Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax to discuss the outcome of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review of the Fufeng Group’s purchase of farmland near Grand Forks Air Force Base. Excerpts and full video are below.
On the CFIUS Review of Fufeng:
“I’ve come to expect so little from the federal government. Even at that standard, this was underwhelming to say the least. That they would sit on this decision for close to three months and then conclude they didn’t have jurisdiction—which some [Department of Justice] lawyer could have told them in a matter of hours—is disappointing.”
“Remember CFIUS operates in two 45-day tranches. They took the first 45 days and then decided to go another 45 days, which implies that they’re actually reviewing it. I personally think that there is information that some of the agencies gleaned. That’s why I’ve asked for a classified briefing from the Treasury Department, which is the head of CFIUS, and from the Department of the Air Force if not the entire Department of Defense, because they’re the entities that I’m most concerned about. Hopefully, I’ll at least learn with my clearance what [CFIUS] learned during this review. My sense is that there are serious concerns.”
“I’ve always been opposed to this investment. I remain opposed to this investment… At the end of the day, I think the security concerns are obvious. We’re talking about the Chinese Communist Party at a time when they have made it very clear that they want to take over more supply chains in the United States. They spy on us. They’re building a super military to rival us. I think it’s a bad idea to invite them into your backyard.”
On A Strategic Decoupling from China:
“I think for a lot of people, there’s an evolution of thought on China is happening and it’s appropriate that it is happening. I’ve called for a strategic decoupling from China now for the last ten months at least. We are living at a time when us as individuals, as families, as communities, as states, and as a nation, [we] have to decide whether the fun, cheap stuff that China provides us—or for that matter the large investments that they can provide our communities—if it’s worth putting the entire country at risk. I choose to say it is not [worth it]. I think we have to take more action that demonstrates we’re going to stand up for American security and independence at a time when China is rivaling us in so many respects economically, as well as, militarily. We need to be a lot more diligent.”