🏛 From the Desk of Congresswoman Nancy Mace

As your Representative in Washington, we're working every day to fight for our Lowcountry values. This newsletter is your inside look at what's happening in D.C. and how our team is serving you right here at home. Whether it's securing our borders, standing up for our military, or protecting your freedoms, we've got your back.

Here's what we've been working on in Washington:

We concluded the first session of the 119th Congress with major legislative achievements, ranking among the top members of the U.S. House for legislation introduced while securing major victories for South Carolina.

We introduced 65 bills, ranking first out of the South Carolina delegation and in the top 2% of the entire U.S. House at number 8 out of 435 members. Two of our bills passed the House, and we secured 14 major policy victories in the National Defense Authorization Act to strengthen military readiness, improve accountability, and modernize how the Department of War operates.

We also delivered nearly $388 million in authorized military infrastructure investments to the Lowcountry, funding which will support our service members, grow South Carolina’s economy, and strengthen South Carolina’s role in our national defense for generations to come.

“In a chamber of 435 voices, I've made mine count,” said Congresswoman Mace. “Words have power in the halls of Congress, but only when we have the courage to put them on the page.”

Legislative Leadership

We introduced 65 pieces of legislation during the first session, ranking 1st among the entire South Carolina congressional delegation and 8th among all members of the House of Representatives. This places our office in the top 2% of the House for pieces of legislation introduced. Our legislation attracted bipartisan support, garnering 276 cosponsors, with 72% from Republicans and 28% from Democrats.

Floor Success

Four of our measures received floor consideration, with two passing the House: the Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act (H.R. 30) and the Federal Contractor Cybersecurity Vulnerability Reduction Act (H.R. 872). All seven floor amendments we offered on the House floor were adopted by the House, demonstrating strong support for our legislative priorities.

National Defense Authorization Act Victories

We played a leading role in shaping the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, submitting 34 proposals, successfully passing 26 of 27 amendments during committee markup, and passing five additional amendments on the House floor. The final NDAA, signed into law, included at least 14 policy victories she championed, including:

Prohibiting DEI practices in the Department of War and eliminating DEI offices and training.
Protecting women's sports at the Service Academies.
Prohibiting painful research on dogs and cats.
Authorizing an Eastern Regional Range Complex for electromagnetic warfare, with South Carolina as a key hub.

Major Wins for the Lowcountry

We helped secure substantial authorizations and extensions for South Carolina military installations:

$65.4 million FY26 authorization ($357,900,000 authorized overall) for Nuclear Power Training Facility Simulation Expansion at Joint Base Charleston.
$33 million FY26 authorization for an Aeromedical Evacuation Facility at Joint Base Charleston.
Extension of $122.6 million FY22 authorization for Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at MCAS Beaufort.
Extension of $81.89 million and $85.04 FY23 authorizations for Recruit Barracks at MCRD Parris Island.

Committee Work

Two of our bills, the Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act (H.R. 5235) and the Veterans Affairs Distributed Ledger Innovation Act (H.R. 3455), passed out of committee and await floor consideration.

No one works harder to put South Carolina FIRST.

INTRODUCING: The Preventing Prosecutors from Protecting Predators Act to hold soft-on-crime prosecutors accountable when they take federal dollars but refuse to protect women and children.

Across America, prosecutors are declining to prosecute rapists, child abusers, and sex traffickers, allowing predators to walk free to victimize even more Americans.

If prosecutors take federal funds meant to protect victims, this bill REQUIRES them to report how serious cases are handled. And if they refuse or decline to prosecute more than half of these cases, they lose funding. As a survivor, this is personal. Victims deserve justice. Families deserve safety. Taxpayers deserve accountability. Do your job, or lose your funding.

Read more about the bill HERE.

INTRODUCING: The Protect American Fisheries Act to strengthen protections for U.S. fisheries and coastal communities against foreign interference and illegal fishing.

Foreign dumping and anticompetitive practices have pushed American fishermen to the brink, and the entire industry knows it. President Trump’s executive order restoring American seafood competitiveness set the standard, and we’re building on it with overwhelming support from shrimpers and fishermen nationwide.

From South Carolina to New England to the Gulf Coast, fishermen are living the consequences of predatory foreign practices every single day. We’re strengthening federal law so economic harm caused by foreign actors finally triggers disaster relief and delivers real protection for America’s working watermen.

