Bipartisan Bill Aims to Shield U.S. Agriculture from Chinese Communist Party Influence

Ashley Hinson, Sen. Pete Ricketts, and other members of Congress are introducing a bipartisan bill to protect the agriculture supply chain in America from potential Chinese Communist Party attacks.

Hinson, R-Iowa, will introduce the Securing American Agriculture Act in the House of Representatives, while Ricketts, R-Neb., will introduce the measure in the Senate. 

Securing American Agriculture would mandate that the Department of Agriculture conduct an annual evaluation to identify vulnerabilities in supply chains, production gaps at home, and possible CCP exploits.

The bill would also direct that the Secretary of Agriculture recommends ways to increase U.S. dependence and to reduce China’s impact on the industry in order to minimize potential threats.

This bill ensures that the USDA accounts accurately for U.S. dependency on China in terms of critical inputs for agriculture and guarantees access to American producers.

China has intentionally captured a large market share in America’s agricultural products, which are vital for our food supply chain. This gives our main adversary leverage. Iowa farmers told me that our food supply would be at risk if China decided to cut off U.S. access to critical inputs. This bipartisan bill exposes China’s control over agricultural inputs and seeks to counter it to improve domestic manufacturing and increase food security.

Hinson said, “Plainly and simply: we should bring home our agricultural supply chain.”

On Tuesday, Ricketts said, “The strategic control communist China has over vital sectors of the food and agriculture supply chain poses a grave national security risk.”

Ricketts said that losing access to inputs is likely to reduce productivity and increase food costs. It could also undermine food security. My bill will strengthen and protect supply chains and decrease our dependence on foreign enemies.

Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL.), the ranking member of the House China Committee, also supports the bill. He said that the bipartisan legislation is “a crucial step in protecting the food supply, farmers, and our country from the Chinese Communist Party who threatens our agricultural security”.

“America’s Farmers are the Backbone of Our Economy. We must provide them with the safeguards and resources they need to compete in a fair environment while also securing the nation’s supply chains.”

The bill is also supported by House China Committee Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich.; Rep, Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii; Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas; and Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Fla., among others. 

In the Senate, Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin; Republican Sens. James Risch, R-Idaho; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V.; Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.; Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo.; Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., also support the bill. 

Slotkin said, “Food security is national safety.”

Slotkin stated that we must treat food security threats as any other type of risk. This legislation forces us to evaluate those risks in order to protect our food supply. Bottom line: We need to ensure that America’s agricultural supply chain remains in the United States.