
achieve breakthroughs in stroke recovery. I was proud to be named with 
him to serve on the Women's and Family Global Health Task Force so that 
the United States will continue to be a leader in preventing maternal 
and childhood deaths from treatable causes. We joined together on vital 
legislation to keep firearms out of the hands of terrorists and in 
addressing our Nation's opioid addiction crisis. He has always had a 
deep commitment to good government and was a strong voice for 
accountability through independent, effective inspectors general.
  As chairman and former ranking member of the Appropriations 
Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Senator 
Kirk has worked tirelessly on behalf of the men and women who serve our 
country. Following in the tradition of Illinois Senator Everett 
Dirksen, who helped pass the Civil Rights Act a half-century ago, 
Senator Kirk has been a leader in ensuring the rights of America's LGBT 
community.
  The past election brought disappointment, but it also revealed 
character. Senator Kirk ran a vigorous but honorable campaign and never 
compromised

[[Page 16418]]

his principles. When the decision went against him, he conceded 
graciously, reminding Americans that what unites us is far stronger 
than what divides us.
  It has been an honor to serve with Senator Kirk in the U.S. Senate. 
It has been a joy to develop our friendship, one I will cherish always. 
I wish him all the best in the years to come, and I know that he will 
meet any challenges that lie ahead with the strength and fortitude he 
brought to those 45 steps of the U.S. Capitol.

                          ____________________