Toward safeguarding U.S. national security and food security, U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) on May 7 unveiled bipartisan legislation that would close gaps in federal oversight of foreign land acquisitions.
“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,” Rep. Moolenaar said. “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.”
The congressman sponsored the Protecting U.S. Farmland and Sensitive Sites from Foreign Adversaries Act, H.R. 8700, alongside 13 original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Pat Harrigan (R-NC), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), and Mike Thompson (D-CA).
If enacted, H.R. 8700 would ensure that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has jurisdiction to address real estate transactions involving foreign adversaries, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
The bill also would deem the purchase by any foreign adversary of U.S. farmland and critical infrastructure as an unacceptable risk to national security, with limited exceptions, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Moolenaar’s office.
“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,” said Rep. Moolenaar. “This is a top concern of the American people and I hope Congress will act quickly to pass it into law.”
Additionally, H.R. 8700 would establish a new category of “elevated risk real estate transactions” to ensure 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 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture is included as a key voice in evaluating such transactions, the summary says.