Lawmakers Renew Efforts to Restrict Foreign Purchases of US Land
Republican lawmakers reintroduced several bills Jan. 22 aimed at curbing the acquisition of American land by certain foreign countries.
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The Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act, offered by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, would expand the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to include purchases by China, Russia, Iran or North Korea of land near U.S. military bases and training areas.
“Foreign adversaries are exploiting loopholes to acquire land near our military bases and training routes, jeopardizing the safety of our troops and the integrity of our operations,” said Cruz, whose bill was referred to the Senate Banking Committee.
The Not One More Inch or Acre Act, proposed by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., would prevent Chinese individuals or businesses from buying more American land. China’s acquisition of farmland and other real estate in the U.S. not only “submits American land and resources to China’s best interests,” it also could facilitate Chinese spying against American businesses and military bases, said Cotton, whose bill was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The Foreign Adversary Risk Management Act, or Farm Act, offered by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, would permanently add the agriculture secretary to CFIUS. Jackson said he wants to ensure that “our nation’s food production remains free from foreign manipulation.” The bill was referred to the Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services and Agriculture committees.
Although the addition to CFIUS was included in an FY 2024 six-bill appropriations package that President Joe Biden signed into law in March 2024 (see 2403110058), that provision was temporary and applied only to FY 2024, which ended Sept. 30 (see 2409050011).