A shocking betrayal of public trust occurred two days ago in Louisiana when a Senate Judiciary Committee defeated legislation that would have banned declared enemies of the United States from buying immovable property within the state. Pressure from the people of Louisiana may be forcing the Committee to reconsider this legislation, but time is running out. The stubbornness of primarily two men, Senator Barrow Peacock and Senator Paige Cortez, might allow dangerous parties to infiltrate our land. It is time to act, demand this legislation to pass, and secure our state’s and nation’s future.
In a stunning move, a majority Republican Senate Judiciary Committee led by Chairman Senator Barrow Peacock failed to oppose a motion to defer Representative Valarie Hodges’ legislation, effectively killing it. House Bill 537 would have prohibited sworn adversaries like China from buying immovable property in Louisiana. Despite the bill passing overwhelmingly in the State House, it now faces a tight deadline to pass in the Committee by June 2 and in the full Senate before the close of the Legislative Session on June 8.
There is no doubt that China has imperial designs on the United States, as evidenced by the recent analysis from Harvard Kennedy School detailing their efforts to dismantle American critical infrastructure. The failure of a Republican-dominated Committee to prevent the Chinese Communist Party from acquiring land in Louisiana is both baffling and condemnable. This situation constitutes a crisis with profound implications for the future of our state and nation.
We, as concerned citizens, must take immediate action by contacting Senator Barrow Peacock’s office and Senate President Paige Cortez’s office, demanding that House Bill 537 is heard, passed in Committee, and scheduled for a full Senate vote without delay. If the bill does not pass in this session, we must remember the two men primarily responsible: Senator Barrow Peacock and Senator Paige Cortez.
As Thomas Paine said, “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country.” We are not asked to take up arms or swim across an ocean, but merely to make a phone call and send an email. Our freedom is worth this small effort and much more.
In closing, it is crucial that we demand and deserve the kind of government that supports and protects our interests. The future security of our state and nation is at stake. Act now to ensure the passage of House Bill 537.
