Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1713, the Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025, sponsored by Representative Lucas.

H.R. 1713 aims to add the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, also known as CFIUS, when there is an agriculture-related issue. Recognizing the importance of safe food and of national security involving agriculture, H.R. 1713 also requires CFIUS to determine whether a national security review is necessary upon notification from the Secretary of Agriculture that an agricultural land transaction could somehow affect national security.

I do not want to add my voice to what I regard as alarmist voices talking about: Oh, my God, foreign interests, maybe even China, will buy American land. Keep in mind that we need investment in the United States.

When the Chinese buy a high-tech company, they can take that technology that is acquired back to China. When they buy farmland, they can't take the land back to China, and they can't take the food back to China unless we decide to let them. Of course, the President could step in in any kind of national emergency and prevent that.

There is discussion that the Chinese will buy a farm near, a couple miles away from the main entrance to a military base, but, of course, they could also park a car next to the military base. They can be in an Airbnb next to the military base. They could rent a farm. I don't think that the purchase of farmland poses the risks that are being overblown. I don't think China can ship our topsoil back to China nor do I think that China can deprive Americans of the ability to eat American food.

H.R. 1713 addresses these concerns, the concerns that people do have, by providing a path for the Secretary of Agriculture to notify CFIUS when those transactions, in the opinion of the Secretary of Agriculture, do pose a threat or at least a concern.

This bill is identical to what Congress passed in 2024, but that was in an appropriations bill. Passing it again will make sure that we make this part of permanent statute.

When we focus on the security of our agriculture, we should also note that arbitrary cuts are being made that will affect directly the poorest families in our country, particularly cutbacks to the SNAP program that provides safe nutrition to families that might otherwise go hungry.

We also noticed that the DOGE effort of Elon Musk, who apparently fortunately has returned most of his attention to his private businesses, not only illegally cut millions of dollars from U.S. Department of Agriculture activities but would deprive the Department of Agriculture with the expertise necessary to carry out this bill, and of

course, deprives the USDA of the staff it needs to prevent the spread of food-borne disease.

Finally, I think the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization and illegally ending American food programs also exposes the entire world and ultimately the United States to substantial risks. Remember that when somebody suffers from a disease abroad, that gives a chance for the disease to replicate, mutate, and then migrate back to the United States.

I feel that H.R. 1713 does improve CFIUS. I urge my Republican colleagues also to work to protect SNAP, the USDA, and our efforts at global health. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close if the gentlewoman from Missouri has no further speakers, and apparently, she does not have further speakers.

This bill, H.R. 1713, encourages more permanent, coordinated communications between those who focus on agriculture and our national security experts at CFIUS.

I commend the gentleman from Oklahoma for his work on the committee on so many different issues. I urge my Republican colleagues not only to support this bill but to support the activities of the Department of Agriculture, including SNAP, food inspections, and other efforts designed to make sure that our food supply is safe, available, and secure.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 1713, the Agricultural Risk Review Act. My bill would make permanent the existing policy enacted under the Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2024 and bolster our food security against foreign adversaries.

H.R. 1713 would amend the Defense Production Act to add the Secretary of Agriculture as a permanent member to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, for any transactions related to the purchase of farmland, biotechnology, or any other transaction related to the agricultural industry.

My bill also includes the Safeguarding American Farms from Foreign Influence Act authored last Congress by the former chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, Mr. Luetkemeyer.

That section of the bill requires CFIUS to consider referrals from USDA for reportable agricultural land transactions prior to the interagency process that determines whether review of the transaction is warranted.

These bills received unanimous support when considered separately, and then when joined together were also reported favorably to the floor in a unanimous vote. These are commonsense measures in line with existing practices and current law.

CFIUS' mandate is to review transactions involving foreign investments in the United States to ensure such transactions do not threaten our national security. Agriculture is too important to our country's security to be left out.

Our geopolitical adversaries are eager to exploit vulnerabilities in critical supply chains, such as our food supply. The inclusion of the Secretary of Agriculture in reviews of agricultural transactions is just plain common sense.

Mr. Speaker, my bill has been bipartisan across administrations. Former Agriculture Secretary Perdue under the first Trump administration and former Agriculture Secretary Vilsack under the Biden administration agreed that having a permanent seat at the table is vital to the protection of our farmland and food supply.

I am also pleased to boast bipartisan support from the leadership of the House Financial Services Committee. This bill has passed unanimously out of the House Financial Services Committee for two Congresses now, and it is past time for it to become law.

From Hawaii and Washington to New York and Florida to my home State of Oklahoma, our Nation's agricultural land must be protected. That is why a bipartisan group of Members from over 20 States across the country have supported me in this effort.

I am grateful we took a positive step in the last Congress to include this language in our annual appropriations process, but we must cement this requirement in permanent law.

This legislation recognizes and supports the long-held understanding that food supply is a critical component of U.S. national security. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1713) to amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 to include the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1713, the Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025. I thank Representative Lucas for his longstanding leadership on this important legislation.

Today, the United States confronts a critical issue at the intersection of national security and agriculture: foreign investment in American farmland.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, plays a vital role in safeguarding our country by reviewing foreign acquisitions that could pose risks to our national security. Ensuring that CFIUS has the right expertise and authority to evaluate these transactions is more important than ever.

For the first time since 2007, H.R. 1713 would formally add a Cabinet Secretary to CFIUS, giving the Secretary of Agriculture an official role in reviewing relevant agricultural transactions for national security risks.

CFIUS has long held jurisdiction over foreign acquisitions of agricultural businesses, including farmland involved in interstate commerce. Since 2018, it has also been authorized to perform reviews of land purchases near sensitive government sites. However, there is a need to connect the Agriculture Department's expertise, including its longstanding tracking of farmland purchases, with CFIUS' operations.

CFIUS could greatly benefit from the Secretary's expertise, and that is what Congressman Lucas' legislation allows. As one of the first Members of Congress to recognize this need at CFIUS, I applaud Representative Lucas for his foresight and his dedication in advancing this legislation.

I look forward to supporting his bill today. I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1713, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, there is a need to connect the Agriculture Department's expertise, including its longstanding tracking of farmland purchases, with CFIUS' operations.

I look forward to supporting this bill today. I urge my colleagues to do so and join me in supporting H.R. 1713, and I applaud Mr. Lucas for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.