Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and her colleagues have recently introduced legislation aimed at protecting American agriculture from foreign adversaries and cyber threats. The legislation emphasizes the importance of food security as national security and aims to safeguard American farmland for future generations.

According to Senator Britt, "Food security is national security. We can't lose sight of the fact that the Chinese Communist Party is our greatest geopolitical and national security threat, and everything they do is as our adversary." She emphasizes the need for bipartisan, commonsense bills to ensure that American farmland is protected from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and other foreign adversaries.

One of the key bills introduced is the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act, led by Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). This legislation aims to strengthen cybersecurity measures in the agriculture and food critical infrastructure sectors. It seeks to identify vulnerabilities and improve protective measures against cyber threats for both government and private groups.

The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act has garnered support from various organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, North American Millers Association, National Grain and Feed Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Senator Britt is joined by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-Nebr.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.Dak.) as cosponsors of the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act.

Another important piece of legislation introduced by Senator Britt is the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) Improvements Act of 2024. This bill aims to gather more information about foreign ownership of agricultural land in the United States and improve the United States Department of Agriculture's processes for combating nefarious foreign ownership.

Senator Britt is joined by Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) along with nine other colleagues as cosponsors of the AFIDA Improvements Act of 2024.

The bills introduced by Senator Britt and her colleagues are crucial in ensuring the protection of American agriculture. By addressing cybersecurity threats and foreign ownership of agricultural land, these legislative efforts will help safeguard the nation's food supply for generations to come.