Newhouse Statement on Secretary of Agriculture Joining CFIUS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon the announcement of a Memorandum of Understanding placing the United States Secretary of Agriculture on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

"Over the past few years, we have learned about the significant threat the Chinese Communist Party poses to our supply chains and economy here at home. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, I have worked to ensure the CCP does not take roots on American farmland and around sensitive national security sites. Today, I'm encouraged to see the Secretary of Agriculture finally take a seat at the CFIUS table, and I look forward to working with Secretary Brooke Rollins to keep the CCP out of our backyards and away from American farms."

This Memorandum between the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Agriculture implements a provision Rep. Newhouse secured in the Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to add the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS.

Specifically, it implements Section 787 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-42). (link is external)

Read the Memorandum here.(link is external)

Background

Rep. Newhouse has led the effort in Congress to add the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS.

In addition to securing the provision in the appropriations legislation, Rep. Newhouse passed a bill(link is external)out of the House of Representatives in September 2024 to add the Secretary to CFIUS.

In addition to securing the provision in the appropriations legislation, Rep. Newhouse passed a bill(link is external)out of the House of Representatives in September 2024 to add the Secretary to CFIUS.

Rep. Newhouse is a founding member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party(link is external)tasked working on a bipartisan basis to build consensus on the threat posed by the CCP and develop a plan of action to defend the American people, our economy, and our values.

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