Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) promised to make a number of changes in how Department of Homeland Security agencies operate if confirmed as secretary, assuring lawmakers during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that he would calm the controversies that surrounded the DHS under his predecessor.

Mullin tried to appeal to his Republican and Democratic colleagues during his Senate confirmation hearing with repeated vows to address the federal government’s immigration enforcement and natural disaster response following a brutal year of press under outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem.