Stefanik and Crawford Reintroduce PASS Act to Block Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland
U.S. Representatives Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rick Crawford (R-AR) have officially reintroduced the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act, a bill designed to strengthen national security by prohibiting foreign adversaries from purchasing or controlling American agricultural land and agribusinesses.
“Food security is national security, and I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation that will stand up against our foreign adversaries as they attempt to control our agriculture industry,” Stefanik said. “The U.S. cannot allow ownership bids of assets by communist China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea to undermine the efforts of our farmers, who work hard to feed and fuel our communities.”
The renewed push to pass the PASS Act comes amid rising concerns about foreign influence and investment in critical U.S. infrastructure, including the agriculture sector. The legislation aims to prohibit countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from acquiring U.S. farmland or agricultural-related businesses.
“U.S. agriculture is a critical industry with real and significant impacts on our national security,” Representative Crawford added.
A key element of the bill is to ensure that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plays a formal role in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) when reviewing any foreign attempts to acquire American agricultural assets.
“The PASS Act will ensure that the USDA is involved in reviewing foreign acquisitions of American agricultural land and businesses, and blacklists America’s foreign adversaries from controlling U.S. agricultural land.”
The reintroduction of the PASS Act reflects a growing bipartisan concern in Congress about foreign ownership of farmland, especially by China, which has reportedly increased its land holdings across the United States in recent years.
As global tensions continue and food supply chains remain in focus, lawmakers argue that protecting American agricultural independence is vital to both economic and national security. The PASS Act is expected to gain traction among lawmakers and agricultural stakeholders who believe keeping U.S. farmland in American hands is a top priority.