Rep. Stefanik Introduces Bill to Prevent Adversaries' Control Over US Agriculture Industry

Rep. Elise Stefanik is introducing a bill to address domestic food security issues and the global food supply chain by preventing foreign adversaries from acquiring U.S. agricultural companies.

Stefanik's bill, titled Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security Act, would bar anyone acting on behalf of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from taking ownership of a U.S. agricultural company.

"Food security is national security, and I am proud to stand up against our foreign adversaries as they attempt to exploit any potential vulnerability and assert control over our agriculture industry," Stefanik said in a press release on July 1.

"Especially as we witness the devastating impact of a supply chain crisis, the United States cannot cede any ownership of our food supply to those who do not share our security interests."

The proposed legislation included a provision that would make the Secretary of Agriculture a member of the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment.

"Adversarial nations, like China, continue to threaten our homeland, using tactics like buying American agriculture companies and stealing agriculture research to undermine our economy," Rep. Rick Crawford, who co-introduced the bill, said in a statement.

"Washington must realize that agriculture security in national security, and we have a duty to protect our food supply and those who produce it."

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