Issa Introduces Legislation to Ban Foreign Purchase of American Land

WASHINGTON– Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) has introduced H.R. 4454 – the Safeguarding Invaluable Land (SOIL) Act – legislation to prohibit China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from purchasing land within 10 miles of sensitive U.S. agencies and strategic sites, including military bases and federally funded research labs. 

“Our country has a clear and compelling interest in preventing our adversaries from controlling property near the most sensitive and strategic sites in the American homeland,” said Rep. Issa. “The risks to national security are manifestly obvious, and we must move swiftly as a Congress and as a nation to counteract the spying and surveillance that is enabled when we allow our most hostile adversaries a foothold on American soil.” 

Currently, affiliates and entities of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) own 384,000 acres of American agricultural land, a 30 percent increase since 2019 and more than $80 million in CCP-backed investments than 10 years ago. 

Cosponsors of the SOIL Act include Congressman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06), Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02), and Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (WY-At Large).

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