Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is no longer a member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, Youth Services Insider has confirmed.
Last year, Mace served as a co-chair of the caucus and showed up in that capacity to make some brief remarks at a December reception honoring the 25th anniversary of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Act of 1999. A former foster youth attending the event, James McIntyre, shook Mace’s hand and told her that “trans youth deserve advocacy.”
Mace contacted the Capitol Police department, who arrested McIntyre, and the 33-year-old from Illinois was charged with assault. Mace did not seek medical attention, but posted on Twitter immediately after:
“I was physically accosted at the Capitol tonight by a pro-tr*ns man. … The Capitol police arrested the guy. Your tr*ns violence and threats on my life will only make me double down.”
McIntyre pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was set for a next court appearance on April 3. But before that, prosecutors filed a “notice of nolle prosequi,” meaning they would not move forward with the prosecution in Washington, D.C. Superior Court.
There was never any public announcement of Mace deciding to leave the caucus following the incident, and even now, one page of the caucus website still lists her as one of its six co-chairs. But her office confirmed this week that she did withdraw.
“No she is no longer on the caucus,” said Gabrielle Lipsky, Mace’s communications director, in an email.
Using internet archive searches, it appears that in late February, with no fanfare or public announcement, the “About” section of the caucus website listed Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Indiana) as co-chair in place of Mace. An official House roster of caucus leadership updated in January of this year does not include Mace or Houchin.
Houchin was a child welfare caseworker in Indiana before seeking state office, and was elected to Congress in 2022. She has already been active on child welfare-related legislation, including a bipartisan bill introduced last year that would expand federal support for extended foster care.