House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, issued the following statement celebrating President Trump on his decision to appoint Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, to serve as Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

“I understand why President Trump would choose Senator Mullin for this role. He is immensely qualified and has done a phenomenal job representing Oklahoma in the United States Senate. Under the Biden Administration, every state became a border state. I have no doubt that Senator Mullin will play an essential role in continuing the work President Trump’s administration has undertaken to restore order and strengthen enforcement. He is someone who will step into a position that is critically important for our country right now and serve with strength and provide clarity to the American people. Senator Mullin is a tremendous asset to the United States, and I have always appreciated the strong working relationship we’ve had.”