Congressman Steve Womack (R-AR) recently said that in light of supply chain complications that arose from relying on China, it makes sense to establish protections on U.S. farming. Womack is one more than 100 Congressman who signed a letter urging the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate foreign ownership of U.S. farmland. Multiple bills have been introduced on the federal level that would address the issue of Chinese ownership of agricultural land in the U.S., but none has really seemed to gain traction.
"We saw how reliance on China compounded supply chain issues, and it’s not smart to exacerbate those vulnerabilities. Every safeguard should be in place to protect our farmlands and agriculture production," Womack wrote in an Oct. 3 Twitter post.
In another tweet, Rep. Womack said that he signed onto the letter sent by more than 100 Congressman urging the GAO to investigate foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.
"Arkansans know the value of agriculture. Our nation’s ability to produce and supply food from the land is one of our greatest strengths and critical to national security. America shouldn’t cede control of something so essential to foreign adversaries. I joined these efforts," Womack wrote in his tweet.
Republican Leader of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform James Comer and Republican Leader of the House Committee on Agriculture Glenn “GT” Thompson have issued a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). They were joined by 128 of their colleagues in calling for an investigation into foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, according to a release. The letter called for transparency from the federal government on how this foreign ownership is affecting trade and American food and national security.
In June, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced an amendment to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies FY2023 Appropriations Bill that would prohibit companies owned in part or in full by China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran from buying agricultural land in the U.S., according to a press release. Newhouse called the issue "a matter of national security," pointing to a 2018 report from USDA’s Economic Research Service that found China's investment in the U.S. agricultural sector has increased 10x in the last ten years. Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota and Oklahoma have state laws in place banning foreign ownership of agricultural land, but Chinese investors can still purchase U.S. corporations that own farmland.
“China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are not our allies, and it is imperative that we do not allow these adversaries to gain a foothold on American soil, especially with our food supply already weakened by poor policy decisions from this Administration,” said Rep. Newhouse in a statement at the time. “Ensuring our adversaries cannot control our domestic agriculture and food supply is a matter of national security, and I will not back down in this fight.”
Newhouse's bill has not moved out of the Agriculture and Foreign Affairs Committees.
In early August, Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced a bill that would ban members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from purchasing American agricultural land, according to a release.
“Chinese investments in American farmland put our food security at risk and provide opportunities for Chinese espionage against our military bases and critical infrastructure. Instead of allowing these purchases, the U.S. government must bar the Communist Party from purchasing our land,” Cotton said, according to the release.
“We cannot continue giving our top adversary a foot in the door to purchase land in the United States and undermine our national security,” Tuberville said, according to the release.
The release noted that Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland grew from 13,720 acres in 2010 to 352,140 acres in 2020.
Their bill was referred to the Foreign Relations Committee.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced a bill in June 2021 that would ban CCP members from purchasing any real estate in the U.S. The bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation.
