Keeping Public Lands Out of Adversarial Hands Act | ChamberLight
Bills · HR 7074
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 7074Public Lands and Natural Resources
Keeping Public Lands Out of Adversarial Hands Act
INTRO JAN 14· LAST ACTION JAN 14
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
13
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-written
This bill matters because it aims to strengthen the country's ability to protect national security interests, especially concerning critical land and resources. Currently, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews foreign investments for national security risks, but the Department of the Interior isn't a permanent member, even though many transactions involve land or natural resources. If this bill becomes law, it ensures that the expertise of the Interior Department, which manages vast swaths of federal land and resources, is always at the table for relevant reviews, particularly for land adjacent to national parks, wildlife refuges, or other public lands.
Voters should care because the bill creates a specific mechanism to scrutinize land acquisitions by foreign adversaries, which could impact everything from military readiness to access to natural resources. If the bill doesn't pass, these specific types of transactions, especially those near federal lands, might not receive the same level of dedicated review from the Interior Department, potentially leaving perceived national security vulnerabilities unaddressed.
KEY PROVISIONS
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PROVISION 01
Adds the Secretary of the Interior to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for transactions involving land or resources adjacent to federal properties.
This ensures that the agency responsible for managing federal lands has a direct voice in reviewing foreign investments that could affect those lands.
PROVISION 02
Requires CFIUS to specifically consider land or resource transactions when notified by the Secretary of the Interior, if the transaction involves a foreign person from China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran.
This provision creates a targeted review process for investments from specific countries identified as potential adversaries, focusing on land and resource acquisitions.
PROVISION 03
Defines 'reportable land or resource transaction' as one that the Secretary of the Interior believes is a covered transaction involving acquisition of land or resources by a foreign person from certain adversarial countries.
This clarifies the scope of transactions that would trigger the new review process, focusing on sensitive acquisitions by specific foreign entities.
PROVISION 04
Includes a sunset clause, meaning the new requirements for reviewing transactions from specific countries will terminate if those countries are removed from the list of foreign adversaries.
This ensures the targeted review process remains relevant to current geopolitical concerns and adjusts if relationships change.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and 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.
This bill matters because it aims to strengthen the country's ability to protect national security interests, especially concerning critical land and resources. Currently, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews foreign investments for national security risks, but the Department of the Interior isn't a permanent member, even though many transactions involve land or natural resources. If this bill becomes law, it ensures that the expertise of the Interior Department, which manages vast swaths of federal land and resources, is always at the table for relevant reviews, particularly for land adjacent to national parks, wildlife refuges, or other public lands.
Voters should care because the bill creates a specific mechanism to scrutinize land acquisitions by foreign adversaries, which could impact everything from military readiness to access to natural resources. If the bill doesn't pass, these specific types of transactions, especially those near federal lands, might not receive the same level of dedicated review from the Interior Department, potentially leaving perceived national security vulnerabilities unaddressed.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Adds the Secretary of the Interior to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for transactions involving land or resources adjacent to federal properties.
This ensures that the agency responsible for managing federal lands has a direct voice in reviewing foreign investments that could affect those lands.
high
Requires CFIUS to specifically consider land or resource transactions when notified by the Secretary of the Interior, if the transaction involves a foreign person from China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran.
This provision creates a targeted review process for investments from specific countries identified as potential adversaries, focusing on land and resource acquisitions.
med
Defines 'reportable land or resource transaction' as one that the Secretary of the Interior believes is a covered transaction involving acquisition of land or resources by a foreign person from certain adversarial countries.
This clarifies the scope of transactions that would trigger the new review process, focusing on sensitive acquisitions by specific foreign entities.
low
Includes a sunset clause, meaning the new requirements for reviewing transactions from specific countries will terminate if those countries are removed from the list of foreign adversaries.
This ensures the targeted review process remains relevant to current geopolitical concerns and adjusts if relationships change.
On the date that the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, or the Islamic Republic of Iran, as the case may be, is removed from the list of foreign adversaries in section 791.4 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations.
Termination of requirements for 'reportable land or resource transactions' for a specific foreign country.
GLOSSARY
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Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
A government committee that reviews certain foreign investments in the U.S. to determine their effect on national security.
Defense Production Act of 1950
A law that gives the President broad authority to ensure the national defense, including powers related to industrial production and reviewing foreign investments for national security.
Secretary of the Interior
The head of the U.S. Department of the Interior, which manages most federal lands and natural resources, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and public lands.
Covered transaction
A foreign investment or acquisition that is subject to review by CFIUS because it might pose a national security risk to the United States.
Foreign person
An individual, company, or government from a foreign country.
Foreign adversary
A foreign government or entity specifically identified by the U.S. government as engaging in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTS
JAN 14
Introduced in House
INTROREFERRAL
JAN 14
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and 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 federal agency that manages over 245 million acres of public lands, primarily in the western United States, for multiple uses like grazing, recreation, and energy development.
National Park Service (NPS)
A federal agency that manages all U.S. national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
