It has become an increasing worry for many Arizonans as foreign investors acquire more United States agricultural land. Currently, over 37 million acres of US farmland are held by foreign investors with China’s investment increasing from under 14,000 acres in 2010 to more than 350,000 acres in 2020.
I believe that Arizonan farms should be held by Arizonans and that we should be doing everything in our power to protect Arizonan farmers against foreign encroachment.
I proudly voted for and supported HR2002, a resolution that passed and encourages federal action from the President of the United States, the President of the US Senate, the Speaker of the House, and each Arizonan Congressman and Congresswoman.
The full text of the resolution is below:
Whereas, the United States Department of Agriculture reports that at the end of 2020, foreign investors held an interest in more than 37 million acres of United States agricultural land, with China’s investment increasing from 13,720 acres in 2010 to more than 350,000 in 2020; and
Whereas, from 2009 to 2016, China’s agricultural investments in countries around the world grew substantially; and
Whereas, Chinese investments in American property could provide the Chinese Communist Party with undue leverage over our nation’s supply chains as well as access to sensitive national security information; and
Whereas, approximately 14 states have restrictions in place regarding the amount of private agricultural land that foreign interests may own, but the federal government has yet to enact any restrictions on foreign ownership of United States real estate; and
Whereas, as American farmers age and the amount of U.S. farmland changing hands increases in coming years, foreign land grabbing will become an even greater threat; and
Whereas, foreign investments in American farmland, particularly by the Chinese Communist Party, not only provide opportunities for espionage against our military bases and infrastructure but may also undermine our nation’s food security; and
Whereas, in the last congressional session, several members of Congress introduced legislation known as the “Securing America’s Land from Foreign Interference Act.” These bills, S. 4703 and H.R. 3847, would require the United States President to take action to prohibit members of the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing public or private real estate located in the United States; and
Whereas, it is imperative that Congress take action to prohibit our nation’s top adversaries from purchasing land in the United States in order to protect our nation’s food supply and national security.
Therefore
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona:
1. That the Members of the House of Representatives support the enactment of the Securing America’s Land from Foreign Interference Act, or similar legislation, to prohibit the sale of United States land to foreign investors.
2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Resolution to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.
PASSED BY THE HOUSE FEBRUARY 21, 2023.
FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FEBRUARY 21, 2023.
