Education

• Educational Training
  • With a vote of 416-0 the House of Representative approved the Green Energy Education Act of 2007 (H.R. 1716) in June of 2007. The bill will allow the Secretary of Energy to contribute research and development funds to the National Science Foundation for the purpose of supporting graduate education that is related to energy technology. It also authorizes the Secretary to provide funds for the improvement of undergraduate and graduate engineering and architecture curriculum on the design and construction of "high performance buildings." Representative Kirk voted for this bill. H.R. 1716 was ultimately integrated into the America COMPETES Act (H.R. 2272) which is now law, but was not fully funded in the budget.
• Educational Funding
  • Representative Kirk did not vote on the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362). The legislation will require the National Science Foundation to increase its funding of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program with the goal of increasing the number of math and science teachers by up to 10,000 per year. The Noyce program provides scholarships to math, science, technology, and engineering students who commit to becoming teachers upon graduation. The legislation passed with a vote of 389-22.
• Teaching Evolution/Intelligent Design
  • Nothing posted to date

Energy

• Fuel Economy Standards
  • See discussion of CLEAN Energy Act under Renewable Energy section.
• Nuclear Power
  • Nothing posted to date
• Renewable Energy
  • In January of 2007, the House of Representatives passed the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 (H.R. 6). This legislation is intended to address a royalties oversight that occurred when the Department of the Interior issued leases for off-shore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from 1998 to 1999. The bill would also deny income tax deductions for oil and gas companies. Revenues generated from these provisions would be used for the development of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources. Opponents of the bill claimed that the legislation would raise costs for the domestic production of oil and could increase foreign oil imports. Representative Kirk voted for this legislation, which passed with a vote of 264-163.
    
    During consideration of H.R. 6 in June of 2007, the Senate changed the focus of the legislation into developing a more comprehensive energy bill that focused on the development of renewable fuels, energy conservation, and increased Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. In the face of a veto threat from President Bush, the House passed the Senate version of H.R. 6 with amendments by a vote of 235-181 on December 6, 2007. Representative Kirk voted against this bill. The final Senate rendering of the bill, which passed with a vote of 86-8, still included language raising CAFE standards to 35 mpg by 2020. The final version of the bill passed in the House with a vote of 314-100 and was signed into law by President Bush on December 19, 2007.
  • In August 2007, Representative Kirk voted for the final passage of the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 (H.R. 3221). The legislation would provide tax incentives to promote the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency, including guaranteeing up to $1 billion in loans for the development of biorefineries and biofuel production facilities. The measure also would repeal tax deductions to income attributed to the domestic production of oil and natural gas. It passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 241-172 and was sent to the Senate.
    
    A controversial amendment to the bill was H. Amdt. 748 sponsored by Representative Udall. This amendment would require retail electric suppliers to provide 15% of their electricity through a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) by 2020. Representative Kirk voted for the amendment, which was adopted with a vote of 220 to 190.

Press Releases on Energy

• On April 25, 2006, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release outlining five steps that Congress should take to reduce energy prices: Ending local fuel monopolies, raising fuel economy standards, extending hybrid tax credits, expanding refineries and boosting E85 fuel deployment.
• On June, 22, 2007, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release announcing the passages of an amendment in the State-Foreign Operations FY 2008 appropriations bill that would order the State Department to report to Congress on the feasibility of restricting gasoline to Iran as a way to pressure the regime to give up its nuclear ambitions.
• On June 28, 2007, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release announcing the introduction of H.R. 2880, the Iran Sanctions Enhancement Act of 2007, which would expand economic sanctions against Iran to include the importation of refined petroleum.
• On July 17, 2005, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release announcing his support for H.R. 2930, the Great Lakes Oil and Gas Drilling Ban, which would prohibit oil and gas drilling in or under the Great Lakes.
• On July 28, 2005, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release announcing his support for provisions in the H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which would permanently ban oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes.

Environment

Saving Lake Michigan

Congressman Kirk is an original co-sponsor of the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (H.R. 5100). The Collaboration Act increases funding for clean-up programs and creates a new Great Lakes Mercury Product Stewardship Strategy Grant Program. Congressman Kirk has also introduced the bipartisan Great Lakes Invasive Species Control Act (H.R. 4771). This important legislation closes a loophole in current ballast water policy and ensuring that no ships entering the Great Lakes bring in invasive species.^[1]

Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

Congressman Kirk continues to vote to protect Alaska and opposed opening ANWR to oil drilling and leases for oil and gas exploration, development, and production in the refuge. On his website, Rep. Kirk says that he will continue “to vote to protect Alaska” and oppose “opening ANWR to oil drilling…”

Protecting National Forests

Congressman Kirk is an original co-sponsor of legislation, H.R. 3563, introduced by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) protecting the Roadless Rule to save our national forests. He voted to ban logging and phase out snowmobiles in Yellowstone.^[2]

