Legislation Designed to Protect U.S. Ag from Foreign Adversaries

With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I’m Haylie Shipp on the Ag Information Network.

The bipartisan Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act has now been introduced in both congressional chambers. It aims to protect U.S. national security by preventing foreign adversaries from taking any ownership or control of agricultural land and businesses in the United States. The bill will also ensure the USDA is fully involved in reviewing any acquisition of American companies by foreign adversaries that could affect the agricultural sector.

Specifically, China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are prohibited from buying agricultural land and companies in the U.S. It also adds the Ag Secretary as a standing member of the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment.

Arkansas Congressman Rick Crawford, a co-sponsor, says, “Reports of entities ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party buying American farmland and agricultural companies validate the need for a more proactive posture in protecting our agriculture sector from foreign threats.” California Congressman Jim Costa says protecting the food supply is a national security issue.