Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) introduced bipartisan legislation Wednesday to protect American agricultural land from foreign ownership.
The Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act bans the sale of farmland to any business or entity associated with Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia.
“The surge of foreign-owned agricultural land in the U.S. demonstrates the need to keep our top foreign adversaries out of our agricultural supply chains,” said Tuberville (R-Auburn). “We must increase federal oversight of foreign investments in agricultural land, especially from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. Our food and national security must be prioritized and protected from bad actors.
“I’m proud to support this legislation to safeguard our agricultural industry and national interests.”
Tuberville serves on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and John Tester (D-Mont.) were also original sponsors of the bill.
Tuberville has introduced two other pieces of legislation that also guard American farmland from foreign influence. The Foreign Adversary Risk Management Act (FARM Act) adds the Secretary of Agriculture as a permanent member to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
The Securing America’s Land from Foreign Interference Interference Act ensures that Chinese entities cannot purchase land in the U.S. and sets minimum penalties for foreign purchases that do not meet federal reporting requirements.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
