Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen joined national and state leaders in Washington, D.C. Tuesday morning for the national rollout of the USDA’s Farm Security Action Plan. It’s a new seven-point-plan focused on protecting America’s rural farms, food suppliers and ag interests.
“Farm security equals food security, which equals national security,” Pillen said. He highlighted his unique perspective as the first governor from Nebraska in 100 years to make his living from agriculture. Since entering office, Pillen has issued two executive orders and introduced several bills aimed at protecting the state’s property, infrastructure and other assets from the threat of foreign adversaries.
Just last month he signed LB644 into law. Among other things it bars companies associated with the Chinese Communist Party from receiving Nebraska tax credits. At Tuesday morning’s event, speakers touched on the variety of emerging threats from China and other nations, including land ownership near military installations, intellectual property theft and bioterrorism.
The USDA plan was developed in response to the purchase of significant amounts of American farmland by people and companies connected to the CCP. “It’s important that we continue to have the courage and the wisdom to never back down and to stand up and protect our land and protect our families,” Pillen says.
“Chinese investors now control hundreds of thousands of acres of U.S. agricultural land, posing risks not just to local economies but to our food supply, water access, and national security.” Pillen highlighted his unique perspective as the first governor from Nebraska in 100 years to make his living from agriculture.