A group of lawmakers is pushing a bill that would ban China from purchasing any land in the United States. The “Not One More Inch or Acre Act” is led by Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Katie Britt of Alabama.
It would require land owned or “Influenced” by the Chinese Communist Party that’s considered a national security risk to be sold.
The bill also asks President Donald Trump to take action to prohibit the purchase of public or private real estate in the U.S. by Chinese citizens or companies.
What are the bill sponsors saying about national security?
Sen. Cotton said in a statement, “For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has been gobbling up American farmland and real estate.”
Sen. Britt added, “The CCP’s strategic acquisition of farmland, particularly near our military installations, isn’t just a national security risk, it is a threat to our economic and food security.”
The bill comes as national security concerns about China recently led to a temporary shutdown of Chinese-owned social media company TikTok in the United States.
How much land does China own in the U.S.?
According to a report by the Farm Service Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, China held 277,336 acres of agricultural and non-agricultural land in the U.S. by the end of 2023.
This accounts for less than 1% of all foreign-held acres in the U.S.
The report also notes that none of the U.S. land holdings are directly linked to the Chinese government.
What happens next?
If the act goes to a vote, 60 senators would need to back the measure.
Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, meaning at least seven Democratic senators would need to support the bill.