Below are South Carolina fishermen and industry leaders from across the country who have expressed strong support for our bill:

“This is a common-sense bill that provides a critical support to our industry when we need it most. Our fishermen are some of the hardest working small business owners in the country, and they shouldn't be forced out of business because of the actions of bad actors on the other side of the world. We wholeheartedly support Congresswoman Mace in her fight to get this bill passed and signed into law. To support this bill is to support the preservation and continuity of the American Dream,” said Rocky Magwood, President of the South Carolina Shrimpers Association.

“Fishermen are, by nature, a community that comes to the aid of anyone in trouble on the water. This bill isn't a handout, but a lifeline for our industry when we find ourselves in stormy economic seas. It’s a matter of economic justice, and we appreciate Congresswoman Mace for her tireless efforts to support the American seafood industry,” said Bryan Jones, Vice President of the South Carolina Shrimpers Association.

“When we lose our fishing industry to unethically produced supply chains, we lose our food security. Representative Mace understands that supporting American fishermen in a crisis means protecting America’s ability to feed itself. We’re grateful she’s fighting for our food independence and the hardworking families that support coastal economies by sustainably harvesting wild-caught shrimp,” said John Williams, Executive Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

"No other U.S. fishery has suffered greater harm from having to compete in the U.S. market with illegal and unfairly traded imports than the Atlantic pelagic longline fishery. NOAA needs to recognize that the failure to effectively enforce U.S. trade laws has enabled imports from IUU fisheries, through the abhorrent use of forced labor, and with the benefit of foreign government subsidies, to continue to enter our market placing our fishermen at a severe competitive disadvantage. It's become a total disaster for our fishery. We really need help and thankfully, Rep. Mace's bill would provide it,” said Marty Scanlon, President of the Blue Water Fishermen's Association.

"Currently the only way fishermen and seafood support businesses can get disaster relief assistance is when there is a resource disaster. While this is important and valuable to the industry when there is a resource collapse, there is no assistance available in the event of an infrastructure or market related disaster. The hurricane that devastated the industry in southwest Florida did not qualify because the resource was intact but the whole harvesting infrastructure was destroyed. Likewise, the shrimp resource in the southeast USA is robust, however, the market price has collapsed due to over importation of farm-raised shrimp, typically below the cost to produce. More shrimp was imported over the last few years than this country can consume. This leaves the wild-caught, American shrimp industry very little market space at prices too low to cover the expense to harvest. This is a fisheries disaster created by unregulated importation but does not qualify for fisheries disaster funding. We need to protect American seafood food producers for the people of the United States or we will have no domestic food to choose from,” said Mike Merrifield, President, Southeastern Fisheries Association.

"For far too long domestic seafood producers have been harmed by the anti-competitive practices of foreign interests, the Protect American Fisheries Act of 2025 is a timely lifeline to level the playing field for fishermen providing wild, American seafood to the public,” said Ryan Bradley, Director, Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United, Inc.

“This bill aims at making the fishery disaster determination process more comprehensive and helps ensure the longevity of the seafood industry and the communities that it supports,” said Dave Donaldson, Executive Director, Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.

"NOAA's fishery disaster program must finally come to terms with the reality that imports completely dominate the U.S. market including for cod, haddock and other New England groundfish. As covered by this bill, such imports distort the market for our fishery, disrupt our sustainable harvest of groundfish stocks, and hinder the operational or economic viability of our fishery. All that on top of the dysfunctional management of our fishery has led us to the brink of disaster. Like so many U.S. fisheries, we need Rep. Mace's bill,” said Jackie Odell, Executive Director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition.

“The Texas Shrimp Association strongly endorses the Protect American Fisheries Act of 2025 re-introduced by South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace which will amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management (MSFCM) Act. This bill will add an economic cause as an allowable criterion to declare a fishery resource disaster. This provision is much needed to help the Texas and United States shrimp industry with recovery from financial disaster as a result of the overabundance of largely uninspected farm-raised shrimp being imported into the U.S. The passage of this bill will allow fishery disaster provisions of the MSFCM to go into effect to provide immediate and critical relief to the many struggling fishermen who are on the brink of financial ruin and in need of recovery assistance for survival,” said Chris Londrie, President of Texas Shrimp Association.

