Stefanik bill prevents foreign adversaries from targeting US agriculture industry amid global food shortage

Unique: Home Republicans led by Rep. Elise Stefanik are turning notice to the electrical power that enemies of the U.S. have to exploit vulnerabilities in the agriculture field by introducing new legislation to stop adversaries’ acquisition of American corporations amid a worldwide supply chain food items shortage.

Stefanik, who serves as the Residence Republican Convention chair, was joined by Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., in introducing the invoice Thursday.

“Food items protection is countrywide safety, and I am proud to stand up in opposition to our foreign adversaries as they endeavor to exploit any possible vulnerability and assert management around our agriculture market,” Stefanik explained to Fox Information Electronic. 

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“Food items stability is national security, and I am happy to stand up towards our foreign adversaries as they attempt to exploit any potential vulnerability and assert control over our agriculture market,” Stefanik informed Fox Information Digital. (Photograph by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Pictures)

“The United States can not allow for malign ownership bids of American belongings by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea to undermine the attempts of our farmers, whose really hard do the job feeds and fuels our communities. In particular as we witness the devastating affect of a provide chain disaster, the United States simply cannot cede any possession of our foodstuff provide to these who do not share our security pursuits,” Stefanik continued.

The monthly bill exclusively would maintain China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from being in a position to invest in American agriculture companies, citing the international locations as “prohibited.” It also lists biotechnology and agriculture as important infrastructure.

In addition, the proposed legislation includes a provision that would make the Secretary of Agriculture a member of the U.S. Committee on Foreign Financial investment and would call for reporting from the secretary on the possibility of “foreign buys” of organizations in the agriculture sector.

“Adversarial nations, like China, continue on to threaten our homeland, utilizing strategies like getting American agriculture firms and thieving agriculture investigate to undermine our economy. Washington need to comprehend that agriculture safety in countrywide stability, and we have a obligation to protect our food source and those who develop it. I’m happy to perform with Rep. Stefanik to attract awareness to this important danger and seek out to defend American agriculture,” Crawford explained to Fox News Digital.

Farm laborers from Refreshing Harvest doing work in Greenfield, California. (Picture by Brent Stirton/Getty Photographs)

The concern of food stuff stability has grow to be a countrywide issue amid the ongoing war concerning Russia and Ukraine, which has led to global food items shortages.

Republican senators have warned that Russia is employing meals manipulation as a weapon in its fatal invasion of Ukraine, and are performing with Ukrainian leaders to flip attention to the deteriorating world-wide food items protection disaster.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has slammed Russia for using foodstuff as a “peaceful weapon” aimed to starve civilians and force Ukraine to surrender to its army.

In addition, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem not long ago echoed that “food security is countrywide stability.”

“People have earned to have their leaders handle disruptions in our food items technique – from overseas interference to fires to shortages – with problem,” explained Noem.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a conference on the country’s transportation business via a video url in Sochi, Russia Could 24, 2022. 
(Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Kremlin by means of REUTERS)

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The Biden administration has also taken observe of the impending disaster, with President Biden criticizing China past thirty day period for not using aspect in the United Nations’ Food Stability Ministerial.

A Biden administration formal known as the go by China “disappointing, but regrettably not shocking” and led the ministerial, which was established to mobilize motion on world wide foods protection amid Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.