Press Releases on the Environment

• On April 28, 2008, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release announcing continuing clean up projects at the former site of the Soros/Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC) to clean up PCBs and sediment deposits alongside the Waukegan Harbor.
• On April 24, 2008, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release announcing the introduction of his amendment to H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard Authorization Act, which would address viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), a highly contagious disease killing thousands of fish in Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
• On April 17, 2008, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release announcing the passage of his amendment to H.R. 2537, the Beach Protection Act, which would update mercury monitoring of the Great Lakes water supply.
• On February 18, 2008, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release highlighting a report by the Army Corps of Engineers that states that Lake Michigan is now two feet below its long-term average and only four inches from its record low and Congressman Kirk called for the ratification of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact to protect the drinking water of the area's 30 million residents.
• On October 9, 2007, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release announcing the passage H.R. 2185, the Tropical Forest and Coral Conservation Act, legislation he co-authored and which would provide debt relief to developing countries that take action to protect tropical forests and coral reefs and associated coastal marine ecosystems.
• On August 23, 2007, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release where he supported BP's decision to stop dumping chemicals into Lake Michigan. He stated: "More than a month ago, we learned of BP’s plan to dump 54 percent more ammonia and 35 percent more total suspended solids into Lake Michigan. The more than 30 million Americans who rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water can rest easier today now that BP has stopped its plan to increase pollution in our lake."
• On June 22, 2007, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release announcing the passage of an amendment in the 2008 Legislative Branch appropriations bill that would require the U.S. House of Representatives to offset carbon dioxide emissions through the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) to offset carbon produced by all House operations.
• On March 5, 2007, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release reported on an ad hoc congressional hearing on the health of the Great Lakes, sewage release, mercury contamination and the increase of nonnative invasive species and announcing the introduction of H.R. 1350, the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Implementation Act of 2007.
• On December 18, 2006, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release supporting the U.S. Coast Guard's decision to terminate live weapons training on the Great Lakes which would preserve the integrity of the natural resources.
• On June 26, 2006, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release announcing the introduction of a bipartisan bill H.R. 2907, the Great Lakes Water Protection Act that would establish a deadline for restricting sewage dumping into the Great Lakes and to fund programs and activities for improving wastewater discharges into the Great Lakes.
• On October 3, 2005, Congressman Mark Steven Kirk issued a press release announcing the start of the environmental restoration of Butler Lake which will address low water levels and the restoration of the ecosystem, including a native prairie, buffer and plants for bank stabilization.

Climate Change

• Nothing posted to date

Health

• Healthcare
  • In April of 2007, the House of Representatives passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 (H.R. 493) with a vote of 420-3. Representative Kirk voted for this bill. If enacted, GINA will prevent health insurance companies from adjusting premiums on the basis of genetic information and forbid requiring individuals to undergo genetic tests. The bill will also prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of genetic information. This legislation was passed by the Senate in a vote of 95-0. The House passed the Senate amended version of the bill on May 1, 2008, by a vote of 415-1. Rep Ron Paul was the only representative to vote against the bill. President Bush signed GINA into law on May 21, 2008.
• Embryonic Stem Cell Research
  • In April of 2007, Congress passed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 (S. 5), which would have overturned President Bush's ban on the use of federal funding for research on embryonic stem cell lines created after August 9, 2001. Representative Kirk voted for the legislation. The bill passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 247-176 and the Senate with a vote of 63-34. President Bush vetoed both this legislation and an identical bill that was passed by Congress in 2006.
• Non-Embryonic Stem Cell Research
  • In December 2005, Congress passed the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 (H.R. 2520), which President Bush signed on December 20, 2005. The law "creates a new Federal program to collect and store cord blood, and expands the current bone marrow registry program to also include cord blood." Representative Kirk voted for this bill. The legislation passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 431-1 and passed the Senate by unanimous consent.
• On September 25, 2007, the House passed the final version of the “Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act” (H.R. 976) with a vote of 265-169. This bill would have increased funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by $50 billion dollars over five years. Opponents saw the bill as too costly and were critical of the funding methods for the program, including a cigarette tax increase (read the floor debate). Representative Kirk voted for this legislation.
• On October 3, 2007, President Bush vetoed H.R. 976, citing that the bill moved too many children towards federally funded healthcare. The House attempted to override the President’s veto, but the measure failed to pass with a vote count of 273-156. Representative Kirk voted for the veto override. On December 29, 2007, President Bush signed the Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (S. 2499) which extends funding for SCHIP through March of 2009, but does not significantly increase the program.
• On January 23, 2008, the House once again failed with a vote of 260-152 to pass H.R. 3963 to override President Bush’s veto of SCHIP. Representative Kirk voted for this legislation.

Press Releases on Health

• In an undated press release Mark Kirk stated his support for stem cell research. Link to Press Release

Innovation

• On August 9, 2007, President Bush signed the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act (H.R. 2272) into law. The law authorizes the doubling of funding for the National Science Foundation over the next seven years, increased funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology and competitive grants for teachers and schools with the goal of strengthening the quality of education in science, math, and critical foreign languages. The bill was passed with unanimous consent in the Senate and was agreed to by a vote of 367-57 by the House after being reconciled in a conference committee. Representative Kirk voted for this legislation. The America COMPETES Act was not fully funded in 2008.

Research and Research Management

• Funding
  • In May of 2007, Representative Kirk voted for the final passage of the National Science Foundation Funding Authorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 1867), which authorizes appropriations for the National Science Foundation for the fiscal years 2008, 2009 and 2010. The final vote count was 399 to 17.
    
    During debate on this legislation, H. Amdt. 128 was offered by Rep. Honda that will allow the NSF to support the creation of K-12 curriculum focused on global warming, climate change, and actions people can take to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Rep. Sullivan of Oklahoma offered a secondary amendment, H. Amdt. 129, that would have required the education materials referenced in Rep. Honda’s amendment to "reflect the diversity of scientific opinion, including the diversity of opinion regarding the impact of human activities on climate change." Congressional Democrats criticized the Sullivan amendment as seeming "to suggest that there is an equal weight of evidence against that perspective [that humans are causing climate change] as there is in favor of it" (read the full debate). The Sullivan amendment failed by a vote of 166 to 250. The Honda Amendment passed by a vote of 252 to 165.
    
    Representative Kirk voted against the Sullivan amendment and voted against the Honda Amendment.

Endnotes

1. ↑ Congressman Mark Steven Kirk's Website. http://www.house.gov/kirk/issues.shtml#environment
2. ↑ Congressman Mark Steven Kirk's Website. http://www.house.gov/kirk/issues.shtml#environment