"Since the 1990s, America’s commercial fishermen have set the global gold standard for sustainability, delivering wild-harvested U.S. seafood to our nation’s kitchen and restaurants. Yet they’ve many times been undercut by container-ship-sized imports from nations with zero environmental safeguards, often caught or processed by modern-day slave labor. Despite following some of the strictest rules in the world, U.S. fishermen have never had the backing of their own government against foreign price-dumping. The Protect American Fisheries Act changes that, placing them at the bow and reeling in long-overdue protection from predatory importers. We are deeply appreciative of Congresswoman Mace’s efforts to bring this bill to fruition,” said Bonnie Brady, Executive Director, Long Island Commercial Fishing Association.

"The Protect American Fisheries Act strengthens protections for U.S. fishermen against unfair foreign practices. By recognizing economic harm as a disaster, it ensures swift federal support when foreign subsidies or illegal fishing threaten our industry. This act defends American jobs, seafood supply, and coastal communities,” said Acy Cooper, President, Louisiana Shrimp Association.

"American fisheries are under constant threat in the USA seafood market from cheaper, less regulated foreign imports. Economic safeguards such as those provided in the bill are necessary to respond to financial disasters due to unfair market competition from subsidized foreign produced seafood,” said Eric K. Kingma, Executive Director, Hawaii Longline Association.

“There is a lack of awareness by the American consumer of the origin of most seafood, this Bill will assist in protecting the hard working American Fishermen sustainability into the future,” said Fred Mattera, Executive Director, Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island.

"The Port Arthur Area Shrimper's Association is supportive of the "Protect American Fisheries Act of 2025." We will do anything that we can to help the U.S. legislators in their passage of this bill. We are fighting for the survival of not just the shrimp industry, but the American fisheries as a whole. We are brothers and sisters in the shrimping community and we pray that all fishermen from all states are successful and we stand in solidarity with them. Although this legislation does not cure all of the ills in our industries, it is the start of a conversation and I hope that this conversation will continue into the future as we address the many issues of the shrimp industry and other fisheries as well in their fight for survival. All that we ask for is a level playing field and fair prices for our catches without interference from foreign countries,” said Tricia Kimball, Vice President, Port Arthur Area Shrimpers Association.

"The New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association stands firmly behind the Protect American Fisheries Act. This critical legislation empowers our fishermen and seafood businesses to combat the deleterious effects of foreign market manipulation and unfair competition. By recognizing economic factors as valid grounds for declaring a federal fishery resource disaster, we are not only protecting our livelihoods but also maintaining the integrity and sustainability of our local fishing communities. We are proud to support the Protect American Fisheries Act as it represents a vital step toward ensuring a level playing field for American fishermen. The act addresses the urgent need to confront the challenges posed by subsidized foreign competitors who jeopardize our industry with their substandard, low-priced seafood. By endorsing this legislation, we are advocating for the future of our fisheries and the economic stability of our coastal communities,” said Jerry Leeman, CEO, New England Fishermen's Stewardship Association.

“The unfair trade practices allowing foreign shrimp to flood our markets at artificially low prices have made it increasingly difficult for our watermen to sustain their livelihoods. When chicken feet cost more than shrimp, it highlights the urgent need for action. The Protect American Fisheries Act addresses these issues by including economic disasters—such as shrimp dumping and the ongoing trade imbalances—as part of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. This inclusion is a critical piece of the puzzle needed to keep our domestic commercial fishing industry functioning and sustainable,” said H. Huger McClellan, President of the McClellanville Watermen’s Association.

“Disaster relief for watermen needs to be done in a timely manner. This relief comes at a time that watermen need it the most. If disaster hits, most watermen are hit pretty hard, and being self-employed they need immediate relief. Thanks to everyone involved in supporting this bill,” said J.C. Hudgins, President of the Virginia Waterman’s Association.

The House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing titled “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part I” examined the widespread theft and misuse of billions of taxpayer funds tied to a Somali-linked fraud network which flourished under the watch of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

The Oversight Committee hearing featured testimony from Minnesota state lawmakers currently investigating large-scale fraud in publicly funded programs, including child nutrition, housing assistance, and social services– schemes which have already resulted in numerous convictions and are believed to represent only a fraction of the total fraud committed.

During the hearing, we pressed witnesses on:

Whether Somali immigrants convicted of large-scale fraud should be denaturalized and deported
When Minnesota officials became aware of the fraud
Whether state leaders obstructed investigations or failed to recover stolen funds
Whether federal authorities coordinated on denaturalization or deportation tied to fraud convictions

Witness testimony confirmed millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained funds were routed overseas, including to Al-Shabaab, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization affiliated with al-Qaeda.

