One of the biggest, and almost uncontrollable problems, to arise the last ten years has been foreign enemies of the United States buying up farmland. It has created a national security threat right on our own soil, and we have done little to combat it. Texas has taken some action, barring people from places like Russia and China from owning farmland in the state. But still, they continue buying more in other states that have failed to address the issue.
Cina has bought land, some right near a couple military bases, for 'wind farms,' but have been seen by many as a way of espionage. Just the basis of the idea is perplexing. A country that has made it clear it wants to do the U.S. harm, owning land near our military sites. Logically, it screams national security threat. It has been going on for years, yet barely anyone has lifted a finger, or even turned their head to look.
But a group of GOP Senators, led by Ted Cruz of Texas, are doing their best to take federal action. They have filed a new bill that would bar foreign adversaries from buying land near United States military bases or training areas.
Tim Nerozzi, a foreign affairs reporter with the Washington Examiner, says this bill specifically targets not just China and Russia, but Iran and North Korea as well.
"It basically gives the authority to the Committee on Foreign Investment to review purchases being made in those area, to ensure there are no issues with national security," he says.
What is dubbed the 'Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act' would expand the jurisdiction of the committee to include these investments if they are made within 50 to 100 miles of a site.
All of this is an effort to hopefully close a widening loophole our enemies are using. But because Democrats are Democrats, it will almost certainly face challenges, both politically and legally. However, action on this should come quick, as the GOP and President Trump have been aggressive to kick off his second term. They are kind of playing out the old saying, 'it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission.'
"The Republicans are more focused on getting legislation and bills on the board, then dealing with legal challenges later," says Nerozzi.
This also comes at a critical juncture, as our adversaries have been preying upon a spineless Biden Administration for the last four years. This though will not just signal to our enemies that America is back; it will be the building block for how we counter those foes.
"You could see similar policies like this adopted in other states besides Texas...there have been conversations about this kind of thing in Florida for years," he says. "I think it is a small step for a much larger change on how Congress is planning to deal with foreign threats."
Sen. Cruz introduced the same bill in February 2023, but it was killed in the Democrat-controlled Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs at the time. But this time around, with Republicans ruling all three branches of government, the potential is there to finally get a hold on this trend and protect our interests.
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