Chairman Strong Sounds the Alarm on CCP Threats to US Agriculture: “Not an Issue That Should be Taken Lightly”

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL), chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, joined NewsNation's "Morning in America" to discuss his efforts to protect U.S. agricultural assets from agroterrorism amid heightened threats from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Yesterday, Chairman Strong led a hearing to examine these threats with witness testimony provided by officials from Alabama A&M University, the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University, the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center at Kansas State University, and the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense.

Tomorrow, the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability will hold a hearing to examine the national security threats posed by Chinese criminal organizations that have been linked to illicit marijuana farms on U.S. soil.

Watch the full interview here and read highlights below.

On his work to protect U.S. agriculture from the CCP, Chairman Strong said:

"It was obvious yesterday in this hearing and what we've seen in the last couple of weeks. We've had three Chinese nationals that tried to smuggle this fungus into America, saying that they're doing some kind of research at Michigan. It's time for the court system to throw the book at them. This is a threat to agriculture throughout America. There is no doubt. You start looking what else China's doing to America-380,000 acres of U.S. soil that China either owns or leases in America. This is a threat to national security, our fiber chain, our food chain. And it was great to bring Alabama A&M University before my committee yesterday [and] Auburn University."

On his efforts to address adversarial-owned land in the United States, Chairman Strong said:

"You better believe it's being addressed… Those 380,000 acres of property--it's funny. We peeled the onion back a little further. I said, 'Hey, where exactly is it located?' It happens to be around our largest military installations, tens of thousands of acres. And I can tell you this right here: China's not buying that to invite us to Sunday school. They're doing it for their benefit. America's got to stand up. And I'm going to tell you this right here. This bill [Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act] ought to be sponsored, not only by Republicans, but bring the Democrats on, get it to the Senate. Let's get it passed, and let's repatriate that property, bring it back to America and not allow China to have it or to lease it."

On the need to combat the CCP's malign influence on U.S. soil, Chairman Strong said:

"Make an example of these three idiots that came into our country trying to do damage to the American people and the American farmer. This is not an issue that should be taken lightly… Our colleges and universities are at risk… [Our adversaries] don't like the American way, and it's time to deal with it here in America."

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