Washington State Representative Dan Newhouse has announced the introduction of the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act. The bill aims to add the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and block foreign adversaries from acquiring U.S. agricultural land.
According to a press release by Newhouse, the bill seeks to include the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on CFIUS to oversee transactions involving land and agricultural sectors and report any national security threats.
A report from the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) states that between 2010 and 2020, U.S. farmland owned by entities associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) increased from 13,720 to 352,140 acres, valued at approximately $1.9 billion. "Securing and dominating world food supply chains is an integral part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative," AFPI's Adam Savit said in the report, adding that a key part of the CCP's plan includes acquiring land in the U.S. "The average U.S. farm is 445 acres, so nearly 800 American families could be farming this acreage that is now controlled by the CCP," Savit said.
In a press release, Newhouse stated, "It is not enough to just discuss this issue—we must take immediate action to stop the CCP from further encroachment. By adding the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS, we can ensure much-needed oversight of agricultural land purchases by foreign adversaries, which will protect American farmers and the industry as a whole." He added that "the Chinese Communist Party has long sought to undermine our institutions and very way of life, and I am proud to lead this effort to support farmers in Central Washington and across the nation."
Representative Dan Newhouse is a lifelong Central Washington resident and third-generation Yakima Valley farmer who represents Washington's 4th District in Congress. He draws on his experience as a businessman, former state legislator, and Director of Washington's Department of Agriculture to advocate for conservative solutions that promote job creation and economic growth.
Newhouse serves on the Appropriations Committee, handling key legislative issues for his district, and holds a degree in agricultural economics from Washington State University.
