Current location:opinions >>
Georgia may limit farm purchases by China 'agent'
opinions728People have gathered around
IntroductionThe Georgia House of Representatives has passed and sent to the state Senate a bill that would ban a ...
The Georgia House of Representatives has passed and sent to the state Senate a bill that would ban any "agent" of China from buying farmland or land near military sites.
The House bill — SB420, passed on March 20 — is different from the one passed previously in the Georgia Senate.
The Senate bill would have expanded the ban to all foreign nationals who are not legal U.S. residents, to China and four other countries.
SB420 is similar to legislation attempted or passed in a few other states that aim to limit land ownership by citizens from China and several other countries.
The vote in the Georgia House was 97-67 along party lines, with most Republican members voting for it and most Democratic members against it.
Even though the bill bans "agent of a foreign government designated as a foreign adversary by the United States secretary of commerce", the house debate prior to the vote was primarily directed at China. By its definition, the foreign adversaries currently include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Russia.
"An agent" is defined as a person who acts on behalf of the foreign government or a business domiciled in the country. The ban doesn't apply to residential property.
Democratic Representative Michelle Au questioned how to determine if someone is an agent of an adversarial government and accused the bill of being racist.
"Who's doing that investigation? What would trigger that suspicion? And would that be applied equally to everyone looking to buy or lease property?" Au asked. "These bills aim to weaponize racism, xenophobia, and anti-immigrant sentiment while wrapping itself in the cloak of national security and patriotism."
Representative Sam Park also questioned the logic of the bill. "I remain equally perplexed in that multiple Republican legislators have stated that this bill is focused on Chinese nationals while at the same time China remains one of the top trading partners for Georgia's agricultural exports that exceeded $5 .8 billion in 2023," he said.
"If you all really believe all the rhetoric that China is coming after America, would it not make sense for the state of Georgia to divest entirely and stop all trade with China? Or is that a step too far because it hurts your bottom line?" Park continued.
"Passage of this bill will cast a shadow of suspicion on any Asian or Hispanic-looking person who may want to purchase agricultural land or land near a military installation even if that person may be serving in our armed forces," he said.
Similar land laws passed last year in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas. The Florida land law was challenged in court, and the case is now before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
While the court is scheduled to hear the argument in April, it has also temporarily blocked its enforcement on the grounds that it might be preempted by federal law.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Culture Circle news portal”。http://china.fivesixgroup.com/content-68f199849.html
Related articles
US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
opinionsNEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year, according to Centers for Disease ...
【opinions】
Read moreChina's Sci
opinionsContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
【opinions】
Read moreChina Beats Turkey in Women's Volleyball Nations League
opinionsContact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom ...
【opinions】
Read more
Popular articles
- Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
- Hongniya Village Takes Measures to Boost Rural Revitalization in Shandong
- China to Recruit 67,000 Rural Teachers This Year
- International Museum Day Celebrated Across China
- Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
- China's Sci
Latest articles
What's next for Iran after death of its president in crash?
China Announces Campaign to Strengthen Psychological Care for Elderly
China Creates over 6.5 Million Urban Jobs in H1
China Beats Italy to Win Third Straight Match in Women's VNL
Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
Skill Training Classes Provided for Locals to Boost Employment in Sanjiang, China's Guangxi
LINKS
- 'Lao Pan' Disseminator of China's Huge Changes to World
- Working Tirelessly on Fertile Land
- Using Fingertips to Create Happiness
- Cultivating a Green Farm
- Ministry Strengthens Efforts to Lighten Children's Academic Burdens
- Enjoying Breathtaking Landscapes, Folk Culture in Nanjian
- Lost in Love Song Melody, Scenery in Kangding
- Illuminating Each Child’s Future
- Chinese Painting Techniques Inspire Indian Painter
- Caribbean Women Leaders Visit China, Review Development of Women, Children