Sens Braun, Tester, Rubio and Tuberville introduce bipartisan bill to stop foreign adversaries from buying U.S. farmland

Thursday, Senators Braun, Tester, Rubio and Tuberville introduced legislation to prohibit the purchase of U.S. farmland by those associated with the governments of our foreign adversaries (Iran, North Korea, China and Russia). 

“Chinese ownership of American farmland increased more than 20-fold in the past decade. We cannot allow our top foreign adversaries to buy up American farmland and compromise our agricultural supply chains. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort with Senator Tester to protect American farms and bolster food security.”— Sen. Braun

“As a third-generation Montana farmer, I am not going to let our foreign adversaries use American farmland to threaten our position as the world’s leading military and economic power. That’s why I’m leading this bipartisan effort to defend our food security and national security.”—Sen. Tester

“Foreign adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party, should never be allowed to control Americans' agricultural lands or our food supply. We cannot allow these regimes to continue exploiting the openness of our system. This bipartisan legislation is an important step to protect our national security interests.”—Sen. Rubio

“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. 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.”—Sen. Tuberville

Background

U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows that Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland increased from $81 million in 2010 to $1.8 billion in 2020. TheProtecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act would prohibit the purchase or lease of agricultural land in the United States by those associated with the governments of Iran, North Korea, China and Russia. It also prohibits their participation in the USDA agricultural programs for farmers. These restrictions do not include United States citizens or permanent residents. 

Bill text here.