A bipartisan bill passed by the U.S. House this month would give the federal government more room to investigate and potentially ban farm land sales to Chinese companies.
On the House floor Michigan Republican Congressman John Moolenaar voiced support for the bill, citing concerns about companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party posing a national security risk.
"Because when the CCP looks at U.S. farmland, it sees a strategic asset once acquired, it will be used to enhance Chinese national security and undermine our own."
Yet some farmers have concerns.
Bob Thompson is president of the Michigan Farmers Union. He says their member farmers hold most, if not all of their equity in their land.
"They're going to use their better judgment as to who they may sell it to. And I would hope that this current bill would not restrict that without some very, very sound principles."
The bill has been sent to the Senate, where a companion bill there has bipartisan support. The Biden administration called the bill "unnecessary." They say existing legislation achieves its goals.
