Washington, April 27 -- Representative Jill Tokuda issued the following press release:
Today, U.S. Representative Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02) introduced the Farmland for Farmers Act, legislation to curb the rise in corporate ownership of agricultural land and keep farmland in the hands of farmers. U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has introduced companion legislation.
Corporations and private investors are leveraging their vast resources to buy up American farmland as speculative assets, squeezing out family farmers and destabilizing rural economies. The Farmland for Farmers Act prohibits corporations from purchasing or leasing agricultural land and restricts them from accessing farm assistance through USDA and the Farm Credit System. These ref...