Legislature looks at securing Wyoming assets

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - In light of the Chinese spy balloon that got shot over U.S. territory, we asked Wyoming lawmakers what they are doing to help keep Wyoming assets secured.

Wyoming’s Senator Cynthia Lummis visited the Legislative chambers on Monday as the House and Senate completed the Committee of the Whole.

Lummis spoke about what lawmakers are doing to secure Wyoming’s assets and citizens.

“This was an act of aggression,” said Lummis.

Lummis continued to say we need to redouble our security and defensive posture, to prevent further aggressions from China and that communications with NORAD are happening today.

”We need to harden our assets so that these kinds of incursions can not happen again. We need to be looking at trade. We need to look at the purchase of AG. properties in the United States particularly in proximity to our bases,” said Lummis.

Currently, there are three legislative bills that are crossing the House and Senate floors that focus on foreign ownership of agricultural lands and properties in proximity to military bases and other state assets.

“Especially by adversarial states such as the People’s Republic of China around our sensitive areas. Whether that be a launch facility a nuclear launch facility in eastern Laramie county or critical infrastructure for our energy structure. So we’re looking at ways that we can carefully limit property ownership by these adversarial powers,” said Sen. Brian Boner, S.D. 2.

Additionally, Gov. Mark Gordon has banned TikTok a Chinese-based social media app from all state computers.

But lawmakers say legislature needs to remain focused on creating flexible legislation that can shift for “adversarial” businesses heads and not harm “ally” businesses such as Trona a Turkish-based mineral business and still encourage growth in the state.

”One, that’s very difficult to do in a way that’s fair, and doesn’t abuse our friends in the process of getting at some of our adversaries,” said Sen. Charles Scott, S.D. 30.

Lawmakers also say they may also need to look at absentee ownership of lands to vet owners that drive up prices, values and access for Wyomingites.

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