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Hinson backs new foreign ag land ownership bill

Some lawmakers are taking a closer look at foreign ag land ownership in the U.S. 

U.S. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she supports a bill that would limit U.S. farmland purchases by some foreign entities.

“It’s the first time since 2018 that we’ve taken a really serious look at what our adversaries are doing to purchase farmland and property with these financial transactions.”

The Protecting U.S. Farmland and Sensitive Sites From Foreign Adversaries Act, recently introduced in the House, would allow the Secretary of Agriculture to vote in Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews involving farmland or agriculture technology.

The Iowa Republican tells Brownfield stricter oversight is needed.

“I’m on the appropriations committee that oversees treasury, CFIUS, and all of these programs,” she said. “I’m very excited to see we are taking some positive steps toward more accountability.”

Hinson says food security should be considered by CFIUS (see-fee-us) in its national security reviews.