A bipartisan bill introduced on May 17 aims to block the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) affiliates from taking hold of U.S. farmland, adding to the growing bipartisan push in Congress to counter threats from Beijing.
Titled “Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act,” the legislation from Reps. Dale Strong (R-Ala.) and Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) would bar individuals associated with the Chinese regime and other foreign adversaries from buying or leasing U.S. farmland.
The prohibition covers any person or entity “owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign adversary”—among them are Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia, with the exception of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Under the proposal, those covered individuals and entities would be banned from participating in the Department of Agriculture programs if they have full or partial ownership of U.S. farmland or lease agricultural land in the country unless it’s related to food safety regulatory requirements or the health and labor safety of individuals….