WASHINGTON (JTA) — U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, an Illinois Republican and a leader on pro-Israel issues, is returning to the Senate a year after being sidelined by a stroke.
An aide to Kirk, a Republican moderate who has enjoyed strong Jewish backing in his state, confirmed a Chicago Tribune story Thursday that Kirk would return to the Senate on Jan. 3, the first day of the new session.
Kirk, who has been a leader on Iran sanctions, among other issues, has been in rehabilitation since suffering a stroke last January.
His office has remained active: Kirk was a co-sponsor of an amendment that passed this week intensifying Iran sanctions, targeting entities that circumvent existing banking sanctions by trading for Iranian oil in bullion.
