H.R.1576 - Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.1576, the "Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2025," amends the Defense Production Act of 1950. It aims to increase scrutiny of foreign investments in U.S. agriculture, particularly those from countries considered foreign adversaries. The bill mandates the inclusion of the Secretary of Agriculture on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for transactions involving agricultural land, biotechnology, or the agricultural industry.
Expected Effects
The bill will likely lead to increased oversight and potentially stricter regulations on foreign investments in U.S. agriculture, especially from countries like China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran. This could deter some foreign investment but also aims to safeguard American agricultural assets and food security.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced national security by protecting agricultural land from foreign adversaries.
- Strengthened food security through increased oversight of foreign investment in agriculture.
- Greater transparency in agricultural land transactions involving foreign entities.
- Support for American farmers by reducing potential unfair competition from foreign-backed entities.
- Improved coordination between government agencies in reviewing foreign investments.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential chilling effect on foreign investment in U.S. agriculture, which could limit access to capital.
- Increased bureaucratic hurdles for foreign investors, potentially delaying or deterring legitimate investments.
- Possible retaliatory measures from foreign countries, impacting U.S. agricultural exports.
- Broad definition of "agricultural industry" could lead to overregulation.
- Increased workload for the Secretary of Agriculture and CFIUS.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution's broad goals of providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare (Preamble). Congress has the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or liberties.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).