Staff Reports
Democrats and Republicans may not see eye to eye on much these days, but they managed to find common ground this week when it came to China. In a rare instance of bipartisanship, the Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of an amendment to a national defense bill that would limit land sales to foreign adversaries, including China.
BREAKING: the Senate just passed my amendment to the NDAA to ban China, Russia, North Korea and Iran from buying American farmland and ag businesses. pic.twitter.com/KSnlcPOD7e
— Senator Mike Rounds (@SenatorRounds) July 25, 2023
The amendment, put forward by Montana Senator John Tester and South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds, aims to curb future purchases of American agricultural land by foreign governments. It would empower the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review agriculture-related foreign investment data and potentially block land sales to countries deemed adversarial.
Food security is national security—plain and simple.
Allowing enemies like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea to buy up American farmland is a direct threat to our food supply, so I spoke on the Senate floor just now to urge passage of my amendment to block them from doing so. pic.twitter.com/SiGlwuNYQV
— Senator Jon Tester (@SenatorTester) July 25, 2023
America is not for sale, but China is buying up land near our critical military installations.
Today, the Senate strengthened our national security by advancing my work to close loopholes that have allowed the CCP to encroach on our farmland. #NDAA
— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) July 25, 2023
Senator Rounds cited a recent case in his home state where a Chinese government-linked company purchased land near a military drone base as evidence of the need for the amendment. He emphasized the importance of protecting America’s military bases and national security from potential threats posed by hostile foreign governments.
Senator Tester, a third-generation farmer himself, highlighted the connection between food security and national security. He argued that allowing foreign adversaries like China to invest in American agriculture puts American businesses and the nation’s food security at risk.
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, who had previously introduced similar legislation, applauded the passage of the amendment. She emphasized that America is not for sale and pointed out the concerning trend of China buying up land near critical military installations. Ernst made it clear that protecting America’s interests and ensuring national security should take priority over foreign investments.
This bipartisan effort to limit land sales to foreign adversaries demonstrates an important step towards safeguarding American assets from potential threats. It is crucial to put the nation’s interests first and prioritize national security over profit. China’s aggressive land acquisitions should not be taken lightly, and it is reassuring to see politicians from both sides of the aisle recognizing this and taking action.
