While Mark Kirk is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Naval Reserve Intelligence Officer, he has devoted much of his professional career to U.S. foreign policy.

Congressman Kirk served in the State Department as the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Inter-American Affairs and as Counsel for the House International Relations Committee developing diplomatic and foreign policy initiatives. His extensive experience includes having:

• Traveled to over 30 countries in official capacity

• Participated in numerous International Treaty Conferences including:
  The Kyoto Climate Change Conference and
  The Buenos Aires Climate Change Conference.

  Since being sworn in as Congressman, he has attended over 200 meetings regarding foreign policy.

  Met with official representatives of over 20 different countries including:

  • Israel, Ambassador David Ivry
  • Jordan, King Abdullah and Queen Rania
  • Egypt, Special Assistant Minister of Defense, Major General El-Asr
  • Tunisia, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Habib Ben Yahua
  • India, President of Congress Party, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
  • Pakistan, Ambassador Dr. Maleeha Lodhi
  • Armenia, Minister of Defense Serge Sargsyan
  • Korea, Political Minister of Embassy, Mr. Moon Bong-joo
  • Colombia, President Uribe
  • Guatemala, Ambassador Ariel Rivera-Irias
  • Equador, Foreign Minister Dr. Heinz Moeller
  • Taiwan, President Chen Shui-bian

Israel

• Mark Kirk is an acknowledged leader of bi-partisan efforts to enhance the security of Israel.
• Lead a delegation of Chicago-area Jewish American leaders to Israel in November 2001.
• Traveled to Israel many times, in an official capacity before being elected to Congress.
• Featured lecturer at the AIPAC Policy conference on Israel Defense Issues.
• Authored letter to President Bush and Sec. Rumsfeld requesting support for the Arrow missile defense system for Israel in the fiscal year 2003 budget, signed by 26 Members of Congress.
• Secured U.S. agreement to shared satellite surveillance information with Israel.
• Lead congressional inquiry into location of three missing Israeli soldiers, including lead co-sponsor of Congressional House Resolution 99, and letter to Secretary General Kofi Annan.
• Co-sponsored 12 other bills in support of Israel:
  • H. Res. 191: Expressing the sense of Congress that the UN should immediately transfer unedited and uncensored videotape with the information regarding Israeli soldiers to the Israeli Government.
  • H. Con. Res. 29: Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the conviction of ten members of Iran's Jewish community.
  • H. Con. Res. 30: Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to relocating the United States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
  • H. Con. Res. 280: Expressing solidarity with Israel in the fight against terrorism.
  • H. Res. 34: Congratulating Sharon for calling for an end to violence in the Middle East, and reaffirming the friendship between Israel and the US.
  • H. Res. 392: Expressing solidarity with Israel in its fight against terrorism.
  • H.R. 598: Recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
  • H.R. 1795: Require sanctions with respect to the Palestine Liberation Organization or the Palestinian Authority if the President determines that these entities have not complied with certain commitments made by the entities, and for other purposes.
  • H.R. 1954: Extend the authorities of the Iran and Libya Sanction Act of 1996 until 2006
  • H.R. 2566: Prohibit assistance from being provided to the Palestinian Authority or its instrumentalities unless the President certifies that no excavation of the Temple Mount in Israel is being conducted.
  • H.R. 3624: To prohibit assistance to the Palestinian Authority and any instrumentality of the Palestinian Authority.
  • H.R. 4693: To hold accountable the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, and for other purposes.

General Foreign Policy

• Sponsored or Co-sponsored a total of 42 bills related to foreign policy including:
  • increased funding for international HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment,
  • increased family planning funding for the United Nations Population Fund,
  • the establishment of Radio Free Afghanistan,
  • debt relief for developing nations which protect coral reefs and
  • increased funding for the expansion of the Peace Corps.

• Mark Kirk showed his independence with his strong support of international family planning.
  • Challenged the President's cutting of UNFPA funding by sending letters to President Bush.
  • Co-sponsored three bills regarding in support of international family planning, H.R. 755, H.R. 1117 and H.R. 3916.
  • Named Legislator of the Month by The Population Institute for April 2002.

• Continues to support foreign assistance funding levels above the President's request. Co-signed letters to President Bush for funding increases for the foreign assistance accounts for fiscal year 2003 and 2004.