Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024

10/4/2024, 8:07 PM

Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024

This bill makes changes to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), including by requiring CFIUS to determine whether a national security review is necessary for reportable agricultural land transactions that are referred by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). (CFIUS oversees the national security risks of certain foreign investment in the United States. CFIUS has the authority to review covered transactions, which include mergers, acquisitions, and takeovers that could result in foreign control of a U.S. business; certain investments in businesses involved in critical technologies, critical infrastructure, or sensitive personal data; and certain real estate transactions.)

Specifically, the bill directs CFIUS to, after receiving notification from USDA, determine (1) whether a reportable agricultural land transaction is a covered transaction, and (2) whether CFIUS should initiate a national security review or take another action with respect to the transaction. 

Reportable agricultural land transaction means a transaction (1) that USDA has reason to believe is a covered transaction; (2) that involves the acquisition of an interest in agricultural land by a foreign person of China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran; and (3) with respect to which a foreign person is required to submit a report to USDA regarding their agricultural land transactions.

The bill also expands the membership of CFIUS to include the Secretary of Agriculture on covered transactions that involve agricultural land, agricultural biotechnology, or the agriculture industry (e.g., agricultural transportation, storage, and processing).

Congress
118

Number
HR - 9456

Introduced on
2024-09-06

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

9/12/2024

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
Failed in House
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024

This bill makes changes to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), including by requiring CFIUS to determine whether a national security review is necessary for reportable agricultural land transactions that are referred by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). (CFIUS oversees the national security risks of certain foreign investment in the United States. CFIUS has the authority to review covered transactions, which include mergers, acquisitions, and takeovers that could result in foreign control of a U.S. business; certain investments in businesses involved in critical technologies, critical infrastructure, or sensitive personal data; and certain real estate transactions.)

Specifically, the bill directs CFIUS to, after receiving notification from USDA, determine (1) whether a reportable agricultural land transaction is a covered transaction, and (2) whether CFIUS should initiate a national security review or take another action with respect to the transaction. 

Reportable agricultural land transaction means a transaction (1) that USDA has reason to believe is a covered transaction; (2) that involves the acquisition of an interest in agricultural land by a foreign person of China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran; and (3) with respect to which a foreign person is required to submit a report to USDA regarding their agricultural land transactions.

The bill also expands the membership of CFIUS to include the Secretary of Agriculture on covered transactions that involve agricultural land, agricultural biotechnology, or the agriculture industry (e.g., agricultural transportation, storage, and processing).

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 with respect to foreign investments in United States agriculture, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Foreign Trade and International Finance

Potential Impact
Asia
China
Department of Agriculture
Europe
Federal officials
Iran
Land transfers
Middle East
North Korea
Russia
U.S. and foreign investments

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary9/11/2024

Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024

This bill makes changes to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), including by requiring CFIUS to determine whether a national s...


Latest Action9/12/2024
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.