Mike Flood: “I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse) for introducing this very important and long-overdue piece of…”

“I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse) for introducing this very important and long-overdue piece of legislation. According to the USDA, as of 2022, foreign individuals held an interest in over 43 million acres of U.S. ag land. For context, 43 million acres is larger than the State of Florida and greater than the total land area of 29 U.S. States. Between December of 2021 and December of 2022, privately held foreign ag land increased by more than 3 million acres and now accounts for 3.4 percent of all privately held agricultural lands in the U.S. This is a real problem, and it is growing. Our Nation's land is linked to our national security, our food supply, and energy resources. The rising trend of foreign ownership is highly concerning. The USDA is responsible for collecting data and reporting to Congress on foreign- owned ag land, but that is it. In its own words, the USDA does not have a role in reviewing the purchase or sale of ag land in our country. Additionally, the USDA has failed to penalize improper filing of ag land transactions by foreign nationals, further emphasizing its lack of sufficient enforcement authority in this area. Let me be clear: Foreign ag land ownership is a national security issue, and it should be treated as such. Over the last several years, we have all experienced firsthand the detrimental impact food and energy supply chain disruptions can have on our communities.…”