(FixThisNation.com) – On Wednesday, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., argued that the U.S. government needed to retrieve the U.S. farmland that was owned by China.
During a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing focused on foreign ownership of U.S. farmland and the effects it could have on food and national security, Fetterman stated that U.S. adversaries should not be allowed to own any agricultural land in the U.S. He added that as China was “taking back our pandas,” the U.S. needed to take back all farmland. This was a reference to the Panda Bear loan agreement which is expiring in December. The deal had allowed U.S. Zoos to have some famous giant pandas, including Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and their cubs, which are now set to return to China. After the deadline, Atlanta Zoo will be the only Zoo that still has pandas.
The Department of Agriculture data has shown that from 2009 to 2016 there was a large increase in Chinese agricultural investment in the country. At the same time, Republican legislation is pushing for additional federal safeguards to be placed in order to protect U.S. agricultural land. The legislation managed to pass by a substantial margin this week which will allow it to move to the floor for a full vote.
The Agricultural Security Risk Review Act is being backed by ranking member Maxine Waters, D-Calif., and Chairman Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. It is expected to be scheduled for a full floor vote in the next few weeks.
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