“Democrats on this Committee would rather shout at witnesses than confront the truth,” said Congresswoman Mace. “Minnesota fraud is Democrat fraud. And the refusal to subpoena basic records looks less like oversight and more like a cover-up.”

The Oversight Committee’s investigation into Minnesota fraud remains ongoing.

Watch our full remarks HERE.

During the Oversight Committee hearing examining fraud in Minnesota, we moved to subpoena immigration records related to Representative Ilhan Omar and her brother-husband.

Our motion sought immigration records necessary to determine whether federal laws were violated in connection with Omar's immigration and marital history. The motion was tabled by both Democrats and Republicans on the Committee.

“Democrats and Republicans teamed up to kill our motion to subpoena the records,” said Congresswoman Mace. “Washington did what it always does, protect its own. The American people are sick of backroom deals and selective accountability.”

Public reporting has raised serious allegations Rep. Omar entered into a legal marriage in 2009 with a man she had privately identified as her brother, allegedly for the purpose of securing lawful immigration status. Reports also indicate she entered into a religious marriage in 2002 which was not legally dissolved until years later.

“If these allegations are true, they raise grave concerns involving potential marriage fraud, immigration fraud, and violations of federal and state law,” Mace continued. “No one, no matter how politically protected, should be above the law.”

Congresswoman Mace released the statement below applauding President Trump and the United States military for its successful operation in capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro:

“President Trump took bold and decisive action today. His brilliant decision to have the brave members of our War department execute a dramatic operation to seize international narco terrorist Nicolás Maduro has made America safer and stronger than ever.

"President Trump has once again shown the world what a strong, well led America can do: strike anywhere, any time, against its enemies.

"The Dictator Maduro thought he could peddle drugs into America and support terrorists, but President Trump showed him otherwise.

"I am so proud of President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, the men and women of the War Department, and our law enforcement officers who all worked together flawlessly to bring Maduro and his wife to the US to face justice."

Congresswoman Mace commented on the Minnesota ICE shooting below:

"This was an act of domestic terrorism.

"ICE officers were attacked during a lawful operation, and one officer was forced to fire defensive shots to survive. Responsibility lies with politicians who incite hatred against law enforcement and then act shocked when violence follows.

"ICE agents now face a 1,300 percent increase in assaults and an 8,000 percent increase in death threats, fueled by the Left’s pro-criminal policies that turn officers into targets.

"Law enforcement deserves our full support."

Congresswoman Mace released the statement below in support of President Trump's updated Childhood Vaccination Schedule:

"President Trump is putting American children first by aligning our childhood vaccine schedule with international standards used across Europe. For too long, our children have been subjected to 72 jabs, far more than any other developed nation, and parents have had legitimate concerns that have, for years, been dismissed.”

This new schedule focuses on the 11 most serious and dangerous diseases while restoring parental rights and medical freedom. European countries have thrived with similar schedules, and there's no reason American children need to be treated differently.

Parents, not bureaucrats or pharmaceutical companies, should have the final say in their children's healthcare decisions. This reform empowers families to work with their doctors to make informed choices without government mandates.

The previous system was excessive, and many parents felt bullied into compliance. President Trump is returning sanity and science-based policy to childhood healthcare.

“As the mom of a child who had a vaccine reaction at 18 months, and who has had one herself from the COVID jab, our family welcomes this modification, for all children."

Weekly Report from Congresswoman Nancy Mace

CONSTITUENT SERVICES
Our casework team is currently managing 539 active cases, helping residents navigate federal bureaucracy at agencies including the IRS, Department of Veterans Affairs, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

To date, our office has returned more than $37.7 million directly to constituents owed money by the federal government.

IN THE DISTRICT
Our team completed over a dozen events, meetings, and site visits across the Lowcountry, including meetings with Johns Island developers, Bluffton constituents, and calls with Joint Base Charleston leadership. We also attended the NOAA Change of Command ceremony, the Beaufort County Veterans Affairs Council meeting, and the Charleston Chamber's Legislative Reception.

We also met with Chief Creel of the Edisto Kusso Tribe, the South Carolina Office of Resiliency, and development teams working on the Dorchester Heritage Center's new facility, a project expected to generate over $52.3 million in economic impact over ten years.

