Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week expressed support for their Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security, or PASS Act. The legislation would ensure USDA is fully involved in reviewing foreign acquisition of American agricultural land and companies, specifically targeting China. Vilsack responded to Representative Rick Crawford’s question during a House Agriculture Committee hearing regarding the role of a USDA Secretary on the Committee of Foreign Investment in the United States. Vilsack says, ?Being a permanent member would allow us to educate the other members of CFIUS in the United States what to look for and what to be sensitive to when it comes to agriculture and agricultural production.? Crawford, an Arkansas Republican, responded, ?It?s time to be proactive in addressing these threats to our food supply and to our producers.? Representative Elise Stefanik, a New Yor Republican, adds the legislation “takes critical steps to ensure we do not concede any ownership of our food supply to those actively working against our security interests.”
Lawmakers welcome Vilsack support of PASS Act
