Sunflower State News

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) appeared on The VINCE Show with Vince Coglianese to discuss a range of national security and legislative topics, including the Trump administration’s proposed action plan to ban Chinese purchases of U.S. farmland.

Marshall expressed concern about foreign ownership of American agricultural land, particularly by Chinese nationals. He stated, “… Farm security, food security, is national security – we take it for granted. China, their nationals, their people, have purchased only about 300,000 acres of land. It’s not the land, but it’s the location that matters. They have land right next to Whiteman Air Force Base. That’s where our B-2 bombers took off from for their mission to Iran. Back home, Fort Riley, Kansas, is near and dear to my heart – they have land close to that. So, it looks like they strategically purchased land next to military bases. So that in and of itself, they can keep track of what’s coming and going, what new drones do we have, all sorts of things, as you can imagine. So, it’s a national security issue.

“But beyond that, let’s talk about the other pieces of national security when it comes to agriculture. It’s the food supply chain, so foreign nationals hold about 1/4 of the protein processing in America, pork processing, and beef processing, to be particular. They’re constantly stealing our intellectual property. We have Chinese nationals in our laboratories, at our universities, so they are a constant threat. The one that really scares me is bioterrorism. You know, the next COVID virus, the next thing that they make in a lab in China, you couldn’t imagine that you’d ever have a hot air balloon floating across America… that could be dropping some type of viral particles that would kill all the cattle in America. So that’s the big concern.”

He criticized what he described as inaction by the Biden administration on this issue: “Let’s talk about why the Biden administration just ignored this. I begged them to make the Secretary of Agriculture part of CFIUS. That’s the committee that assesses foreign investments in the United States from a national security standpoint. Yesterday, President Trump made Secretary Rollins part of CFIUS so she can evaluate each one of these purchases on a case-by-case basis. You know who’s really purchasing the land, right? Is it some proxy or are they really connected to a country of concern as well?

“It is absolutely common sense. We brought this to the Biden Administration as we saw this acceleration of these land purchases. The President has the ability to appoint her; Congress can codify it; and we do have legislation that would codify that appointment...”

Marshall noted states like Arkansas have already taken steps regarding foreign ownership: “I don’t have any insider information except to say obviously they’re spying on us... But I think what’s more important is what the Trump Administration is going to do here... Basically they’re going to have an executive order that says China... cannot buy any further agricultural land in the United States... And they’re going to start a program to start taking land back from them... Governor Huckabee Sanders down in Arkansas has already done that.”

On immigration policy and border security measures under discussion in Washington: “No amnesty. Period full stop end of paragraph end of sentence no amnesty... Republicans in the Senate are not in favor of amnesty.

“But two points I’d like to make though... Number one we could not have ever even had this discussion until the border was secure... The One Big Beautiful Bill is going build 2000 miles of barrier and it’s going fund that border security for next four years.... But we’re going double number ICE removal agents... And I think what we heard Secretary Rollins say yesterday is they're going continue prioritize 400000 violent illegal criminals..."

Marshall also addressed recent developments involving President Joe Biden's physician being subpoenaed before Congress: “You know I’m a physician as well... This doctor has legal obligation come testify just like if I had legal obligation...

“Now if they ask me if she ever had herpes has she ever had an STD has she ever had miscarriage I would say look that's patient doctor privilege... But in this situation this doctor has every obligation come talk about ... national security issues regarding neurogenerative decline one Joe Biden..."

He said House Oversight Committee Chairman Jamie Comer should proceed with his inquiry but cautioned against making Biden's health "the focus" for Republicans: “I want my good friend Jamie Comer go through with this trial... We cannot stop talking about all great victories under President Trump ... But absolutely this doctor absolutely has obligation talk about neurodegenerative decline one Joe Biden…"

Regarding federal funding for PBS and NPR as well as USAID programs abroad Marshall commented: “I think it'll come floor next week but I'm embarrassed tell you there's people Senate Republicans having heartburn about it.... $37 trillion national debt trillion dollars year interest Senate doesn’t have kahones cut $9 billion total waste fraud abuse...

“And this also going defund National Public Radio Television as well.... Kansans back home tired their taxpayer money being spent on basically one propaganda unit left..."

He added: “For over 20 years we've spent billions dollars treating people AIDS Africa.... When does Africa take care their own problems?... And look there some moderates within Republican Party think National Public Radio should funded government I disagree...."