SD Rep. Dusty Johnson supporting bill increasing oversight over foreign farmland purchases
SD Rep. Dusty Johnson pushes for control of foreign farmland purchases Argus Leader
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South Dakota Representative Supports Bill to Control Foreign Land Purchases
South Dakota’s lone House Representative, Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson, is backing a bill introduced by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. The bill aims to grant the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) greater authority to regulate land purchases by adversarial foreign governments and consider U.S. food security in its national security review.
Adversarial Governments and Secretary of Agriculture’s Role
The bill identifies adversarial governments as China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela (under President Nicholas Maduro). Additionally, the Secretary of Agriculture would have voting power in CFIUS reviews involving farmland and agriculture technology.
Congress’ Efforts to Address the Threat of the Chinese Communist Party
The bill represents the latest step taken by Congress to address the perceived threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party. Rep. Johnson, who serves on the Select Committee, stated that the bipartisan committee’s work has received support from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Previous Measures Targeting Foreign Land Purchases
In February, Sen. Mike Rounds introduced the Promoting Agricultural Safeguards and Security Act (PASS Act), which aimed to prohibit adversarial foreign governments from investing in U.S. agricultural land and report the risk of foreign takeovers in the agricultural industry. Rep. Johnson had previously introduced a similar bill, which did not advance in the House.
The 2022 PASS Act proposal followed the purchase of land near the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota by a Chinese company, Fufeng Group. This event prompted Gov. Kristi Noem to advocate for legislation creating a state-run board similar to CFIUS, but the proposal was unsuccessful.
South Dakota’s Ban on Business with Prohibited Entities
A South Dakota law that took effect on July 1 prohibits the state from conducting business with “prohibited entities” from China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or Venezuela.
Additional Provisions of the Proposed Federal Legislation
Rep. Johnson’s office outlined five additional actions included in the legislation:
- Granting CFIUS jurisdiction over all rural and non-single “housing unit” land purchases by foreign governments
- Requesting CFIUS to consider U.S. food security in national security reviews
- Establishing a “presumption of non-resolvability” and raising the approval threshold for transactions near sensitive sites
- Mandatory CFIUS filing for foreign adversarial entities making land purchases near sensitive sites
- Requiring CFIUS to expand the list of sensitive national security sites to include military facilities and national laboratories
Rep. Johnson explained that the current process allows foreign governments to make changes to meet CFIUS’s standards. However, the new bill would shift the burden of proof onto the foreign governments, making it harder for them to resolve conflicts and approve investments that may harm American interests.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. | No specific indicators mentioned in the article. |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. | No specific indicators mentioned in the article. |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. | No specific indicators mentioned in the article. |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
The issue of foreign governments buying United States’ agricultural land is connected to SDG 2 as it relates to ensuring sustainable food production systems and implementing resilient agricultural practices.
SDG 15: Life on Land
The issue of foreign governments buying United States’ agricultural land is also connected to SDG 15 as it relates to combating desertification, restoring degraded land and soil, and achieving a land degradation-neutral world.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The issue of foreign governments buying United States’ agricultural land is connected to SDG 17 as it relates to encouraging and promoting effective partnerships between public, private, and civil society entities.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
This target is relevant to the issue of foreign governments buying United States’ agricultural land as it emphasizes the need for sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices.
Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
This target is relevant to the issue of foreign governments buying United States’ agricultural land as it highlights the importance of restoring degraded land and soil and striving for a land degradation-neutral world.
Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
This target is relevant to the issue of foreign governments buying United States’ agricultural land as it emphasizes the need for effective partnerships between public, private, and civil society entities to address the issue.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.
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Source: argusleader.com
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