Congressman Flood: America’s Land Security is Key to Our National Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood delivered remarks during debate on H.R. 9456, the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024. 

Video of Rep. Flood’s comments can be found here. News outlets are welcome to use the footage for their reporting purposes. A transcript of his remarks can be found below.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you Mr. Newhouse for introducing this important and long-overdue piece of legislation. 

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 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 twenty-nine U.S. states.

Between December 2021 and December 2022, privately held foreign agriculture land increased by more than 3 million acres and now accounts for 3.4 percent of all privately held agriculture lands in the United States.

This is a real problem, and it is growing.

Our nation’s land is linked to our national security, food supply, and energy resources. This rising trend of foreign ownership is highly concerning.

The USDA is responsible for collecting data and reporting to Congress on foreign-owned agricultural land, but that’s it. In its own words, the USDA does not have a role in reviewing the purchase or sale of agricultural land in the United States. 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 agricultural land ownership is a national security issue and should be treated as such. Over the last several years, we’ve all experienced first-hand the detrimental impact food and energy supply chain disruptions can have on our communities. Therefore, it is simply common sense that we pass this bill to expand CFIUS and better address this ongoing threat.

With that, I yield back.