Lankford Leads Package of Bills to Counter China’s Predatory Tactics

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) introduced a package of bills to tackle China’s predatory tactics on American farmland, college campuses, and lending practices.

“China continues to buy up American farm land, steal our patents, and expand their authoritarian world view. America will demonstrate to the world our values and maintain our economic and military strength to assure the globe has the best opportunity for freedom. No one in China should doubt America’s resolve and commitment to liberty,” said Lankford.

Background:

This package of bills includes the Belt & Road Oversight Act to establish a Country China Officer at each embassy worldwide tasked with tracking China’s investment, particularly investment in critical infrastructure funded through predatory lending practices.

The Security and Oversight for International Landholdings (SOIL) Act will provide oversight and transparency of purchases of US agricultural land that threaten national security. Oklahoma has over 7,000 licensed marijuana grows. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) believes that 2,000 of those farms have a Chinese connection. The marijuana market in Oklahoma has ushered in other serious crimes like human trafficking, forced labor, and money laundering. Lankford is joined on the SOIL Act by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jim Risch (R-ID), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). 

Senator Blackburn also joined the Countering Adversarial and Malicious Partnerships at Universities and Schools (CAMPUS) Act, which prohibits joint research between US universities and universities in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with connections to the Chinese military, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The bill notably prohibits Department of Education funds for K-12 schools partnering with PLA-linked entities, as well as federal contracts and research dollars for universities that partner with PRC military enterprises.

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