A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) says that the Congresswoman supports legislation that would prohibit Chinese entities from buying farmland in the U.S. in the interest of "national and food security."
“Agriculture is Eastern Washington’s number one industry, and the congresswoman stands by our farmers and ranchers," McMorris Rodgers spokesperson Chavonne Ludick said. "She is deeply concerned about the alarming trend of companies from China trying to lock down resources around the world. Americans should not be forced to rely on China for the food they put on the table, which is why she is helping lead on legislation to prohibit the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing farmland in the United States, support domestic food production, and decrease our dependence on foreign adversaries.”
McMorris Rodgers, along with fellow Washington Republican Dan Newhouse, introduced House Resolution 7892 (H.R. 7892), the Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People’s Republic of China Act, in May. The bill directs the President to take any actions necessary to prohibit "nonresident aliens, foreign businesses, an agent, trustee, or fiduciary associated with the Government of the People’s Republic of China" from buying American farmland, including ranch land. The bill would also exclude those entities from participating in any United States Department of Agriculture programs, other than food safety inspections, according to the text of HR 7892.
A fact sheet released by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) said American farmland is a "strategic asset that enables the U.S. to maintain food security and independence, but China's Belt and Road Initiative includes the goal of controlling global food supply chains."
The fact sheet cited documents from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), that report the amount of U.S. farmland owned by Chinese entities rose from 13,720 acres in 2010 to 352,140 acres in 2020, enough for almost 800 American families to farm, based on an average U.S. farm size of 445 acres, according to the fact sheet. Fourteen individual states currently have laws in place that prohibit the CCP from owning farmland: Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, the release stated.
The AFPI also released "model legislation" for 2023, providing an example how states can enact bans on Chinese purchases of American farmland. The sample bill is called the "Liberty for Our Agricultural Land Act," which partially draws on a South Carolina bill, H 4845, AFPI reported.
The model legislation says that neither the Chinese Communist Party, "its members, nor any company or development owned or controlled by a company that is owned, in whole or in part, by, or is a subsidiary of the People’s Republic of China or the CCP or whose principal place of business is located within the People’s Republic of China may own, in whole or in part, or lease, possess, or exercise any control over any agricultural land in this state. Furthermore, a deed for any such real estate conveyance in which the CCP or its members are the recipients is deemed invalid."
According to her House biography, McMorris Rodgers has represented Washington's 5th Congressional District since she was elected in 2004.
