Legislation that would restrict land ownership in Texas by entities from China and three other countries is necessary for the security of the Lone Star State and the entire U.S., according to the bill’s author, who pushed back on claims that the proposal would be discriminatory.
“This is about our national security,” Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst told Fox News Digital. “The bill is meant to protect some of our nation’s most precious resources: land, minerals, military bases.”
Kolkhorst authored Senate Bill 147, which would ban the purchase or acquisition of property in Texas by a “governmental entity” of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Companies headquartered in these four countries or “directly or indirectly controlled” by one of their governments would also be prohibited from owning land.
These four countries were not chosen at random.
Texas state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, in the Senate chamber, July 25, 2017, in Austin, Texas. (AP)
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“They’re hostile regimes to the United States,” said Kolkhorst, who noted they have been designated as posing threats to U.S. national security by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. In the intelligence community’s annual threat assessment, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said all four governments have “demonstrated the capability and intent to promote their interests in ways that cut against U.S. interests and allied interests.”
However, critics have focused primarily on China, claiming the bill, which originally banned all citizens from the four countries from buying Texas land, would create anti-Asian American sentiment. Some lawmakers and Asian American groups also argued the bill’s initial language would prevent immigrants from buying homes.
Last week, Kolkhorst announced an updated version of the bill to ensure its prohibitions would not apply to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, including dual citizens,…
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