Senate Republicans are advancing legislation to restrict foreign government investments in U.S. real estate near military bases, citing risks to national security.
Senator Ted Cruz reintroduced the Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act on Wednesday, which would require federal reviews of land purchases within 100 miles of U.S. armed forces installations by entities linked to China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea.
The legislation seeks to expand the authority of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a multi-agency body tasked with reviewing transactions involving foreign investments to assess national security threats.
Currently, CFIUS can evaluate real estate purchases by foreign entities only within a few miles of military sites. Cruz’s proposal broadens this scope significantly, including purchases within 100 miles of installations and 50 miles of training ranges or special operations areas.
Department of Agriculture data shows that as of early 2024, companies tied to the Chinese government owned about 278,000 acres of farmland in the U.S., some of which is near military bases.
While foreign-owned farmland linked to China accounts for less than 1% of all foreign farmland in the U.S., lawmakers argue that even a small percentage of ownership near critical infrastructure poses a significant risk.
Senator Tom Cotton, a co-sponsor of the bill and chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee said: “America’s adversaries have no business purchasing land in our country, especially near military bases.”
The bill has gained momentum in the Republican-controlled Senate, with support from prominent lawmakers including Senator Katie Britt.
