Moolenaar Leads Bipartisan Bill to Stop China From Purchasing U.S. Farmland

Today, Congressman John Moolenaar introduced the Protecting U.S. Farmland and Sensitive Sites from Foreign Adversaries Act. The legislation takes decisive action to safeguard U.S. national security and food security by closing gaps in federal oversight of foreign land acquisitions. For too long, foreign adversaries like China have been able to purchase American farmland and real estate near sensitive national security sites with limited scrutiny, and in many cases none at all. These purchases pose risks to critical infrastructure, military readiness, and the resilience of the U.S. food supply.

"Food security is national security, and we cannot allow foreign adversaries like China to buy up American farmland near our most sensitive military and critical infrastructure sites. This bipartisan legislation closes dangerous loopholes, presumptively bars foreign adversaries from purchasing land, and ensures the United States has the tools to stop these farmland deals before they threaten our security. It also implements the Trump Administration's America First Investment Policy and USDA's Farm Security Action Plan by giving the administration the authority needed to protect United States farmland and real estate near sensitive facilities. This a top concern of the American people and I hope Congress will act quickly to pass it into law," said Moolenaar.

Moolenaar is the Chairman of the Hose Select Committee on China. His bill has bipartisan support from Representatives Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Dr. Neal Dunn (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Pat Harrington (R-NC), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Mike Thompson (D-CA).

An exclusive article about this legislation featured in The Daily Wire was published this morning and can be read here.

The Protecting U.S. Farmland and Sensitive Sites from Foreign Adversaries Act ensures that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has the jurisdiction necessary to address real estate transactions involving foreign adversaries, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. It also deems the purchase by any foreign adversary of U.S. farmland and critical infrastructure as presenting an unacceptable risk to national, with limited exceptions.

Moolenaar's bipartisan legislation also establishes a new category of "elevated risk real estate transactions," ensuring mandatory review of purchases involving farmland, ports, telecommunications infrastructure, and locations in proximity to military installations and intelligence facilities. Finally, the bill formally incorporates food security and agricultural biotechnology risks into CFIUS reviews and ensures the Secretary of Agriculture is included as a key voice in evaluating such transactions.