Senate Bills Would Prohibit, Study Foreign Purchases of US Land
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., introduced two bills July 31 that would restrict and scrutinize foreign purchases of American land.
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The Prohibition of Agricultural Land for Foreign Adversaries Act, which was referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee, would prohibit individuals and entities from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from buying agricultural land in the U.S. Blackburn's news release cited concerns that Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland, including land near military bases, could enable espionage and drone strikes.
The Foreign Property Ownership Transparency Act, which was referred to the Senate Banking Committee, would require the Government Accountability Office to study the extent and effect of foreign purchases of U.S. residential real estate. Blackburn's release noted that such transactions, especially those using anonymous shell entities, could be distorting U.S. housing markets and threatening national security.
Foreign ownership of U.S. land is addressed in a host of other bills introduced earlier this year, including one by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., that would prohibit the sale of U.S. agricultural land to “foreign adversaries,” namely China, Iran, North Korea and Russia (see 2502190004). Another bill, by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., would bar Chinese corporations and individuals associated with the Chinese Communist Party from owning American agricultural land and homes (see 2507100031).