Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders introduced the Communist China Defense legislative package, aimed at divesting state resources from Communist China and banning foreign adversaries from purchasing land near critical infrastructure, including military bases and electric substations. The legislation’s lead sponsors include Senator Blake Johnson (District 21), Representative DeAnn Vaught (District 87), Representative Britt McKenzie (District 7), Representative Mindy McAlindon (District 10), and Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr., (District 95).
The package will expand prohibitions on Chinese Communist Party-linked companies’ property ownership by preventing those companies from leasing property, owning property near critical infrastructure, and shortening the amount of time a banned company has to divest. Additionally, Governor Sanders will put Arkansas first by banning lobbying on behalf of Communist China, Russia, and other foreign adversaries.
Municipalities will no longer be allowed to have sister cities in Communist China. The state will withhold funding from colleges and universities that have a Confucius Institute or similar institute related to the People’s Republic of China, including Chinese cultural centers, and prohibit state-sponsored colleges, universities, and entities from investing in Communist China. State agencies will be barred from spending public funds to purchase promotional items made in China.
Governor Sanders emphasized the significance of the legislation, noting, “President Trump is the first president in my lifetime to take a hard line against Communist China, and we are proud to support that work in Arkansas by getting Communist China off our land and out of our state.”
She added, “Once I sign this legislation into law, Chinese Communist Party-linked companies will be banned from owning property near critical infrastructure, and lobbying on behalf of Communist China, Russia, and other foreign adversaries will no longer be allowed in Arkansas. My administration is putting America and Arkansas first.”
Senator Blake Johnson expressed strong support, saying, “China is America’s greatest adversary, and I’m proud Arkansas is leading the way in pushing back against our enemies and putting America First. This legislation protects our farmers, our businesses, and our national security.”
Representative DeAnn Vaught stressed the importance of safeguarding Arkansas’s agricultural lands and intellectual property, stating, “The protection of Arkansas agricultural lands, seed technology, and our intellectual property should be of the highest priority.”