The U.S. Treasury Department has proposed a rule to limit foreign land purchases. The new rule would require foreign entities to garner U.S. government approval before purchasing land within 100 miles of eight military bases. After much noise surrounding the Chinese spy balloons that flew over the U.S. earlier this year and a Chinese purchase of North Dakota farmland 12 miles away from a U.S. Air Force base, the proposed rule seeks to calm the alarm raised on both state and federal levels.

The rule has been met with open arms from U.S. lawmakers, including North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer who says the proposed rule could have blocked the Chinese sale in North Dakota. Similar efforts have been seen at the state level, with Missouri issuing an amendment to limit foreign land ownership from 1% to 0.5% and limiting China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from acquiring farmland by September 1.

Read more on efforts to stop foreign land purchases here.