Weekly Newsletter   Official Newsletter This week nine years ago, Charleston was rocked by the tragic Mother Emanuel Church Shooting. June 19th became a solemn and dark day for Charleston. Every year, we attended the memorial service at the Mother Emanuel AME Church, honoring the lives lost and the strength of our community. It was a profound reminder of our resilience and unity. We remain #CharlestonStrong. Recess in the Lowcounty With the House in recess, we were able to spend the entire week at home in the district. We went to Dorchester and spoke to a room full of educators (heroes without capes) about bills like the ACCESS Act and the MACE Act, and about how to prepare students who entering a STEM career for professional development and career success. We visited Beaufort, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties and held meetings with our local leaders about the issues directly impacting our communities. We appreciate you taking the time to read more about how we are putting the Lowcountry first and would love for you to share our newsletter with your family and friends. Have them sign up here or at mace.house.gov.   Dorchester Economic Development Day: On Friday, we participated in an Economic Development panel hosted by the TriCounty STEMersion Institute in Dorchester. The panel focused on the crucial role of educators in workforce development and economic growth. Discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration between schools, local industries, and economic development agencies to create pathways for students transitioning from education to employment. We also explored ways educators can stay informed about local workforce trends and adapt their teaching strategies to meet the evolving needs of the job market, ultimately strengthening the local talent pipeline and driving economic growth in the region.   Meeting with Blessed Hands Food Pantry: We had a meeting with Blessed Hands Food Pantry and discussed ways in which our staff can be helpful in supporting their organization. "The work done by Blessed Hands provides critical food and nutrition services for children, families, and seniors who are in need. We thank all those who have given generously with their time, resources, and food donations, and encourage others to give what they can to help feed more families and improve the lives of our community."  - Office of Congresswoman Nancy Mace   Meeting with the South Carolina Economic Development Administration Our staff met with the South Carolina Economic Development Administration to discuss Disaster Supplemental Funding, which aids communities in developing long-term economic recovery strategies in areas affected by major disasters. The Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program was also highlighted, offering support to state and local interests to adapt and strengthen their economies, including initiatives like the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program for small businesses. Additionally, we explored the Planning and Local Technical Assistance programs that help communities prepare economic development plans to build capacity and economic resiliency.   Animal Rights Awareness Week Since day one, we have been committed to protecting our furry friends. Recently, we introduced the bipartisan Preventing Animal Abuse and Waste Act (PAAW Act), which aims to prohibit NIH-funded research causing significant pain or distress to dogs and cats. We cosponsored the Humane Cosmetics Act to end animal testing in cosmetics, and the Accountability in Foreign Animal Research Act to restrict animal testing in certain foreign countries. We also introduced Violet's Law to facilitate adoption of animals no longer needed for federal research. We continue to be a strong voice for animal welfare, working across the aisle to ensure taxpayer dollars aren't used for unnecessary and cruel experiments on our beloved furry friends.   Another Busy Legislative Week on the Horizon: Congress is getting ready to pass five appropriations bills, which are key pieces of legislation to fund the government. Upcoming this week for markup are: H.R. 8772 — Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2025 This bill allocates funding for the operations and activities of the legislative branch of the U.S. government, including Congress and its support agencies, for the year 2025. H.R. 8774 — Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025 This bill provides funding for the Department of Defense to support military operations, personnel, equipment, and other defense-related activities for the year 2025. H.R. 8771 — Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2025 This bill allocates funding for the Department of State and related international programs, supporting diplomatic activities, foreign aid, and international development efforts for the year 2025. H.R. 8752 — Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2025 This bill provides funding for the Department of Homeland Security to support activities related to national security, emergency response, border protection, and other homeland security initiatives for the year 2025.   Legislating for the Lowcountry: We have introduced a handful of meaningful amendments to the upcoming appropriation bills. Here are some to keep tabs on: Border Security: We introduced an amendment redirecting $221,343,810 from earmarks to increase border wall funding. Protecting Local Industries: We introduced an amendment prohibiting funds from being made available to international financial institutions that finance shrimp farming, processing, or export activities in foreign countries. Let's protect our shrimpers! Military Personnel Protection: We introduced an amendment to prohibit the separation of armed forces members solely based on non-violent marijuana offenses. Fiscal Responsibility: We introduced an amendment that prevents the President from sending another $28M to the International Organization for Migration and refocuses funds on Americans. Fiscal Responsibility: We introduced an amendment to ban funding for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to whom we have already given nearly $2.2 billion. National Security: We introduced an amendment prohibiting the deployment of armed forces to Ukraine, except for embassy security in Kyiv. This amendment aims to prevent unnecessary military involvement and protect our troops. Immigration Enforcement: Several of our amendments address immigration issues, including prohibiting funds for expanding Deferred Enforced Departure, paroling aliens into the U.S., and expanding Temporary Protected Status. Worker Protection: As South Carolina is a right-to-work state, we introduced an amendment prohibiting funds for implementing certain worksite enforcement strategies that could the economy and American labor markets. We are continually adding new amendments, next week, we’ll update you on which ones passed!   Are your neighbors aware of everything our team is doing in DC and in the district? Be sure to share our newsletter with them! They can sign up for it by visiting Mace.House.Gov or by clicking here. Our office is committed to transparency and we want to make sure you get all the information you need!   Yours in Service, Congresswoman Nancy Mace Need Help with a Federal Agency? Call us today. If you or someone you know ever needs assistance with a federal agency, we are just a phone call away and are ready to help you! Please contact my Beaufort Office at (843) 521-2530, my Mount Pleasant Office at (843) 352-7572. You can also file a case online here. I am honored to have the opportunity to represent you. Have news or updates to share? Email us!  If you have updates regarding events in the community or other news to share from across Lowcountry, please visit here. Love sunsets and dogs? Us too. Be sure to submit your favorite Sunset photos here or a photo of your dog here. Our team will try to include as many of your updates from around #SC01 as we can each week Our Company | Contact Us | FAQs | Privacy Policy Rep. Mace | 1728 Longworth House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice