Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott is spearheading a legislative effort aimed at enhancing national security through improved scrutiny of foreign land acquisitions near sensitive U.S. military and intelligence sites. The proposed legislation, named the Protect Our Bases Act, seeks to empower the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) by ensuring it has updated information to effectively assess such transactions.
Chairman Scott introduced the bill alongside several other senators including Mike Crapo, Mike Rounds, Thom Tillis, John Kennedy, Bill Hagerty, Katie Britt, Pete Ricketts, Jim Banks, Kevin Cramer, Bernie Moreno, and Dave McCormick. The legislation mandates that CFIUS member agencies annually update records of facilities deemed sensitive for national security purposes.
"The Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to infiltrate and surveil all parts of the U.S national security apparatus requires vigilance from our national security agencies," stated Chairman Scott. He emphasized that the bill will enhance reviews of foreign real estate transactions near critical installations.
Senator Crapo highlighted Idaho's multiple military installations and stressed the importance of increasing accountability around land sales near these sites. "We must protect sensitive military and government sites from foreign adversaries pursuing intelligence activities on our own land," he said.
Senator Tillis pointed out the growing threat from hostile regimes like the Chinese Communist Party attempting to access sensitive sites. He remarked that the Protect Our Bases Act ensures CFIUS has current information on key locations to prevent dangerous land purchases.
The act addresses concerns raised by past incidents such as Fufeng Group's attempt to purchase land near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. Due to outdated site listings by CFIUS member agencies, this transaction could not be evaluated for national security risks until local authorities intervened.
Senator Hagerty noted that foreign adversaries have long exploited America's open real estate market. "The Protect Our Bases Act gives our nation the tools to identify who is buying land near sensitive sites and stop transactions that could put the security of Americans at risk," he said.
Other senators echoed similar sentiments about securing intelligence against escalating threats from countries like China, Iran, and Russia. Senator Britt called allowing CFIUS to review these purchases "common sense," while Senator Ricketts advocated keeping farmland adjacent to sensitive sites under American ownership.
The legislation also requires an annual report submission by CFIUS to Congress certifying completion of reviews and accuracy of real estate listings used in assessments.
