Hoosier State Today

U.S. Senators Todd Young and Roger Marshall have introduced the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act. This legislation aims to permanently include the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The inclusion is intended to prevent foreign interference and disruptions within the U.S. agriculture sector.

CFIUS is responsible for overseeing foreign investments and acquisitions of American companies. The proposed bill mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture report any transactions that could pose a national security threat, particularly those involving adversarial nations such as China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.

Senator Young highlighted the significance of farmland in Indiana and across the United States, stating, "Nearly two-thirds of land in Indiana – and more than half of all land in the United States – is farmland." He expressed concerns about recent efforts by foreign adversaries to acquire agricultural land, which he believes could threaten national security.

Senator Marshall emphasized the importance of food security as a component of national security: "Food Security is national security, and it’s high time that we start recognizing this before it is too late." He advocated for an agricultural presence on CFIUS to better assess risks posed by foreign investments to farmers and ranchers.

The legislation has garnered support from other lawmakers, including Senators John Barrasso, Tammy Baldwin, Deb Fischer, and Representative Dan Newhouse, who introduced companion legislation in the House.

Senator Young had previously supported similar legislation during the 118th Congress. The full text of the current legislation for the 119th Congress is available online.