Republican lawmakers in the state House say foreign adversaries are targeting America from the inside out, forcing members of the legislature to take action to stop them.

Rep. Bill G. Schuette, R-Midland, is spearheading legislation that blocks nations like China, North Korea, and Iran from buying land near U.S. military bases. His bill, which recently passed the House, prohibits foreign land ownership within 20 miles of these sensitive sites.

“Nations like China, like North Korea, like Iran, they aren’t taking the same types of tactics that I saw when I was an intelligence officer,” Schuette said. “They’re adapting, and so must we.”

But the threat doesn’t stop at land. Michigan’s new legislative package also targets foreign funding of universities, closing the door on propaganda disguised as research grants or “cultural exchange” programs. If passed, the plan would stop adversarial nations from buying influence in classrooms and lecture halls.

“These countries are trying to undermine us at every turn, trying to take economic, political, and social leverage… We should be doing everything we can to keep our homeland safe,” Schuette added.

This isn’t just about military security, it’s about safeguarding Michigan’s agricultural legacy, too. Rep. Gina Johnsen, R-Portland, who sponsored a companion bill banning foreign adversaries from owning farmland, made it personal:

“There is something intrinsically American about driving through rural Michigan surrounded by farmland as far as the eye can see,” Johnsen said. “By purchasing Michigan farmland, these bad actors want to steal away our symbol for food security, generations of farming traditions, and American self-reliance… This isn’t just about property, it’s about power.”

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The bill is one piece of a broader package to counter foreign interference in Michigan’s economy, government, and education. Other proposals would ban TikTok government devices, require foreign landholdings to be reported, and strip foreign entities of the ability to buy farmland.

These aren’t theoretical concerns. Chinese interests have already purchased land near U.S. military installations in other states, sparking national outcry. And some American universities have faced scrutiny for accepting funding tied to Beijing’s “Confucius Institutes,” long criticized as tools of soft power.

At a time when Washington is bogged down by politics, Michigan Republicans are doing what serious states must: protecting their people, land, and institutions from hostile regimes. The message is clear: Our security is not for sale, and neither is our education.