FEDERAL FUNDING & LOCAL PROJECTS
We submitted a letter of support for the Dorchester Heritage Center's new facility project to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's New Market Tax Credit program for $2.3 million. This project would create jobs and serve over 25,000 students in poverty.

Charleston was awarded a Safe Streets for All grant through the Department of Transportation for $140,000. This project will install and evaluate temporary curb extensions at six downtown intersections to improve pedestrian safety and traffic.

Berkeley County was awarded a Military Enhancement Fund grant for $1.8 million to acquire two firefighting-capable boats and a heavy-duty tow vehicle.

Both grants received support from our office.

Lowcountry FIRST.

We met with constituents from Bluffton, including a grandfather who brought his two young granddaughters, to pray together and talk about our shared responsibility to protect real women and girls.

Moments like this remind us why these issues matter. Protecting women is not political theater; it is about safeguarding the dignity, safety, and future of the next generation. We prayed for courage, wisdom, and the strength to stand firm when it matters most.

We owe our daughters and granddaughters no less.

HOLD THE LINE.

Representative Mace called out the blatant hypocrisy of South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who is now starting the year with a dedicated security detail his office quietly requested while publicly mocking Rep. Mace for seeking basic protection amid thousands of credible threats.

Last month, Wilson dismissed Rep. Mace's legitimate security concerns as those of an "entitled" and "spoiled brat," despite her office documenting over 1,300 credible death threats annually. During the same time period, Wilson quietly obtained the very security protection he ridiculed Rep. Mace for seeking.

"It’s rich how security is ‘entitlement’ when it’s a Conservative woman who calls it like she sees it, but perfectly justified when it’s Alan Wilson," said Rep. Mace. "Classic career politician who thinks his own rules don’t apply to him."

The threats against Rep. Mace are credible, constant, and undeniable. Her fellow South Carolina delegation members have publicly acknowledged the severity of the danger she faces daily.

Representative Ralph Norman stated, “...Nancy gets more death threats than probably anyone.”

Senator Lindsey Graham added, “...Nancy is right. There’s some pretty angry people out there...”

Rep. Mace’s threats have materialized into concrete actions requiring law enforcement intervention.

Last month, a South Carolina judge denied bond for the third time to Samuel Theodore Cain, who threatened to shoot and kill Rep. Mace earlier this year. The threat triggered immediate law enforcement response and forced substantial changes to the Congresswoman's family security protocols. Even from behind bars, Cain's threat persisted. According to information provided to authorities by a confidential informant, when asked whether he would still assassinate Rep. Mace following the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, Cain responded affirmatively without hesitation. Cain represents just one case among hundreds of documented threats.

The current political environment has seen an alarming escalation of violence against public officials nationwide, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk, two attempts on President-elect Donald Trump's life, and the murder of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman.

After Kirk's assassination, Rep. Mace's office was inundated with threats from individuals who left explicit threats of violence and death via voicemail. A selection of these disturbing recordings is available HERE.

“Alan Wilson called me ‘entitled’ and ‘spoiled’ for asking for help after receiving more than 1,300 credible death threats each year, with multiple individuals incarcerated for making those threats,” said Rep. Mace. “He then quietly requested the same protection he mocked me for seeking. Alan Wilson is a coward.”

We held a press conference with local news outlets to announce the reintroduction of our bill, the Protect American Fisheries Act of 2025, to strengthen protections for U.S. fisheries and coastal communities against foreign interference and illegal fishing.

We were joined by Bryan Jones, Vice President of the South Carolina Shrimpers Association, and Craig Reaves, owner of Sea Eagle Seafood and Good Eats and SC Board Member of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.

Check out our coverage below:

Live 5 News:

ABC News 4:

WCBD News 2:

We held another press conference on our bill, the Preventing Prosecutors from Protecting Predators Act of 2026, because no survivor should ever endure abuse or exploitation only to be failed a second time by prosecutors who refuse to do their jobs. This legislation is about accountability, transparency, and making sure justice is on the side of victims, not predators.

Check out our coverage below:

Live 5 News:

WCBD News 2:

FOX NEWS APPEARANCES

On Jan. 8th, we discussed the ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis, a clear act of domestic terrorism. A vehicle was used as a weapon against federal officers. After years of demonizing law enforcement, Democrats now own the consequences.