The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Sen. Dan Coats Daniel (Dan) Ray CoatsFBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Former Intel chief had 'deep suspicions' that Putin 'had something on Trump': book MORE to serve as President Trump's director of national intelligence.

Senators voted 85-12 on Coats's nomination, with only a simple majority needed to approve the former Indiana lawmaker.

Coats’s nomination easily cleared a procedural vote hours earlier, and Democrats let Senate leadership hold a final vote Wednesday despite having the ability to further draw out the process.

Once sworn in, Coats will be responsible for overseeing the 16 federal agencies commonly referred to collectively as the intelligence community.

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Though Coats was temporarily stalled in the Intelligence Committee amid a back-and-forth over paperwork, his nomination has been largely drama-free.

Coats received a genial confirmation hearing where the major concern seemed to be whether Coats was too nice and would be sidelined by Trump and his close circle of advisers.

But Coats tried to assuage those concerns during his hearing, saying that he and Trump had discussed his role as the president's "principal intelligence adviser."

“I have been reassured time and time and time again by the president and his advisers that I am welcome and needed and expected to be part of the Principals Committee,” Coats said.

Top Republicans praised Coats ahead of Wednesday's votes.

"Dan's intellect, his judgment, his honorable service and his commitment to the workforce make him a natural fit as director of national intelligence," Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr Richard Mauze BurrRep. Mark Walker says he's been contacted about Liberty University vacancy Overnight Defense: Trump rejects major cut to military health care | Senate report says Trump campaign's Russia contacts posed 'grave' threat Senate report describes closer ties between 2016 Trump campaign, Russia MORE (R-N.C.) said. "I have absolute trust that he will lead the community with integrity."

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE (R-Ky.) called the former GOP senator an "excellent choice."

Coats's confirmation comes as multiple congressional committees are investigating Russia's meddling in the White House race and potential ties between Moscow and the Trump campaign.

Sen. Mark Warner Mark Robert WarnerIntelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings Overnight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' House approves bill to secure internet-connected federal devices against cyber threats MORE (Va.) — the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee — praised Coats ahead of Wednesday's vote for pledging to work with the committee on its investigation.

"Another challenge that Sen. Coats will face on his first day on the job is to effectively support the Senate Intelligence Committee's ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election," he said.

"Both in public and in private, Sen. Coats has promised that he will support the committee's investigation to the fullest."

Some of the chamber's staunchest privacy-minded lawmakers, however, used Coats's nomination to question parts of the U.S. intelligence apparatus.

He faced questions during his hearing about a controversial surveillance law up for reauthorization this year. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act gives U.S. intelligence agencies the ability to intercept the communications of noncitizens when outside the United States.

Sen. Ron Wyden Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenGOP senator blocks Schumer resolution aimed at Biden probe as tensions run high Republican Senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal Hillicon Valley: TikTok, Oracle seek Trump's approval as clock winds down | Hackers arrested for allegedly defacing U.S. websites after death of Iranian general | 400K people register to vote on Snapchat MORE (D-Ore.), who voted against cloture for Coats's nomination earlier Wednesday, said his opposition to Coats wasn't personal but tied to wanting to know how many U.S. citizens are getting swept under Section 702.

"It has been impossible to get the intelligence community to provide the Congress and the American people information that is absolutely critical to the debate on reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act," he said. "For six long years, Democrats and Republicans ... have been trying to get this information."

The National Security Agency has never provided the intelligence committee with those statistics despite multiple requests.

Coats served in the Senate twice, from 1989 to 1999 and from 2011 until his retirement last year. He was also the ambassador to Germany.