U.S. Representative Mark Alford (R-Mo.) has introduced a new property protection bill, the American Land and Property Protection Act. As stated in a recent press release, the legislation aims to prevent entities associated with certain foreign countries from purchasing land within the United States.
"Foreign adversaries have no business owning American real estate. Right now, if Americans wanted to travel to Moscow, Beijing, or Havana, we would not be allowed to buy property. Why is the reverse scenario permissible?" said Alford in his press release. "Our legislation will change that. In an ever-changing global landscape, we must take the necessary steps to secure our homeland. Our bill is a crucial first step in accomplishing that."
According to Fox News, which first reported on Alford's bill, the American Land and Property Protection Act would bar groups associated with China, Russia, North Korea and Iran from purchasing land in the U.S. This legislation emerges amidst ongoing concerns over increasing foreign ownership of American lands and warnings from lawmakers about potential threats to national security, particularly when land is purchased near military bases.
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI), in a February 2024 article, claimed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is targeting U.S. "critical infrastructure," defined as assets vital for national and economic security and public health. The AFPI recommended states to enforce background checks for "critical infrastructure" employees, ban foreign ownership near military bases and mandate reporting of all suspicious transactions.
In an April 2023 article by AFPI argued that the CCP falls into its own category of countries designated as threats and singled out China as the primary threat. The institute reported that according to a Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, the CCP has continued acquiring American land in an attempt to surpass the U.S. as the leading global power. The AFPI stated that CCP's holdings of agricultural lands in the U.S rose from 13,720 acres in 2010 to 352,140 acres in 2020, marking a 5,300% increase. This land is estimated to be worth approximately $1.9 billion.
As per his website, Alford serves the 4th District of Missouri and was inducted into the 118th Congress as a new member. He is part of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Small Business Committee.
