Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), along with Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama), introduced the Not One More Inch or Acre Act on Thursday, legislation that will prevent any Chinese individual or business from owning American land. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has bought hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland across the United States, including property immediately adjacent to military bases. These land purchases have let the Chinese advance their economic and national security interests while undermining the U.S.
Bill text may be found here.
“For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has been gobbling up American farmland and real-estate. At best, this submits American land and resources to China’s best interests, not America’s—at worst, these purchases serve as outposts for Chinese espionage campaigns against American businesses and military bases. We can’t allow Chinese citizens, or anyone affiliated with the CCP, to own one more inch of American soil. And any American land exploited by current Chinese ownership should be sold,” said Senator Cotton.
“There is no doubt that the Chinese Communist Party is our greatest geopolitical and national security threat, and everything they do is as our adversary,” said Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. “The FBI has said that they open a new counterintelligence case against China about twice per day. From stealing our intellectual property and spying on our children through TikTok, to buying up American farmland near military installations and engaging in unfair trade practices that undercut Alabama steel makers and shrimpers, we must hold the CCP accountable. We accomplish this through strength, not continued weakness. I’m grateful for Senator Cotton’s continued leadership on this critical issue. I’ll continue to fight to defend hardworking Americans while protecting our homeland,” said Senator Britt.
The Not One More Inch or Acre Act would:
- Prohibit citizens of the People’s Republic of China, members of the CCP or any individual or entity acting on their behalf from purchasing any real estate in the United States.
- Require the sale of any property owned or influenced by the CCP that the President determines to be a national security risk.
- Set a minimum penalty for foreign investors who fail to comply with USDA reporting requirements.
