Central ND News

Senators John Hoeven and Mike Rounds have reintroduced the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act. This legislation aims to prohibit individuals and entities controlled by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from purchasing agricultural land and businesses near U.S. military installations or sensitive sites.

"Foreign adversaries are buying up U.S. farmland which is a threat not only to our food security, but our national security," said Hoeven. "Our legislation will prevent these bad actors from purchasing farmland and agricultural businesses near our strategic assets to better protect our nation from those with malign intentions."

The PASS Act has gained support from other senators, including Majority Leader John Thune, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Cynthia Lummis.

In February 2025, President Trump issued a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) that promotes foreign investment while safeguarding America's national security interests. The memorandum specifically addresses concerns about China acquiring American assets.

The PASS Act proposes several measures: banning purchases of agricultural land by individuals or entities controlled by North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran near military installations; making the Secretary of Agriculture a voting member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for relevant transactions; and empowering the U.S. Department of Agriculture to refer cases to CFIUS if an agriculture land transaction poses a potential national security concern.