U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) has introduced three bills aimed at addressing national security concerns related to foreign influence and property ownership in the United States. The legislative package targets Sister City partnerships, real estate transactions, and agricultural land acquisitions by entities linked to countries designated as foreign adversaries.
Blackburn’s initiative follows previous executive actions that restricted farmland sales to buyers connected with China and other nations considered adversarial to U.S. interests.
“The United States cannot allow foreign adversaries like Communist China to quietly embed themselves in our communities and near our critical infrastructure,” said Senator Blackburn. “From Sister City agreements that legitimize hostile regimes, to opaque real estate purchases that demand greater transparency, to buying up farmland near our military bases, we have a responsibility to identify and address these threats. This legislative package shines a light on these activities and will help protect American property and sovereignty.”
The District of Columbia Sister City Integrity Act would prevent Washington, D.C., from maintaining Sister City relationships with jurisdictions in countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The bill requires existing relationships with such countries to be terminated within 180 days and restricts the use of federal funds for international outreach unless compliance is certified.
Currently, Washington, D.C., has 15 active Sister City agreements, some involving countries labeled as foreign adversaries. These partnerships can provide diplomatic legitimacy and potential channels for influence operations or access to sensitive institutions through tourism or investment initiatives.
The Foreign Property Ownership Transparency Act addresses concerns about foreign investments in U.S. residential real estate made through anonymous shell companies or trusts. The legislation directs the Comptroller General to study the scope of these purchases since 2015—including geographic patterns and ownership structures—and assess their impact on housing affordability as well as proximity to sensitive national security sites. It also mandates collaboration between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and local authorities for policy recommendations.
Another measure, the Prohibition of Agricultural Land for Foreign Adversaries Act, seeks to bar nonresident aliens, foreign businesses, or agents associated with adversarial nations from purchasing U.S. agricultural land or participating in Department of Agriculture programs. Reports indicate that Chinese buyers currently own approximately 370,000 acres of U.S. farmland—some located near key military installations—which has raised concerns about espionage risks.
The text of each bill is available online for further review.
