Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks to reporters before a Senate Republican luncheon at the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., April 13, 2021.
Two Republican senators unveiled a bill Wednesday (April 21) that would prevent the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign adversaries from buying land near U.S. military bases.
The bill, called the Protecting Military Installations and Ranges of 2021 Act, was introduced by Republican Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) led the effort. The bill would require the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to investigate buyers of land near U.S. military installations for ties to the Chinese Communist Party or other adversaries.
Republican Representatives Ronny Jackson, Tony Gonzales and Pat Fallon of Texas have introduced similar bills in the U.S. House of Representatives.
A press release states that the bill would partially amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 and seek to “prohibit adversaries from acquiring land near military bases – land that they could use to spy on the activities of U.S. armed forces and put military installations at risk.”
“This legislation would restrict any efforts by China (Communist China), Russia, Iran and North Korea to purchase U.S. land within 100 miles of a U.S. military installation or within 50 miles of a military zone.” The press release said.
The bill states that foreign persons associated with or funded by the four regimes, including the Chinese Communist Party, would be subject to CFIUS review when purchasing or leasing real estate near U.S. military installations or military airspace.
“The Chinese Communist Party and our other adversaries are not allowed to purchase land close to our military bases.” Rubio, vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), said, “If the United States is serious about cracking down on China (the Chinese Communist Party) and other foreign adversaries, our government must prevent them from acquiring U.S. property without vetting. “
Rubio is also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies. He said in a statement that the bill would also address this national security threat by expanding government oversight and security around military installations.
“The United States will not tolerate espionage and has the authority to combat a wide range of nefarious acts by hostile regimes.” Cruz said of the bill.
“I am proud to introduce this common-sense bill to defend our national security interests and to ensure that regimes such as the Chinese Communist Party that threaten the United States do not have the ability to purchase land to eavesdrop and disrupt (U.S.) military activities.” He added.
The bill, if enacted, would give the U.S. Department of Defense the authority to stop construction at any site under investigation.
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