US agriculture supply chain to be protected from Chinese Communist Party in Hinson, Ricketts bipartisan bill
FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Ashley Hinson and Sen. Pete Ricketts are rolling out a bicameral bill with bipartisan support that would secure agriculture supply chains in the United States from vulnerabilities and potential Chinese Communist Party exploitation, Fox News Digital has learned.
Hinson, R-Iowa, will introduce the Securing American Agriculture Act in the House of Representatives, while Ricketts, R-Neb., will introduce the measure in the Senate.
The Securing American Agriculture Act would require the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct an annual assessment to identify supply chain vulnerabilities, domestic production gaps and potential CCP exploitation.
It also would direct the secretary of Agriculture to recommend ways to strengthen U.S. reliance and reduce China's influence in the industry to mitigate potential threats.
The bill would ensure that the USDA accurately accounts for U.S. dependence on China for critical agricultural inputs and guarantee access for American producers.
"China has intentionally captured a significant market share of America's agricultural inputs — which is vital to our food supply chain — ceding leverage to our top adversary," Hinson told Fox News Digital Tuesday. "Iowa farmers have told me firsthand that if China decides to shut off U.S. access to these critical inputs, our food production would be in jeopardy. I'm proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill that exposes and counters China's grip on agricultural inputs to strengthen domestic manufacturing and food security."
Hinson added: "Plain and simple: We should bring our agriculture supply chain home."
And Ricketts told Fox News Digital Tuesday that "Communist China's strategic control over crucial sectors of our food and agricultural supply chains poses a serious national security threat."
"Losing access to key inputs could reduce productivity, increase food prices and undermine food security," Ricketts told Fox News Digital. "My bill will bolster and protect these supply chains and reduce our reliance on foreign adversaries."
The bill is also supported by House China Committee Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., who said the bipartisan bill is "a critical step forward in protecting our nation's food supply and farmers from foreign adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party, who threaten our agricultural security."
"America's farmers are the backbone of our economy, and we must ensure they have the resources and safeguards needed to compete on a level playing field while securing our nation's agricultural supply chains," Krishnamoorthi told Fox News Digital.
The bill is also supported by House China Committee Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich.; Rep, Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii; Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas; and Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Fla., among others.
In the Senate, Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin; Republican Sens. James Risch, R-Idaho; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V.; Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.; Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo.; Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., also support the bill.
Slotkin told Fox News Digital that "food security is national security."
"We need to treat threats to our food supply chain just like any other security risk," Slotkin said. "This legislation requires us to assess those risks so we can protect our food supply. Bottom line: We need to make sure America's agriculture supply chain is secure and stays right here at home."
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