S.912 - Securing American Agriculture Act (119th Congress)
Summary
The Securing American Agriculture Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to annually assess and report on the United States' dependency on critical agricultural products and inputs from the People's Republic of China. The report will identify vulnerabilities in the supply chain and provide recommendations to reduce this dependency. The goal is to mitigate potential threats posed by China weaponizing these dependencies.
Expected Effects
This act aims to reduce reliance on China for critical agricultural inputs. It will likely lead to increased domestic production and diversification of supply chains. The reports generated will inform policy decisions related to agriculture and trade.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced national security by reducing dependence on a potential adversary.
- Increased domestic agricultural production and job creation.
- More resilient supply chains for critical agricultural inputs.
- Greater transparency regarding vulnerabilities in the agricultural sector.
- Informed policy decisions based on comprehensive assessments.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased costs for agricultural inputs due to onshoring or nearshoring production.
- Possible trade tensions with China.
- The assessment process may place an additional burden on the Department of Agriculture.
- No guarantee that recommendations will be effectively implemented.
- The act relies on voluntary information from private entities, which may limit the comprehensiveness of the assessment.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's broad goals of providing for the common defense and promoting the general welfare, as stated in the Preamble. Congress has the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The act does not infringe on any specific constitutional rights.
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).