Securing America’s Land from Foreign Interference Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 809
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-24T19:49:04Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Securing America's Land from Foreign Interference Act," aims to prevent national security risks by blocking members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and related entities from acquiring real estate in the United States. It focuses on protecting U.S. land from potential foreign influence or control.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Purchases: The President must implement measures to ban the buying of any public or private real estate in the U.S. by CCP members or entities owned, controlled, or influenced by the CCP. This override other laws if needed.
- Scope of "United States": The ban applies nationwide, including all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories or possessions.
- Enforcement Directive: The President has broad authority to take "necessary actions," such as issuing executive orders or regulations, to enforce the prohibition.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill introduces a targeted ban specific to the CCP, going beyond current U.S. laws like the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews foreign investments for national security risks but does not outright prohibit purchases based on political affiliation.
- It creates a categorical restriction without requiring case-by-case reviews, potentially streamlining enforcement but limiting flexibility in foreign real estate transactions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The executive branch, including the President, Department of Justice, and Treasury Department, would need to develop and enforce new rules, possibly increasing administrative workload and requiring inter-agency coordination for identifying CCP-linked individuals or entities.
- Citizens: U.S. real estate markets could see reduced competition from certain foreign buyers, potentially stabilizing prices in some areas but limiting options for sellers. It may indirectly affect U.S. persons of Chinese descent if affiliations are broadly interpreted.
- International Relations: The measure could heighten tensions with China by signaling distrust of its political system, possibly prompting retaliatory actions against U.S. investments abroad and complicating diplomatic or trade negotiations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government Officials: The President and federal agencies responsible for enforcement and national security.
- Real Estate Sector: Buyers, sellers, developers, and investors in U.S. property markets, particularly those dealing with international transactions.
- Chinese Communist Party Members and Entities: Individuals affiliated with the CCP and Chinese companies or organizations under its influence, who would be barred from U.S. real estate purchases.
- U.S. Citizens and Residents: Homeowners, businesses, and communities near sensitive lands (e.g., near military bases) that might benefit from reduced foreign ownership risks.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The broad language on "ownership, control, or influence" could lead to challenges in defining and proving CCP ties, potentially resulting in lawsuits over enforcement fairness or violations of international trade agreements.
- Constitutional: Raises questions about equal protection under the law (Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments) if the ban discriminates based on nationality or political affiliation, and property rights (due process) for affected parties.
- Political: Reflects a bipartisan concern over foreign influence but could polarize debates on U.S.-China relations, emphasizing national security over economic openness; as an introduced bill (H.R. 809, 119th Congress), it requires further congressional approval to become law.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (13)
Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8], Rep. Green, Mark E. [R-TN-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Securing America’s Land from Foreign Interference Act — issued 2025-01-28 — PDF (2 pages)