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America First Governors' Council Supports National Farm Security Action Plan

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The America First Governors' Council, a coalition of eight Republican governors, has issued a letter in support of the newly announced National Farm Security Action Plan. The initiative aims to strengthen national security by addressing the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) attempts to acquire American farmland and exploit lax federal enforcement. The governors cited alarming examples of foreign adversaries buying land near key military installations, including a Chinese food company's attempt to purchase land near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota and a former Chinese military official's acquisition of over 130,000 acres near Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Farm Security Action Plan aims to strengthen enforcement of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act to prevent foreign adversaries from acquiring American farmland.
  • The plan includes classifying key agricultural inputs and infrastructure as critical to national security, enhancing protections against biological threats, and reevaluating USDA programs through an America First lens.
  • The governors cited specific examples of foreign adversaries buying land near key military installations, including Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota and Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas.
  • The plan seeks to enhance coordination among the USDA, intelligence agencies, and state governments to enforce the regulations.
  • The governors expressed a steadfast commitment to preventing the Chinese Communist Party from gaining a foothold in the American heartland.
  • Signatories to the letter include former Governor Phil Bryant (Mississippi), former Governor Bobby Jindal (Louisiana), former Governor Rick Perry (Texas), Governor Mike Braun (Indiana), Governor Bill Lee (Tennessee), Governor Brad Little (Idaho), Governor James Pillen (Nebraska), Governor Kim Reynolds (Iowa), Governor Larry Rhoden (South Dakota), Governor Sarah Sanders (Arkansas), and Governor Kevin Stitt (Oklahoma).

Statistics:

  • 12 miles: The distance between two Chinese food companies' attempt to purchase land near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.
  • 130,000 acres: The amount of land acquired by a former Chinese military official near Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas.
  • 8: The number of Republican governors who signed the letter in support of the National Farm Security Action Plan.

Sources:

  • "Letter from America First Governors' Council" (America First Policy Institute, no date)
  • The America First Governors' Council is a coalition of the following governors: Phil Bryant (MS), Bobby Jindal (LA), Rick Perry (TX), Mike Braun (IN), Bill Lee (TN), Brad Little (ID), James Pillen (NE), and Kim Reynolds (IA).

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