Protecting our Military Bases Through Farmland Preservation
From the desk of Rep. Dante Pittman
Last week, the Military Affairs Commission went a step further in its effort to support our military. The commission passed a resolution supporting the NC Farmland and Military Protection Act, which would prohibit adversarial foreign government acquisition of agricultural land real property within a 75-mile radius of a military installation. Across the country, there have been documented cases of foreign adversaries attempting to purchase land near sensitive military sites. This act will prevent situations where hostile governments could monitor operations, interfere with training, or gain leverage over critical infrastructure.
As an appointed member of the NC Military Affairs Commission, I was proud to sign on as a cosponsor of this common-sense legislation and vote in favor of it on the floor of the NC House. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of this commission that supports both our active and retired military members and our farmers.
Farmland preservation is one of the smartest tools we have to address this challenge. When land near our installations remains in the hands of local farmers, it supports our food supply, sustains rural economies, and protects military readiness at the same time. That is why a continued partnership with the NC Department of Agriculture is essential.
I vividly recall the time that my battalion trained at Camp Lejeune. This was notable because it isn’t common for the Army National Guard units to utilize Marine Corps installations. I remember our convoy traveling through Eastern North Carolina, seeing our beautiful lands; it was just about all I could talk about with my NCO. While I was admiring the scenery, I didn’t spend much time that day thinking about the importance of these lands remaining protected and preserved. Now, I understand just how important these protections are.
The Eastern North Carolina Sentinel Landscape helps to protect our military installations from vulnerabilities, and Wilson County is a part of this landscape. It is vitally important that our state takes an active role in preserving and enhancing the land surrounding our military installations.
The top two industries in our state are agriculture and the military. Like many of you, I take tremendous pride in these two industries that power our state’s economy. I have been extremely proud to learn and to contribute to the Military Affairs Commission’s partnership with our military bases, National Guard Readiness Centers, the NC Department of Agriculture, and many other organizations to ensure that our Eastern NC Sentinel Landscape is preserved and protected.
Our state is fortunate to have the NC Military Affairs Commission. This committed group of distinguished veterans, service members, and advocates serving us on the Military Affairs Commission ensures our members of the military are not forgotten. While it is true that most of our national security matters are handled at the federal level, it is also true that our state plays a critical role in supporting our military and national defense efforts.
These are just a few examples of the good work being done by dedicated people who are using their military experience to continue serving our state and country. Supporting our service members is a privilege, and my door remains open by visiting us at the North Carolina General Assembly, calling our office at 919-733-5898, or emailing dante.pittman@ncleg.gov. I am honored to be a member of this distinguished group that is continuously working to make North Carolina the most military-friendly state in the nation.