South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is facing strong opposition from powerful special interest groups as she pushes forward with a proposal to restrict the ability of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or other foreign entities to purchase land in her state. The measure, which has earned widespread support among South Dakotans, would create a similar version of the federal Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
“With this new process, we will be able to prevent nations who hate us – like Communist China – from buying up our state’s agriculture land,” Noem said in her release on Dec. 13 announcing the legislation creating CFIUS-SD. “We cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party to continue to buy up our nation’s food supply, so South Dakota will lead the charge on this vital national security issue.”
However, this legislation is being met with fierce criticism by industry representatives and special interest groups who are worried about its legality and constitutionality. An email sent by Brenda Forman of the South Dakota Association of Cooperatives to Noem’s legal team noted that “agricultural groups” had reviewed an updated version of Noem’s bill and were deeply concerned about its potential implications.
Though other states and politicians agree with the proposed legislation. Texas where GOP Governor Greg Abbott said he would sign a similar piece of legislation into law if it was introduced in their state legislature. Former President Donald Trump even included this issue as part of his early 2024 presidential campaign policy videos when he rolled out a federal proposal to block China from buying American farmland.
It is clear that these special interest groups have an agenda and are actively trying to stop Noem from passing her proposed measure for their benefit – not for the benefit of South Dakotans or our nation as a whole. We must stand up against these interests and make sure that our public servants can do what they were elected to do: protect us from foreign interference.
