Keeping Public Lands Out of Adversarial Hands Act
Summary
The "Keeping Public Lands Out of Adversarial Hands Act" aims to amend the Defense Production Act of 1950 by including the Secretary of the Interior on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). This inclusion is specifically for transactions involving land or resources adjacent to land managed by various bureaus within the Department of the Interior. The bill also mandates CFIUS to consider land or resource transactions involving foreign persons from China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to increase scrutiny of foreign investments in land and resources, particularly those near federally managed lands. This could lead to the prevention of acquisitions deemed detrimental to national security. The bill also establishes a sunset clause, removing the requirements for specific countries once they are no longer considered foreign adversaries.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced national security by preventing adversarial nations from acquiring strategic land or resources.
- Greater protection of public lands and resources managed by the Department of the Interior.
- Increased oversight of foreign investment, promoting transparency and accountability.
- Potential for more informed decision-making by CFIUS with the inclusion of the Secretary of the Interior.
- Discourages adversarial nations from exploiting land or resource acquisitions for strategic advantage.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased bureaucracy and delays in foreign investment approvals.
- Risk of deterring legitimate foreign investment that could benefit the U.S. economy.
- Possible strain on diplomatic relations with countries identified as adversaries.
- Could lead to retaliatory measures from affected countries, impacting U.S. investments abroad.
- May require additional resources and personnel for the Department of the Interior and CFIUS.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the constitutional mandate to "provide for the common defence" (Preamble). It also relates to Congress's power to regulate commerce with foreign nations (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific individual liberties or rights outlined in the Bill of Rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).