Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-3357
Sponsor: Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5]
Introduced: 2023-05-16 in the House
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Allergies
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Fruit and vegetables
Grain
Health promotion and preventive care
Nutrition and diet
Retail and wholesale trades

Summary:
action_date: 2023-05-16
text: 

Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act of 2023

 
This bill prohibits persons associated with the governments of Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia from purchasing or leasing agricultural land in the United States.
 
Specifically, the President must prohibit any person (individual or entity) owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of these foreign governments from purchasing or leasing (1) public agricultural land that is owned by the United States and administered by a federal department or agency, or (2) private agricultural land that is located in the United States. 
 
A person that violates or attempts to violate this prohibition is subject to civil and criminal penalties. This prohibition does not require a person that owns or leases agricultural land as of the date of this bill's enactment to sell that land. 
 
Further, the President must prohibit a person associated with these foreign governments and who leases, or who has full or partial ownership of, agricultural land in the United States from participating in Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Exceptions are included to allow for participation in USDA programs related to food safety, the health and labor safety of individuals, or certain reporting and disclosure requirements. 
 
The restrictions established by the bill do not apply to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. 
 
The bill also amends the agriculture foreign investment disclosure reporting requirements to include reporting on security interests and leases.
 
Finally, USDA must submit a report every two years on foreign ownership of agriculture land in the United States.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-07-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on the National Intelligence Enterprise.
action_date: 2023-05-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-05-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-05-16
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-05-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-05-16
text: Introduced in House