By Jamie Martin
The Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act has been reintroduced in Congress to protect U.S. farmland and agricultural businesses from foreign ownership. Led by Representative Elise Stefanik of New York and Representative Rick Crawford of Arkansas, the legislation seeks to ensure national and food security by preventing countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from purchasing or controlling U.S. agricultural assets.
The PASS Act grants the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) greater authority to review and oversee foreign investments in the agricultural sector. This includes ensuring that no adversarial nation gains influence over land near military installations or within the country’s food supply chain.
“Food security is national security, and I am proud to reintroduce this legislation that will stand up against our foreign adversaries as they attempt to assert control over our agriculture industry,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “The United States cannot allow malign ownership bids of American assets by Communist China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea to undermine the efforts of our farmers, whose hard work feeds and fuels our communities. We cannot allow our adversaries to control land near our military installations and we cannot cede any ownership of our food supply to those who are actively working against our security interests.”
“U.S. agriculture is a critical industry with real and significant impacts on our national security,” said Rep. Rick Crawford (AR-01). “The potential counterintelligence threat to our country from adversaries owning U.S. farmland or agricultural companies is immeasurable. Americans would never be allowed to purchase farmland in China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea, so their citizens should not be permitted to do so here. I am proud to co-lead the PASS Act again this Congress, with my House Intelligence Committee colleague, Rep. Stefanik. This legislation takes the basic and essential step of preventing foreign adversaries from buying up U.S. farmland for nefarious purposes.”
The PASS Act reinforces the importance of keeping farmland in American hands. By limiting foreign acquisitions and involving the USDA in every review, the act ensures that U.S. agriculture continues to serve and secure American communities for generations to come.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-patrick-jennings
Categories: National