TOPEKA (KSNT) - Some Kansas lawmakers are looking to prevent land from being purchased by corporations from foreign countries.
HB 2766 aims to prohibit companies "domiciled or controlled by" China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela from purchasing or leasing land within 150 miles of any U.S. military installation.
A hearing on the bill, known as the Kansas Land and Military Installation Protection Act, is slated for 1:30 p.m. on March 4 will take place in the House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development.
The bill was introduced by House Majority Leader, Rep. Chris Croft (R) of Overland Park. 27 news obtained a copy of his written proponent testimony for the hearing.
Croft's testimony says the bill was written with extensive input from national security professionals and is designed to bolster national security.
"It is clear that we are facing a new type of threat in the People's Republic of China, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP has the goal of global dominance and usurping the United States as the world's premier military and economic power."
Rep. Chris Croft statement on HB 2766
Croft says the bill would see Kansas join 15 other states which have adopted similar legislation. The bill also includes an exclusion for land ownership by lawful permanent residents.
"This legislation is in no way intended to strip away the individual rights of immigrants," Croft said. "This exclusion ensures that legal immigrants and dissidents fleeing authoritarian regimes can still fulfill their American Dream."
Croft's testimony says the threat posed by foreign adversaries demands action from the state legislature.
"Countering China will be the Cold War of the 21st Century, and a problem that our nation will be dealing with for generations to come," Croft said.
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