China owns about 380,000 to 384,000 acres of U.S. farmland.

China owns about 380,000 to 384,000 acres of U.S. farmland.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) reintroduced the Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act to ban Chinese corporations and individuals associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from owning American agricultural land and homes.

This legislation is in step with the federal government’s recent announcement to “claw back” ownership of U.S. agricultural land from foreign adversaries such as China. When Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled the government’s National Farm Security Action Plan on July 8, she hinted that legislation, executive orders, and other reforms would be forthcoming to reinforce the goal of the plan. Hawley’s introduction of the Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act is one such move, along with Rollins’ announcement launching a searchable map of foreign farmland ownership and a new online portal to report violations of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act. These actions occurred just after Rollins revealed the farm security plan, reinforcing the Administration’s broader strategy to protect the nation’s farmland and food supply.

Also in February, Rep. Dale Strong (R-Ala.) reintroduced the Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act to prohibit individuals associated with the governments of China and other foreign adversaries from purchasing or leasing U.S. farmland. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

In late January, Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) reintroduced the Not One More Inch or Acre Act to prevent any Chinese individual or business from owning American land.

According to USDA’s map, Chinese entities currently own more than 277,000 acres of agricultural land in 30 states. This total is up 350% since 2010, Hawley’s new release pointed out, adding: “The ownership of so much acreage by our nation’s greatest geopolitical adversary undermines the integrity of our food supply and creates unacceptable national security risks, particularly given the proximity of much of this land to sensitive military installations.”