Senators Collaborate on Legislation Addressing Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland
In a notable bipartisan effort, Republican Senator Pete Ricketts and Democrat Senator John Fetterman are working together on a law aimed at increasing transparency around foreign acquisitions of American farmland. This move comes in response to a 2024 recommendation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which indicated that current legislation, specifically the Agriculture Foreign Investment Disclosure (AFIDA) Act, lacks the necessary tools to effectively monitor foreign ownership.
Ricketts emphasized the importance of keeping American farmland under the control of local farmers, expressing concerns about foreign adversaries, particularly “communist China,” benefiting from U.S. agricultural assets. He stated, “Food security is national security,” underscoring the vital connection between land ownership and the nation’s safety.
The proposed legislation, co-sponsored by Senators Tommy Tuberville, John Cornyn, Roger Wicker, and Don Bacon, mandates that any foreign investor with multiple stakes in American farmland must submit an AFIDA report.
According to Tuberville, over the years, China has managed to steadily acquire U.S. farmland, thereby raising alarms about the potential infiltration of America’s agricultural supply. He insisted that it’s crucial to prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from having any foothold in U.S. agriculture.
The AFIDA Improvement Act seeks to enhance communication between the U.S. Foreign Investment Committee and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It also includes updates to the AFIDA handbook and sets a deadline for the creation of an online reporting system.
House sponsor Bacon remarked, “If malicious foreign agents like the CCP attempt to buy farmland, having a solid process in place will bolster our nation’s security.” This reflects a broader sentiment among lawmakers focused on curbing foreign control of vital resources.
The bill also aims to modernize the original AFIDA from 1978. Currently, foreign entities must report transactions related to farmland ownership to the USDA. Alarmingly, foreign investors possess over 40 million acres of U.S. farmland, with Chinese holdings alone skyrocketing from about 13,720 acres in 2010 to nearly 384,000 acres by 2021, according to USDA figures.
As part of ongoing efforts to enhance national security, the AFIDA Improvement Act highlights the urgency for Congress to monitor foreign land ownership. Additionally, there’s a growing movement among Senate Republicans to impose restrictions on Chinese citizens purchasing U.S. land near military installations, as illustrated by the proposed Pass Act.
Furthermore, earlier this year, governors from various states, including Arkansas, have moved to propose broader bans on land sales to China. The legislative environment remains highly active, especially as 2024 approaches, with discussions around agricultural security taking center stage.
