Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott has introduced the Protect Our Bases Act, aiming to bolster national security by enhancing the review process for foreign land purchases near sensitive U.S. military and intelligence sites. This legislation mandates that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) regularly updates its records of these locations.
Chairman Scott, alongside several senators including Mike Crapo, Mike Rounds, Thom Tillis, John Kennedy, Bill Hagerty, Katie Britt, Pete Ricketts, Jim Banks, Kevin Cramer, Bernie Moreno, and Dave McCormick, emphasizes the need for vigilance against foreign entities seeking to compromise U.S. national security.
“The Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to infiltrate and surveil all parts of the U.S national security apparatus requires vigilance from our national security agencies,” stated Chairman Scott. He noted that this legislation would enhance CFIUS’s ability to protect critical installations.
Senator Crapo highlighted Idaho’s strategic importance with its multiple military installations and the Idaho National Laboratory: “Idaho has multiple military installations and the acclaimed Idaho National laboratory conducting vital research… increasing accountability about land sales around these sites is of utmost importance.”
Senator Tillis addressed threats from hostile regimes: “The Protect Our Bases Act ensures… dangerous land purchases can be blocked well before they become security risks.”
Senator Hagerty pointed out past exploitation attempts by foreign adversaries: “For too long, foreign adversaries have tried to exploit America’s open real estate market… The Protect Our Bases Act gives our nation the tools to identify who is buying land near sensitive sites.”
Senator Britt emphasized securing intelligence as a priority: “Allowing CFIUS to review foreign land purchases near sensitive military and government sites is just common sense.”
Ricketts advocated keeping farmland adjacent to sensitive sites under American control: “Farmland adjacent to sensitive sites should remain in the hands of American farmers and ranchers.”
Cramer stressed transparency in preventing potential threats: “The Protect our Bases Act will allow CFIUS to make necessary updates… We should discourage land being sold to bad people.”
Moreno warned against risks posed by foreign acquisitions near bases: “Allowing the Chinese Communist Party to purchase land near our military bases… poses a severe risk.”
McCormick underscored rigorous oversight as essential for national security: “Conducting rigorous oversight of foreign real estate transactions near our bases is essential.”
In 2022, an incident involving Fufeng Group’s attempted purchase of land near Grand Forks Air Force Base revealed gaps in CFIUS’s current processes due to outdated site listings. The Protect Our Bases Act aims to address such flaws by requiring annual updates from CFIUS member agencies and necessitating an annual report certifying these reviews’ completion.
