Sioux City Times

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) voted in favor of the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today. The legislation mandates the inclusion of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review purchases of American farmland by foreign adversaries, including China.

"On my 36 County Tour and Feenstra Agriculture Tour, I have repeatedly heard from Iowans – especially our farmers – about the importance of protecting our farmland from foreign adversaries. It is a major concern for me that countries like China have increased purchases of American farmland tenfold over the last decade to control our land and threaten our food, energy, and national security," said Rep. Feenstra. "Adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States creates just another safeguard to ensure that our farmland does not fall into the hands of our enemies. I will continue to work to prevent China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, or any of our foreign adversaries from buying our fertile and productive farmland."

Last year, an amendment led by Feenstra to ban China from buying American farmland suitable for domestic energy production passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the Lower Energy Costs Act.

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