In a renewed effort to curb Chinese influence on American soil, U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.Dak.) have reintroduced the Not One More Inch or Acre Act. The proposed legislation seeks to prevent individuals or businesses linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from purchasing real estate in the United States.
The push for this legislation comes as national security experts raise alarms over China’s increasing land acquisitions across the U.S. Reports show the CCP has gained control over hundreds of thousands of acres, including properties uncomfortably close to military bases. Lawmakers backing the bill argue that this poses risks not just to national security, but also to economic stability and food supply chains.
“One acre of American farmland owned by the Chinese Communist Party is one acre too many,” Senator Britt declared, underscoring fears that CCP land ownership could compromise sensitive military operations and weaken the agricultural sector.
Senator Cotton reinforced these concerns, pointing to China’s long-term strategy. “For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has been gobbling up American farmland and real estate. At best, this submits American land and resources to China’s best interests—not America’s. At worst, these purchases serve as outposts for Chinese espionage campaigns.”
The fear is that these land purchases could provide China with strategic advantages, such as surveillance opportunities near military sites and influence over critical U.S. resources.
If passed, the Not One More Inch or Acre Act would:
- Ban the Chinese government, CCP members, or affiliated entities from purchasing any real estate in the U.S.
- Force the sale of any CCP-owned land that poses a national security risk, as determined by the president.
- Enforce stricter penalties on foreign investors who fail to report land acquisitions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The reintroduction of this bill highlights the growing concern over foreign ownership of American land, particularly by adversarial nations. While some lawmakers see this as a necessary move to protect U.S. interests, others warn that its enforcement could face legal and economic hurdles.
Discussions on the legislation are expected to unfold in the coming weeks, with debates centering on how to balance security needs with America’s open-market policies. One thing is clear: the battle over who controls American soil is far from over.
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