No American Land for Communist China Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1575
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-27T08:05:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "No American Land for Communist China Act" (H.R. 1575) aims to restrict foreign ownership of real estate near sensitive U.S. federal lands by prohibiting purchases by certain Chinese government agents and businesses with significant Chinese government ownership. This is intended to protect national security and strategic U.S. properties from potential foreign influence.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Purchases: The President is required to block the acquisition of real estate "adjacent to" covered federal lands by:
- Any agent of the People's Republic of China (PRC) government.
- Any business where the PRC government owns 25% or more of the equity interests, directly or indirectly (e.g., through contracts or other arrangements).
- Scope of "Covered Federal Lands": These include:
- Lands owned by the U.S. and managed by the Secretary of the Interior (e.g., national parks), Secretary of Defense (e.g., military bases), Secretary of Agriculture (specifically Forest Service lands), or Secretary of Energy (e.g., nuclear sites).
- "Indian country," defined under U.S. law as lands within Native American reservations, dependent communities, or allotments (per 18 U.S.C. § 1151).
- Geographic Coverage: Applies to all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories.
- Enforcement: The President must take necessary actions to enforce the ban, overriding other laws where applicable.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a targeted ban on real estate purchases near federal lands, focusing specifically on PRC-linked entities, which builds on but expands prior U.S. restrictions on foreign investments (e.g., under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, which reviews certain foreign acquisitions for national security risks).
- Shifts from voluntary reviews to a mandatory prohibition, eliminating case-by-case approvals for prohibited buyers and properties.
- Expands protections to include adjacency to a broader range of federal lands, including tribal areas, without prior equivalent statutes.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for the President and departments like Interior, Defense, Agriculture, and Energy to monitor and enforce restrictions, potentially requiring new coordination with real estate regulators and intelligence agencies.
- On Citizens: U.S. real estate sellers near federal lands may face a smaller pool of buyers, possibly affecting property values or sales in rural or strategic areas; ordinary citizens are unlikely to be directly impacted unless involved in related transactions.
- On International Relations: Could heighten tensions with China by signaling U.S. distrust of its entities, potentially prompting retaliatory measures on U.S. investments abroad or trade disputes.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government Agencies: Departments managing federal lands (e.g., Interior, Defense) and tribal affairs, which must implement and oversee the prohibitions.
- Chinese Nationals and Businesses: PRC government agents and companies with 25%+ PRC ownership, who are barred from such purchases.
- U.S. Real Estate Market Participants: Property owners, developers, and sellers near federal lands, who may experience transaction limitations.
- Native American Tribes: As "Indian country" is included, tribes and their members could see indirect benefits in protecting reservation-adjacent lands but may need to navigate enforcement on sovereign territories.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The ban could face challenges in court over enforcement mechanisms (e.g., defining "adjacent" or "indirect ownership") or property rights under the Fifth Amendment (which protects against government takings without compensation); it may also intersect with existing foreign investment laws like CFIUS.
- Constitutional: Potential equal protection concerns under the Fourteenth Amendment if viewed as discriminatory against specific nationalities, though national security exceptions (e.g., for foreign affairs) might apply.
- Political: Reflects bipartisan concerns over foreign influence near critical U.S. infrastructure, but could be seen as escalating U.S.-China rivalry, influencing future foreign policy or trade negotiations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (60)
Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2], Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham [R-AZ-8], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Bean, Aaron [R-FL-4], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Onder, Robert [R-MO-3], Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Moore, Riley [R-WV-2], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16], Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9], Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large] and 10 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-25: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-02-25: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No American Land for Communist China Act — issued 2025-02-25 — PDF (3 pages)