First on FOX: Rep. Ashley Hinson and Sen. Pete Ricketts are rolling out bilateral bills with bipartisan support to secure the US agricultural supply chain from vulnerability and potential Communist Party of China, Fox News Digital learned.
R-Iowa's Hinson will be introduced in the House of Representatives to ensure US agriculture, and Ricketts (R-neb.) will introduce this measure in the Senate.
Flashback: House Dem, Republicans Work to Block CCP Invasions on US Food Supply
Securing the US Agriculture Act would require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct an annual assessment to identify supply chain vulnerabilities, domestic production gaps, and potential CCP exploitation.
Rep. Ashley Hinson introduces securing the American Farm Act in the House of Representatives. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
He also directs the Agriculture Secretary to recommend ways to reduce China's impact on the industry to strengthen US trust and mitigate potential threats.
The bill ensures that USDA accurately explains its reliance on China for critical agricultural inputs and access to guarantees to American producers.
“China has intentionally captured a significant market share of American agricultural inputs essential to our food supply chain, which is handing over leverage to our top opponents,” Hinson told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. “Iowa farmers have said directly that our food production will be at risk if China decides to block access to these important inputs. I am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill that reveals and refutes China's agricultural inputs to strengthen domestic manufacturing and food security.”
Hinson added: “Plain and simple: You need to bring your agricultural supply chain home.”
“China Communism's strategic management of key sectors in our food and agriculture supply chain poses a serious national security threat,” Ricketts told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
R-Neb. Senator Pete Ricketts will introduce the measure in the Senate. (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
China is threatening our farmers and our food supply. The state needs to step up
“Loss of access to key input can lead to reduced productivity, increased food prices and erode food security,” Ricketts told Fox News Digital. “My bill will strengthen and protect these supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign enemies.”
The bill is also supported by D-Ill Raja Krishnamoorti, a ranking member of the House China Committee.
“American farmers are the backbone of our economy and we need to ensure that they have the resources and protections they need to compete on equal arenas, while ensuring the agricultural supply chain of our country.”
Ranking members Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill. speaks during a special House committee hearing dedicated to countering China on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at Capitol Hill, Washington. (Alex Brandon/Applications)
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The bill was made by John Mourenard and R-Mich, chairman of the House China Committee. Responsible: Jill Tokuda, d-Hawaii. Rep. D-Kansas Sharice Davids; among other things, Rep. Scott Franklin of the R-FLA.
In the Senate, Democrat Senator Elissa Slotkin. Republican Sen. James Lisch, R-Idaho; Shelley Moore Capitto, RW.V. ;Eric Schmidt, R-Mo. Mike Krapo, R-Idaho; Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo. Senator Deb Fisher, R-Neb. Senate Majority Whip John Baraso, R-Wyo. also supports the bill.
“Food security is national security,” Slotkin told Fox News Digital.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) told Fox News Digital that “food security is national security.” (Reuters)
“Like any security risk, we need to deal with threats to the food supply chain,” Slotkin said. “The law requires that these risks be assessed so that they can protect food supplies. The final line: make sure that the American agricultural supply chain is safe and stays at home.”
