H.R. 4706

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4706 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4706

To prohibit the acquisition and ownership of agricultural land and 
residential real property by certain foreign entities, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2025

Mrs. Miller of Illinois (for herself, Mr. Harrigan, Mr. Norman, Mr. 
Gosar, Mr. Onder, Mr. Stutzman, Mr. Burchett, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. 
Tiffany, Mr. Harris of Maryland, Mr. Wied, Mr. Rulli, and Mr. Crane) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To prohibit the acquisition and ownership of agricultural land and 
residential real property by certain foreign entities, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Our Farms and Homes from 
China Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Agricultural land.--
(A) In general.--The term ``agricultural land'' 
means--
(i) land used for farming, ranching, or 
timber production;
(ii) land used for food processing; and
(iii) land that--
(I) is currently idle; and
(II) was used within the previous 5 
years for farming, ranching, or timber 
production.
(B) Related definitions.--In subparagraph (A):
(i) Farming, ranching, or timber 
production.--The term ``farming, ranching, or 
timber production'' includes activities set 
forth in the Standard Industrial Classification 
Manual (1987), Division A.
(ii) Food processing.--The term ``food 
processing'' includes activities set forth in 
the Standard Industrial Classification Manual 
(1987), Division D, Major Group 20.
(2) Covered foreign entity.--The term ``covered foreign 
entity'' means--
(A) a corporation that is incorporated in the 
People's Republic of China, including the Special 
Administrative Regions of China, including Hong Kong 
and Macau;
(B) a person, business trust, business association, 
company, institution, government agency, university, 
partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or 
any other individual or organization that can legally 
enter into contracts, own properties, or pay taxes on 
behalf of the Government of the People's Republic of 
China;
(C) an individual or organization affiliated with 
the Chinese Communist Party;
(D) an entity owned or controlled by, or that 
performs activities on behalf of, an individual, 
organization, or person described in subparagraph (A), 
(B), or (C); and
(E) an individual that is a member of the board of 
directors, an executive officer, or a senior official 
of a corporation or organization described in 
subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D).
(3) Noncompete agreement.--The term ``noncompete 
agreement'' means an agreement entered into between an employer 
and an employee that restricts that employee from performing, 
after the employment relationship between the employer and the 
employee terminates, any of the following:
(A) Any work for another employer for a specified 
period of time.
(B) Any work in a specified geographical area.
(C) Any work for another employer that is similar 
to that employee's work for the employer that is a 
party to that agreement.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Agriculture.
(5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
States of the United States.
(6) Territory.--The term ``territory'' means--
(A) the District of Columbia;
(B) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(C) the United States Virgin Islands;
(D) Guam;
(E) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands; and
(F) American Samoa.
(7) United states agricultural land.--The term ``United 
States agricultural land'' means agricultural land located in a 
State or territory.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION OF ACQUISITION, LEASING, OR OWNERSHIP OF UNITED 
STATES AGRICULTURAL LAND BY COVERED FOREIGN ENTITIES.

(a) Prohibition of Acquisition of Agricultural Land.--It shall be 
unlawful for a covered foreign entity--
(1) to acquire any interest in United States agricultural 
land; or
(2) to lease any interest in United States agricultural 
land.
(b) Divestment Requirement.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, a covered foreign entity that owns or 
leases an interest in United States agricultural land shall 
divest itself from any ownership or lease interests in United 
States agricultural land.
(2) Letters of intent.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, a covered foreign entity that 
owns or leases an interest in United States agricultural land 
shall sign a letter of intent to divest itself from any 
ownership or lease interests in United States agricultural 
land.
(c) Penalty.--The Secretary shall fine a covered foreign entity 
that owns or leases an interest in United States agricultural land in 
violation of subsection (a) or (b) in an amount equal to $100 per acre 
per day that the covered entity owns or leases the interest in 
violation of subsection (a) or (b).
(d) Criminal Enforcement.--
(1) Penalties.--A covered foreign entity that violates 
subsection (a) or (b) shall be fined under title 18, United 
States Code, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.
(2) Forfeiture.--
(A) In general.--In an action brought by the 
Attorney General, any United States agricultural land 
owned in violation of subsection (a) or (b) shall be 
subject to forfeiture to the United States in 
accordance with chapter 46 of title 18, United States 
Code.
(B) Public auction of forfeited land.--
Notwithstanding section 981(e) of title 18, United 
States Code, the Attorney General shall sell through a 
public auction any United States agricultural land that 
is forfeited to the United States under this paragraph.
(e) Nullification of Agreements.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, any noncompete agreement entered into between a 
covered foreign entity that owns or leases an interest in United States 
agricultural land and an employee of the covered foreign entity shall 
have no force or effect.
(f) Implementation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
Attorney General, shall issue guidance and regulations to 
implement this Act.
(2) Office.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an office 
within the Department of Agriculture for the purpose of--
(A) monitoring compliance with this Act; and
(B) imposing fines under subsection (c).
(g) Investigative Actions.--The Secretary may carry out such 
actions as the Secretary determines to be necessary to monitor 
compliance with this Act.

SEC. 4. TEMPORARY PROHIBITION ON PURCHASING RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered period.--The term ``covered period'' means the 
period--
(A) beginning on the date of enactment of this Act; 
and
(B) ending on--
(i) the date that is 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act; or
(ii) if the President makes an extension 
under subsection (f), the date on which the 
extension expires under that subsection.
(2) Residential real estate.--The term ``residential real 
estate'' means--
(A) a single-family home;
(B) a unit in a condominium or a condominium;
(C) a townhouse;
(D) a unit in a cooperative or a cooperative;
(E) a unit in a duplex or a duplex;
(F) a unit in a triplex or a triplex;
(G) a unit in a fourplex or a fourplex; and
(H) a parcel of land that a local government has 
zoned for development of a type of housing described in 
this paragraph.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of Commerce.
(b) Prohibition.--A covered foreign entity may not purchase a unit 
of residential real estate in the United States during the covered 
period.
(c) Divestment Requirement.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, a covered foreign entity shall divest itself 
from any ownership of units of residential real estate in the United 
States.
(d) Penalty.--With respect to each unit of residential real estate 
owned by a covered foreign entity in violation of subsection (b) or 
(c), the Secretary shall fine the covered foreign entity in an amount 
equal to $1,000 for each day the covered foreign entity owns the unit 
of residential real estate in violation of either of those subsections.
(e) Enforcement.--The Attorney General may enforce the provisions 
of this Act, including by seizing assets and seeking appropriate 
injunctive relief.
(f) Presidential Extensions.--On the date that is 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
President may extend the covered period for an additional 2 years.
(g) Implementation.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
Attorney General, shall issue guidance and regulations for the 
implementation of this Act.
(2) Office.--The Secretary shall establish an office within 
the Department of Commerce for the purpose of--
(A) monitoring compliance with this Act; and
(B) imposing fines under subsection (d).
(h) Report.--Not later than 540 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that details 
the impact of the prohibition under subsection (b) on the residential 
real estate market and housing affordability in the United States.
<all>