diff --git a/src/registrar/config/settings.py b/src/registrar/config/settings.py
index 8e1d4411f..9d606221c 100644
--- a/src/registrar/config/settings.py
+++ b/src/registrar/config/settings.py
@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ AUTH_USER_MODEL = "registrar.User"
 # Configuration for accessing AWS SES
 AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID = env.str("AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID", None)
 AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY = env.str("AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY", None)
+AWS_REGION="us-gov-west-1"
 
 # email address to use for various automated correspondence
 # TODO: pick something sensible here
diff --git a/src/registrar/tests/test_models.py b/src/registrar/tests/test_models.py
index a2e76dea2..868585cc8 100644
--- a/src/registrar/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/src/registrar/tests/test_models.py
@@ -78,32 +78,12 @@ class TestDomainApplication(TestCase):
         """Create an application and submit it and see if email was sent."""
         user, _ = User.objects.get_or_create()
         contact = Contact.objects.create(email="test@test.gov")
-        com_website, _ = Website.objects.get_or_create(website="igorville.com")
-        gov_website, _ = Website.objects.get_or_create(website="igorville.gov")
         domain, _ = Domain.objects.get_or_create(name="igorville.gov")
-        domain.save()
         application = DomainApplication.objects.create(
             creator=user,
-            investigator=user,
-            organization_type=DomainApplication.OrganizationChoices.FEDERAL,
-            federal_type=DomainApplication.BranchChoices.EXECUTIVE,
-            is_election_board=False,
-            organization_name="Test",
-            address_line1="100 Main St.",
-            address_line2="APT 1A",
-            state_territory="CA",
-            zipcode="12345-6789",
-            authorizing_official=contact,
             requested_domain=domain,
             submitter=contact,
-            purpose="Igorville rules!",
-            security_email="security@igorville.gov",
-            anything_else="All of Igorville loves the dotgov program.",
-            is_policy_acknowledged=True,
         )
-        application.current_websites.add(com_website)
-        application.alternative_domains.add(gov_website)
-        application.other_contacts.add(contact)
         application.save()
         application.submit()
 
diff --git a/src/registrar/tests/test_views.py b/src/registrar/tests/test_views.py
index b40fcc2dc..062f48a1a 100644
--- a/src/registrar/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/src/registrar/tests/test_views.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from django.urls import reverse
 from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 
 from django_webtest import WebTest  # type: ignore
+import boto3_mocking
 
 from registrar.models import DomainApplication, Domain, Contact, Website
 from registrar.views.application import ApplicationWizard, Step
@@ -115,6 +116,7 @@ class DomainApplicationTests(TestWithUser, WebTest):
             "What kind of U.S.-based government organization do you represent?", result
         )
 
+    @boto3_mocking.patching
     def test_application_form_submission(self):
         """Can fill out the entire form and submit.
         As we add additional form pages, we need to include them here to make
diff --git a/src/registrar/utility/email.py b/src/registrar/utility/email.py
index 5b797e245..e3489fe86 100644
--- a/src/registrar/utility/email.py
+++ b/src/registrar/utility/email.py
@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@ def send_templated_email(template_name: str, to_address: str, context={}):
 
     ses_client = boto3.client(
         "sesv2",
+        region_name=settings.AWS_REGION,
         aws_access_key_id=settings.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID,
         aws_secret_access_key=settings.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY,
+
     )
     ses_client.send_email(
         FromEmailAddress=settings.DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL,