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Floor Speech

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Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, the Senate will soon confirm Senator 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.

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