[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 54 (Monday, March 23, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1526-S1527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of Markwayne Mullin

  Mr. President, the other nominee that we will be confirming this week 
is somebody we all know well--our colleague Markwayne Mullin.
  President Trump has nominated Markwayne to be the Secretary of 
Homeland Security. It is a tough assignment--made all the more 
challenging right now by Democrats having shut down DHS for 5 weeks.
  But we all know that Markwayne isn't afraid of a challenge--far from 
it. As a young man, Markwayne left college to take over his family 
plumbing business. He grew that small enterprise into a large and 
successful business in the State of Oklahoma.
  Just a few weeks after being elected to the House, when the Oklahoma 
delegation was touring storm damage, Markwayne cut away from the other 
congressmen and climbed through debris to try to shut off water 
shooting through the wreckage. See a problem? Take action to solve it. 
That is Markwayne. It is a big part of what drew him to public service.

  I think all of us are familiar with Markwayne Mullin's seemingly 
unlimited supply of energy. His workout class in the House gym is the 
stuff of legend. In the halls, you can find him bouncing a little pink 
ball to get out some of his energy. And that energy doesn't come from 
coffee; Markwayne does it all on decaf.
  No, Markwayne's energy is all him, but his strength, he will tell 
you, isn't his own. Markwayne's strength comes from his wife and 
childhood sweetheart Christie and his rock-solid faith in God, both of 
which have made him an outstanding public servant and, most 
importantly, a loving father to their six children.
  Heading up the Department of Homeland Security is a serious job, and 
I am proud to cast a vote for Markwayne Mullin, knowing with confidence 
that he is up to the work and to the task. I know how much I have 
depended on Markwayne as a colleague and friend during his 3 years here 
in the U.S. Senate, and I am profoundly sorry to lose him. But the 
Senate's loss is the Department of Homeland Security's gain.
  I want to thank Markwayne for his service here in the Senate and wish 
him the very best as he continues to serve our country at DHS, and I 
hope whoever gets assigned to his security detail is ready to keep up.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, the Senate will soon confirm Senator

[[Page S1527]]

Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to be our Secretary of the Department of 
Homeland Security. The sooner he is on the job, the safer, the 
stronger, and the more secure America will be.
  Markwayne is a servant leader in the truest sense. His hometown is 
Westville, OK, a population of only 1,300 people. He is the youngest of 
seven children. When he was 20 years old, he stepped up to save his 
dad's plumbing company. He turned it into one of the largest in the 
State of Oklahoma.
  Markwayne is a father, a fighter, a Christian, and someone that 
others have known they can count on. He has served in both the House 
and the Senate of the United States. I am fortunate to have worked 
closely with Markwayne on a day-to-day basis because he is a trusted 
Member of our whip team. Markwayne is tough. He is hard-working. He 
works with others to solve problems. You always know where he stands. 
That is the way Markwayne Mullin is.
  On the whip team, he has played a critical role in passing the 
largest investment in American security in 40 years. He has been 
consistent in his commitment to enforce our laws and to strengthen our 
border. Once confirmed, he is going to bring the same focus and urgency 
and consistency to lead that Department of Homeland Security.
  At his confirmation hearing, Markwayne laid out a clear vision. He 
said:

       My goal is for people to understand we're out there, we're 
     protecting them, and we're working [with] them.

  That is exactly what he should do, and it is what he will do.
  The Department of Homeland Security exists to protect the American 
people from danger. From counterterrorism to disaster relief to border 
security, that Department protects our communities from terrorists, 
from illegal drugs, and from cyber attacks. Markwayne understands fully 
the full weight of that critical mission.
  Markwayne also understands the importance of trust. He has made it 
clear that he will be open, communicative, cooperative, and committed 
to working with others to get the job done.
  Even Senate Democrats have said they like Markwayne--they may have 
disagreed with him politically, but they acknowledge his stellar 
character. Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii said this month:

       I like him personally.

  Senator Chris Coons of Delaware says Markwayne is ``well liked.'' 
Senator Peter Welch of Vermont served with Senator Mullin here in the 
Senate as well as in the House, and he said of Markwayne:

       He's respected, he's honest, and he's competent.

  At the confirmation hearing, Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona said 
Markwayne is ``upstanding'' and qualified. That kind of respect speaks 
to Markwayne's character.
  As the Senate considers Markwayne's nomination, we cannot ignore the 
situation facing the Department of Homeland Security today, right now, 
this very moment because, right now, the Department of Homeland 
Security is shut down. Senate Democrats shut it down by withholding its 
funding. That is the cruel fact. It is the undeniable fact. The fact 
is, Senate Democrats have voted five times to block full funding for 
the Department of Homeland Security.
  Many employees are working without pay. Others have been furloughed. 
Families are struggling to meet basic needs. TSA agents are quitting. 
They are calling in sick in rising numbers. And as a result, wait times 
at major airports are rising as well.
  We have seen terrorist attacks in New York, Virginia, Michigan, and 
Texas. Pro-Iran cyber hackers successfully attacked a major medical 
company in Michigan. The situation remains dangerous today. The warning 
lights are flashing red. And Democrats would rather pander to protect 
illegal immigrant criminals than pay to protect American people. 
Markwayne Mullin is ready to lead.
  He is ready to serve with seriousness and character, and he is going 
to be a leader who makes our country safer, stronger, and more secure. 
He will secure our borders. He will fight terrorism. He will protect 
our cyber space. He will safeguard our communities. And he will support 
the individuals who keep our country safe.
  Today, this Senate will confirm Markwayne Mullin. Then the Senate 
must fully fund the Department of Homeland Security because the safety 
and security of the American people depend upon it.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.