Serious new legislation introduced by Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin aims to target Chinese influence within United States agriculture and food production sectors.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Markwayne Mullin has formally proposed a new bill, designated the "Food Security and Supply Chain Protection Act," which is designed to restrict foreign ownership of critical American farmland. The legislation was introduced on Wednesday morning following a closed-door session with the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Sources within the committee indicate the bill specifically targets entities with ties to the People's Republic of China, prohibiting them from acquiring land within a 100-mile radius of military installations and key food processing plants. Senator Mullin stated that this measure is necessary to protect the nation’s food supply from strategic vulnerability.
The bill would require enhanced reporting and a new federal review process for any foreign agricultural transaction exceeding a certain acreage. Opponents have questioned the constitutionality of the restrictions under current trade agreements. The Senate is expected to debate the proposal at the end of the month.