VIDEO: Ricketts Introduces the PLOT Act to Protect Nebraska Ag Land, Combat Communist China

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, during his weekly press call with Nebraska media, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) discussed his Senate introduction of the Property Location Oversight and Transparency (PLOT) Act, which combats foreign adversaries' efforts to buy American ag land. Ricketts opened the press call by discussing the historic wildfires in Nebraska.

"When we face disasters - Nebraskans stick together," said Ricketts. "I witnessed the fire damage Monday while conducting a flyover with Governor Pillen and Ag Secretary Rollins. For all the folks who have been impacted by the fires, now is the time to document damage and apply to recovery assistance programs. These programs, like the USDA Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance Program, are here to support you. You deserve this assistance."

"Farms and ranches are the foundation of the Good Life in Nebraska. Nebraskans feed the country and fuel the world. Our farmers and ranchers keep America healthy and safe with a secure, reliable food supply," said Ricketts. "But Communist China can threaten this."

"The [PLOT Act] combats foreign adversaries' efforts to buy American ag land," continued Ricketts. "It does this by strengthening and increasing transparency in USDA's AFIDA reporting system. The hardworking Americans that feed us should benefit from land ownership in the U.S. Communist China should not."

Watch the video here.

TRANSCRIPT:

Senator Ricketts: "Thank you to our volunteer and federal firefighters, crews from Omaha and Lincoln, National Guard community volunteers, and everyone lending a hand to help with the wildfires over the course of the last couple of weeks.

"These partnerships and support make Nebraska the best place in the world.

"When we face disasters - Nebraskans stick together.

"I witnessed the fire damage Monday while conducting a flyover with Governor Pillen and Ag Secretary Rollins.

"For all the folks who have been impacted by the fires, now is the time to document damage and apply to recovery assistance programs.

"These programs, like the USDA Farm Service Agency Disaster Assistance Program, are here to support you.

"You deserve this assistance.

"Secretary Rollins is committed to helping Nebraskans recover.

"Please also check in with your neighbors to make sure they're doing okay.

"We will work to get through this together.

"Farms and ranches are the foundation of a good life in Nebraska.

"Nebraskans feed the country and fuel the world.

"Our farmers and ranchers keep America healthy and maintain a safe, secure, reliable food supply.

"But Communist China can threaten this.

"Communist China has pursued a policy of strategically buying ag land.

"Between 2010 and 2021, Chinese ownership of American agricultural land grew nearly 30 times larger.

"As of 2023, Communist China owned more than 277,000 acres of farmland.

"But it's not just about the number of acres that they own.

"They have targeted sensitive sites surrounding Army bases and airfields.

"They exploited our legal process to purchase land surrounding Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota and Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

"This is a national security risk.

"We cannot let them use American ag land to weaken U.S. national security.

"We can't let Communist China spy on our military bases from our cornfields.

"That's why I'm introducing the PLOT Act - the Property Location Oversight and Transparency Act - which combats foreign adversaries' efforts to buy American ag land.

"It does this by strengthening and increasing transparency in USDA's AFIDA reporting system.

"The hard-working Americans that feed us should benefit from land ownership here in the U.S.

"Communist China should not.

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture is responsible for overseeing foreign purchases of ag land.

"This authority comes from the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, or AFIDA.

"USDA is working to combat foreign land ownership from adversaries.

"However, Communist China keeps working to bend our rules.

"The USDA knows that food security is national security.

"That's why they've implemented tougher regulations.

"Secretary Rollins established the National Farm Security Action Plan.

"The administration and I are working to help combat Communist China's farmland purchasing in Nebraska and across the country.

"The PLOT Act increases USDA's oversight of foreign purchases of American farmland.

"Currently, reporting requirements are triggered when a foreign person holds at least 10% ownership interest, or when a domestic entity is at least 50% owned or controlled by a foreign person.

"The PLOT Act would lower this to 5% and 10%, respectively.

"Lowering reporting thresholds captures smaller foreign ownership stakes that currently go unreported.

"It also requires foreign purchasers to provide detailed digital maps of foreign-purchased ag land, and these maps would be available to USDA, local governments, and the public.

"That way, every Nebraskan knows where foreign adversaries are purchasing farmland.

"Nebraska farmers and ranchers should know this information.

"The PLOT Act is just one way I'm fighting for more transparency and stricter requirements in the AFIDA reporting process.

"Last year, I introduced the bipartisan AFIDA Improvements Act.

"It also strengthens the foreign ag land reporting process.

"It increases transparency and information sharing.

"It would also require an online portal for USDA.

"These provisions were included in the House Ag Committee's Farm Bill - I'm fighting for them in the U.S. Senate.

"Nebraska ag land is passed down generation to generation.

"Nebraska farmers and ranchers are proud of their land and the crops they grow on it.

"We can't let foreign adversaries like Communist China get away with purchasing our land."That's why I am introducing the PLOT Act."