{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-pays-tribute-to-us-senator-mark-kirk-on-senate-floor", "Durbin Pays Tribute To U.S. Senator Mark Kirk On Senate Floor", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.01.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Pays Tribute To U.S. Senator Mark Kirk On Senate Floor \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) paid tribute today to U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), on the United States Senate Floor:  \u00a0  \u201cFor the last six years, Senator Mark Kirk and I have had a very positive and professional relationship. I thank him for his service to our state, the service he\u2019s given our nation as an officer in the Navy Reserve, for the years that he put in as a staff member to Congressman John Porter, for the work that he did in the House of Representatives representing the 10th Congressional District, and for his term here in the United States Senate,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cIt has been a pleasure and an honor to serve with him despite our political differences. I count him as a friend, as an ally, and a true champion for the state of Illinois. I wish my colleague Mark Kirk the very best in his future endeavors.\u201d  \u00a0  Video of Durbin\u2019s remarks is available here.  \u00a0  Durbin\u2019s remarks as prepared for delivery are available below:  \u00a0  Remarks of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin  Honoring U.S. Senator Mark Kirk  December 1, 2016  \u00a0  For the last six years, Mark and I have had a close personal and working relationship.   \u00a0  We didn\u2019t always agree on the issues, but there is a mutual respect for each other\u2014a respect that is often lacking in our politics today.   \u00a0  In 1985, my mentor\u2014Senator Paul Simon\u2014launched the Illinois Hospitality Breakfast series.\u00a0 For one hour, every Thursday morning the Senate\u2019s in session, Senator Simon invited his constituents visiting Washington, D.C., for coffee and a conversation.   \u00a0  And there\u2019s only one rule.\u00a0 If you want to make a speech, you have to run for office. A rule that Mark quickly reminds me to share with the audience when I forget.   \u00a0  Today, we simply call it constituent coffee. And in 2011, when Mark was sworn into the Senate, despite party differences, we kept the tradition alive.   \u00a0  But this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows Mark. After all, one of his legacies will surely be his bipartisanship approach to politics. Just ask his good friend\u2014Senator Joe Manchin\u2014a Democrat from West Virginia.   \u00a0  Mark and Joe entered the Senate together and decided this place could use a little more reaching across the aisle.   \u00a0  So, they decided to meet every Thursday for lunch in the Senate dining room. They understood that making real progress, on real issues, meant talking to each other. And their efforts should be applauded.   \u00a0  Mark\u2019s been a strong advocate for people in Illinois\u2014and after going through the health crisis he endured several years ago\u2014a source of inspiration.   \u00a0  You see, in 2012, Mark had a stroke. It came as quite a shock. I remember his doctor coming out and telling us what we could expect.   \u00a0  I\u2019ll spare the details, but it wasn\u2019t encouraging. But I knew that Mark would fight back. After all, he\u2019s a Navy Reserve officer. \u00a0  \u00a0  During his recovery, Mark drew strength from one of our former colleagues\u2014Tim Johnson, who suffered a similar accident.   \u00a0  While in rehab, he would spend much of his time asking himself, \u201cWhat would Tim Johnson do?\u201d   \u00a0  Mark will be the same source of inspiration for future generations. When many may have called it quits, Mark never did.   \u00a0  I remember one of our phone calls during his rehab.   \u00a0  He said he asked his staff to count the steps from where he would park outside up to the Senate Chamber. It was 45 steps back to the Senate Chamber.   \u00a0  I will never forget that day when Mark returned to those steps to make the climb.   \u00a0  As Mark made his way to the main staircase, I stood waiting to greet him with Vice-President Biden and Senator Manchin. It was a great day.   \u00a0  His return brought out the humanity of the Senate.   \u00a0  We put aside the fighting and party labels, and we showed that when it gets down to it we are part of a family that really cares about one another.   \u00a0  Even more importantly, his return marked an amazing recovery.   \u00a0  And I, along with all of his colleagues, were grateful.   \u00a0  He carried on and never stopped working on his recovery\u2014and never stopped working for the people of Illinois.   \u00a0  Let me close with this. When Mark entered the Senate, he said in his maiden speech\u2014quote:\u00a0 \u201cIn times of great uncertainty, we need to come together\u2014Republicans\u2026Democrats\u2026 independents\u2014to build consensus, find solutions and improve the lives of the people we represent.\u201d   \u00a0  I agree.   \u00a0  Once again, we find ourselves in uncertain times.   \u00a0  Well, I know Mark isn\u2019t done yet. He has plenty more to do.   \u00a0  I\u2019ll miss Mark\u2019s company in the Senate and at constituent coffees next year, but this is not his final act. Not by a long a shot.   \u00a0  I know Mark will continue to serve the people of Illinois and all Americans with the same passion and intensity he displayed in this chamber.   \u00a0  And I wish him all the best in the next chapter of his life.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-pays-tribute-to-us-senator-mark-kirk-on-senate-floor"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.2172341123223305, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}