SOIL Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4454
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-16: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-29T22:19:38Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Saving Our Invaluable Land Act of 2025 (SOIL Act) aims to protect U.S. national security by restricting certain adversarial foreign governments and their controlled entities from acquiring or using land near critical American sites, such as military bases or ports. It prevents potential intelligence gathering or surveillance risks posed by foreign ownership.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Transactions: Covered foreign countries (defined below) are banned from purchasing, leasing, or obtaining concessions (like usage rights) for any property within 10 miles of a sensitive site. This applies to transactions occurring on or after the law's enactment date.
- Notification Requirement: The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS, a government body that reviews foreign investments for security risks) must immediately inform Congress of any identified violations or attempted violations.
- Definitions:
- Covered Foreign Country: Includes China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, plus any entities (e.g., companies or individuals) controlled by or acting on behalf of their governments.
- Sensitive Site: Encompasses:
- Public or private land that is part of, or functions as, an air or maritime port.
- U.S. military installations.
- Other U.S. government facilities deemed sensitive for national security reasons (as determined by CFIUS).
- Any location that could reasonably allow a covered foreign country to gather intelligence on military or government activities, or expose those activities to foreign surveillance risks.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (which governs CFIUS reviews of foreign investments in U.S. businesses and real estate) by adding a new subsection (r). Previously, CFIUS had authority to block certain foreign real estate deals near military sites, but this expands and codifies a stricter, automatic prohibition specifically targeting land transactions by named adversarial nations within a fixed 10-mile radius. It shifts from case-by-case reviews to a blanket ban for these countries, without exceptions noted in the bill.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Enhances CFIUS's role in monitoring and enforcing real estate restrictions, potentially increasing workload for agencies like the Departments of Defense, Treasury, and Homeland Security. Congress gains direct oversight through required notifications, which could lead to more legislative scrutiny of foreign investments.
- On Citizens: U.S. property owners and developers near sensitive sites may face a smaller pool of buyers or lessees, possibly affecting local real estate values or development in those areas. Everyday citizens are unlikely to be directly impacted unless involved in transactions with prohibited entities.
- On International Relations: Could heighten tensions with China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea by limiting their economic activities in the U.S., signaling stronger U.S. efforts to counter perceived foreign threats. It may prompt reciprocal restrictions from those countries on U.S. investments abroad.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government Entities: CFIUS, Department of Defense, and Congress, which must enforce the ban and handle notifications.
- Adversarial Foreign Governments and Entities: China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and their state-controlled companies or agents, who lose ability to invest in restricted areas.
- Real Estate Sector: Property owners, buyers, sellers, and developers near ports, military bases, or government facilities, particularly in coastal or strategic regions.
- National Security Community: Military and intelligence agencies benefit from reduced surveillance risks but may need to collaborate more on site designations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Broadens federal authority over private real estate under national security pretexts, potentially overlapping with state property laws. The 10-mile buffer and CFIUS's discretion in defining "sensitive" sites could lead to challenges over vagueness or overreach in court, though it aligns with existing CFIUS powers.
- Constitutional: Raises questions about property rights under the Fifth Amendment (takings clause), as the ban indirectly limits market access without compensation; however, national security exceptions often prevail in such cases.
- Political: Reflects growing bipartisan concerns over foreign influence near U.S. assets, especially amid geopolitical rivalries. As an amendment to a Cold War-era law, it modernizes restrictions but targets specific nations, which might fuel debates on discrimination or trade implications without broader applicability to allies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-16: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-07-16: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-07-16: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-07-16: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-16: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Saving Our Invaluable Land Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-16 — PDF (4 pages)