Rep. Kennedy co-leads Legislation to Protect Utah’s Public Lands from Foreign Adversaries

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03), alongside Reps. Newhouse (WA-04), Jeff Hurd (CO-03), John Rose (TN-06), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), and Mike Ezell (MS-04) introduced the Keeping Public Lands Out of Adversarial Hands Act to strengthen national security by taking steps to keep foreign adversaries from acquiring land or resources adjacent to America's public lands. This bill protects Utah's natural resources, safeguards our critical infrastructure, and safeguards against hostile foreign influence on U.S. soil.

"Utah cannot allow foreign adversaries to purchase our land," said Utah Congressman Mike Kennedy. "The Keeping Public Lands out of Adversarial Hands Act will take a vital step by preventing foreign adversaries from purchasing land adjacent to our public spaces. This is a matter of national security, and this legislation takes a vital step towards protecting our territory and the public interest."

Background

This legislation adds the Secretary of the Interior to CFIUS to review transactions for land or resources adjacent to land or sites owned or managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.