Congresswoman Stephanie Bice announced Wednesday that she has reintroduced the Stop China’s Continuous Purchase (CCP) of Land Act, legislation designed to safeguard American agricultural land from foreign adversaries.

According to a press release from Bice’s office, foreign land ownership in the United States has surged over the past decade. This legislation incentivizes states to prohibit countries such as China and Russia from acquiring U.S. farmland, ensuring that critical resources remain under American ownership.

“Americans should own American land, not foreign adversaries. The Chinese Communist Party is one the greatest threats to our national security, and they should not be able to buy up farmland or the area around military bases and other key installations. By encouraging states to take a stand we will make our nation safer and more secure for the people who live here,” Bice said in a statement.

Oklahoma Voice reported last month that Oklahoma has seen growth in foreign holdings of agriculture and non-agriculture land. In Oklahoma, data from the USDA shows land holdings by foreign investors increased by

119,617 acres in 2022 over 2021. Out of Oklahoma’s nearly 44 million acres, there are 1.7 million acres of land held by foreign owners, according to the report.