As lawmakers rush to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to prevent a government shutdown, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has raised alarms about the bill’s provisions, particularly its redefinition of key criminal terms. The CR, which is designed to keep the government running until a full budget is passed, includes language that Mace believes undermines the severity of certain criminal offenses, a point she highlighted in a series of statements.
Closer look at the language revisions
Mace, in a post on X, shared her concerns over sections of the CR that redefine criminal terminology. “Celebrating International Migrants Day by reminding the deranged Left that crossing the border ILLEGALLY makes you a CRIMINAL,” Mace wrote, signaling her opposition to the bill’s provisions regarding border security and immigration.
The CR’s language redefines “criminal offenders” as “justice-involved individuals,” a change that has sparked a backlash from conservative lawmakers like Mace. “Why does this CR redefine murderers, rapists, child rapists, kidnappers, terrorists, cartel members, drug dealers, sex traffickers, drug traffickers, human traffickers, domestic abusers, child pornographers, arsonists, serial killers, and cannibals among other things… as ‘justice involved individuals?’ These are criminals!” Mace exclaimed.
Woke terminology in government funding
Mace’s criticisms extend beyond criminal terminology. The CR also introduces changes like redefining “out of school youth” to “opportunity youth” and “low-skilled adults” to “adults with foundational skill needs.” Mace described these shifts as “woke nonsense,” arguing that such language changes dilute the severity of the issues at hand and deflect attention from more critical funding needs.
“It’s disturbing to see that instead of keeping the focus on keeping the government open, this CR is full of unnecessary changes that should be dealt with separately,” Mace said. She pointed out that 553 pages of the CR are dedicated to healthcare policy, which she argued had no place in a bill that was intended solely to fund the government.
Mace calls for separate bills
In her statements, Mace emphasized that issues like criminal justice reform and healthcare policy should be addressed in standalone bills, not as part of a stopgap measure. “These should be standalone bills, not hidden in a last-minute CR,” Mace remarked. “The CR should be about keeping the government running, not pushing through pet projects and controversial policy changes.”
Conservatives join the rebellion
Mace is not the only Republican voice criticizing the bill. Other conservatives, including President-elect Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have also voiced their opposition, arguing that the CR fails to address important fiscal issues like the debt ceiling. DeSantis called the bill “grotesque” and an “insult to Americans’ intelligence,” while Trump labeled the CR as “dying fast,” demanding a renegotiation before any funding measure is passed.
What’s at Stake?
With the government funding deadline fast approaching, the debate over the CR has intensified, with conservatives like Mace demanding that lawmakers draw a line when it comes to the inclusion of controversial provisions. As Speaker of the House Mike Johnson scrambles to find a solution, Mace’s stance highlights the deep divisions within the Republican Party over how to balance necessary government funding with ideological concerns.
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