Josh Hawley plans to safeguard U.S. farmland from the Communist Chinese government with this new plan
In recent years there has been a growing concern over multi-national corporations with ties to hostile foreign governments buying up American farmland.
And as the buying of U.S. farmland by hostile foreign nations continues to grow, a group of lawmakers wants to do something about it.
That’s why Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri plans to safeguard US farmland from the Communist Chinese government with this new plan.U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is sponsoring a bill that would stop Chinese Communist Party affiliates from owning U.S. farmland.
This land is our land
Hawley is joining with a growing group of lawmakers who have been warning about the issue for some time now.
Hawley’s bill, entitled the “This Land is Our Land Act,” would ban corporations and individuals linked to the Communist Chinese government from buying or leasing U.S. agricultural land.
It also stipulates that upon passage of the bill, existing owners must divest their interests or face fines and potential criminal prosecutions.In a statement, Hawley said, “No Chinese corporation or individual associated with the CCP should be permitted to own American farmland. It undermines the integrity of our nation’s food supply chain, it presents national security threats when the land is in close proximity to military installations, and it hurts American farmers.”
The issue has taken on a new importance since the Communist Chinese surveillance balloon program was revealed which violated the airspace of dozens of countries, including the United States.
The Communist Chinese spy balloon garnered much media attention as it made a week-long journey across the country under the cautious eyes of the American people.
Highlighting Communist Chinese threats
The CCP’s balloon passed over sensitive U.S. military assets, drawing condemnation from both parties and both chambers of Congress and eventually, although very belatedly, caused the Biden administration to act and shoot the spy balloon down.This bill is just the latest effort in recent months from Congress and various individual states to highlight threats from Communist China.
The bill would force Chinese state-backed entities and companies based in China’s mainland, Hong Kong, or Macau to divest interests in U.S. farmland within two years.
Within a year these entities and companies would need to sign a letter declaring their intent to take action.
Violations, or failure to act, would cost $100 a day on each acre they own and could mean up to five years in federal prison. Continued violations would result in forfeiture of the land, which would then be sold through a public auction.
This push to restrict land ownership from Communist Chinese entities is also gaining traction in a number of states.
The Missouri House backed legislation targeting land purchases from Communist China and four other foreign adversaries.
In North Dakota, Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski announced plans to cancel a Communist Chinese corn mill project after the U.S. Air Force warned that the proposed plant would be a “significant threat to national security” potentially impacting operations at the local Air Force Base.
The Virginia legislature has also approved versions of a proposal to prohibit Communist Chinese farmland buying, sending it to the desk of Governor Glenn Youngkin, who is expected to sign it.
Informed American will keep you up-to-date on any developments to this ongoing story.
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