Mullin prioritizes climate, election threats

He’s asking for the Department of Justice to outline existing work of the Elections Threats Task Force — established in response to threats and hostility toward elections officials, nearly one-third of whom have reported harassment, abuse or threats due to their job — and detail the resources it may need moving forward. 

“Elections have unfortunately become hyper-politicized and hyper-polarized, which frankly, should never have been,” Mullin said. “This is about administration of elections and supporting professional staff across the country.” 

Mullin is expecting some pushback on the request from “extremists on the right” who have sought to undermine elections credibility, he said, but noted the issue is particularly important approaching the upcoming presidential election.  

“I can almost guarantee a concerted effort to create misinformation about the role local elections officials perform and create a sense of doubt about elections results,” he said. “This is an area I want to dig in on.” 

Many of Mullin’s other appropriations requests incorporate elements of climate change protection and preparedness, including a request for “robust funding” for the Department of Energy programs to connect solar and wind resources to power grids and funding for carbon removal technology development.

A significant amount of generated renewable energy can’t connect to the grid for consumer use, and funding could help close the gap, he said. 

Other initiative requests include a push for an approximately $19 million increase in funding for the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System — made up of 28 task forces across the nation that currently receive approximately $37 million in funding now. 

“This is really about readiness. Not only public safety, but climate readiness,” he said. 

Additionally, Mullin is requesting a national earthquake resilience risk assessment, to be conducted by the national Institute of Standards and Technology. Issues like these aren’t just important to his District 15 constituents, many of whom are “in the heart of earthquake country,” Mullin said, but citizens nationwide. 

“San Mateo County has $24 billion at risk in property values from sea level rise alone … we’re also very much on the front line of extreme weather,” he said of his district’s proximity to the climate-related challenges that impact communities nationwide. 

Mullin is hopeful these requests will move forward with bipartisan support. 

“When it comes to extreme weather and climate readiness, I hope it doesn’t get tossed into a partisan combat bucket,” he said. “Extreme weather doesn’t distinguish around certain political philosophies.” 

Another initiative Mullin believes should receive support across both sides of the aisle is a minimum $14 million investment in the Innovations for Graduate Education program to strengthen graduate programs, particularly in STEM fields. 

“My Republican colleagues know all too well the needs we are going to have going forward in a global environment,” he said. “Competing with China, for example.” 

Other appropriations requests include moving House staff pay schedule to biweekly, rather than monthly. 

holly@smdailyjournal.com

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