New legislation would prohibit the sale of agricultural land to Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce the Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act, which would prohibit the sale of U.S. agricultural land to any individual or entity tied to the governments of Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia.
“The surge of foreign-owned agricultural land in the U.S. demonstrates the need to keep our top foreign adversaries out of our agricultural supply chains,” said Senator Tuberville.“We must increase federal oversight of foreign investments in agricultural land, especially from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. Our food and national security must be prioritized and protected from bad actors. I’m proud to support this legislation to safeguard our agricultural industry and national interests.”
Original cosponsors in the Senate also include U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and John Tester (D-MT).
BACKGROUND
Over the past few years, the United States has experienced a rapid increase in foreign investment in the agricultural sector, particularly from China. Growing foreign investment in agriculture and other essential industries, like health care and energy, threaten our country’s national security and ability to survive. Senator Tuberville has long been a vocal critic of foreign ownership of American farmland and other elements of our food supply chain.
Earlier this year, Senator Tuberville introduced the Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would ensure the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) acknowledges the importance of our agricultural industry and supply chains by adding the Secretary of Agriculture as a permanent member of the committee. Currently, CFIUS does not directly consider the needs of the agriculture industry when reviewing foreign investment and ownership in domestic businesses. More information about the FARM Act can be found here.
Last year, Senator Tuberville introduced the Securing America’s Land from Foreign Interference Act to prohibit members of the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing land in the United States and set minimum penalties for foreign purchases that fail to comply with federal reporting requirements.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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