WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho has joined a group of Republican lawmakers in introducing legislation aimed at tightening oversight of foreign land acquisitions near sensitive U.S. military and intelligence facilities. The proposal, titled the Protect Our Bases Act, seeks to bolster the authority and effectiveness of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
The legislation would require agencies represented on CFIUS to annually update and maintain an accurate list of military, intelligence, and national laboratory sites designated as sensitive for national security purposes. The move is intended to ensure timely and informed reviews of foreign real estate transactions that could pose security risks.
“We must protect sensitive military and government sites from foreign adversaries pursuing intelligence activities on our own land,” Crapo stated, referencing Idaho’s military installations and the Idaho National Laboratory.
The bill comes in response to a 2022 incident in which a Chinese company, Fufeng Group, sought to buy land near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. Although the transaction was ultimately halted by local officials, CFIUS was unable to intervene due to the base not being on the Department of Defense’s list of sensitive sites.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, the bill’s lead sponsor, said the legislation responds to increasing concerns over surveillance efforts by foreign governments, especially the Chinese Communist Party. “This legislation will enhance the review of foreign real estate transactions near critical national security installations,” Scott said.
The bill has support from a coalition of Republican senators, including Mike Rounds (S.D.), Thom Tillis (N.C.), John Kennedy (La.), Bill Hagerty (Tenn.), Katie Britt (Ala.), Pete Ricketts (Neb.), Jim Banks (Ind.), Kevin Cramer (N.D.), Bernie Moreno (Ohio), and Dave McCormick (Pa.).
Under the proposed law, CFIUS would also be required to certify annually to Congress that sensitive site listings are up to date and that real estate reviews are conducted accordingly.
The full bill text is available at crapo.senate.gov.
