East Idaho Times

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) has joined Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming) in introducing the No American Land for Communist China Act. The legislation aims to prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from purchasing land adjacent to federal lands, a move intended to protect western states from potential threats to critical mineral and energy production.

The bill, co-sponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), seeks to prohibit any agent or business affiliated with the CCP from acquiring land next to federal land in the United States.

“Allowing the CCP to purchase western lands poses a plethora of risks including threats to our national security and encroachment on America’s natural resources. This legislation protects Idaho and our western neighbors from threats seen and unseen,” said Crapo.

“The people of Wyoming should not have to worry about the CCP buying up western land in order to spy on the federal government or undermine our domestic energy and critical mineral production,” stated Lummis. “Allowing foreign adversaries to purchase our land is like welcoming a fox into the hen house, and I am introducing this legislation to preserve our national security and prevent the CCP from acquiring American land to spy on our government.”

Senator Barrasso added, “The people of Wyoming work hard each day to protect and manage lands throughout our state. Wyoming and the West are the center of critical energy and mineral production for our nation. We cannot open the door to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and put our domestic energy production at risk. Letting the CCP buy up and use our western lands is dangerous, reckless, and a serious threat to our national, economic, and energy security.”

Senator Cotton echoed these concerns: “The purchase of American land by the Chinese Communist Party drains our country of resources and puts our national security at risk. We should not allow anyone affiliated with the CCP to own a single inch of American soil.”

House Western Caucus Chair Dan Newhouse (R-Washington) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The Chinese Communist Party is at our doorstep, and we best not let them in,” said Newhouse. “I have been closely watching the rise in cases of the CCP’s attempts at undermining our institutions. From spying on sensitive national security sites to buying up American farmland, it is clear we are vulnerable to their malicious efforts. This bill strengthens our domestic defenses and protects critical federal lands against these foreign actors that aim to deepen their already dangerous influence on the world stage. I thank Senator Lummis for introducing the Senate version of my legislation.”

Full text of the legislation can be found here.