FAIRHOPE – Despite winning the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate 114 days ago, the campaign goes on for GOP nominee Katie Britt with the November 8 general election approaching.
On Thursday, Britt addressed the Eastern Shore Republican Women's Club, hitting on immigration, inflation and the threats abroad.
During her speech, she honed in on China specifically as one of those threats. She pledged to back an effort by U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) to prohibit Chinese-run companies from purchasing American farmland.
"You look at China – our leaders need to wake up," Britt said. "They are leaps and bounds ahead of us at every turn, from the origin of the virus to undermining the American worker. We see it right here with our Gulf Coast workers. We see it with our steel manufacturers. We see them stealing our intellectual property at record rates. What is so scary is the military capability, as we remain dormant in so many areas, they are building their naval fleet. You look at where they are when it comes to hypersonic weapons and then farmland.
"So, I am a big believer that food security is national security. It is mind-boggling that we are allowing the Chinese to buy up American farmland. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of people with foreign-owned farmland doubled. China went from about 13,000 acres to 350,000 acres. Some of that we've seen around South Dakota is right around military bases.
"Folks, do you think the Chinese government would let Americans buy up their farmland? I'll answer it for you: No. So, I'm going to stand firm with Senator[s] Tuberville and Cotton. I look forward to being a co-sponsor of their bill to ensure the Chinese can no longer buy American farmland."
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com.
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