Make Greenland Great Again Act

Bill Number

H.R. 361

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-13: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2025-02-27T19:55:05Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This legislation aims to authorize the President of the United States to initiate negotiations with the Kingdom of Denmark for the potential purchase or acquisition of Greenland, an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty. The bill seeks to expand U.S. territory strategically, possibly for national security, resource, or geopolitical reasons, though it does not specify motivations beyond the negotiation itself.

Key Provisions

• Authorization for Negotiations: Starting at 12:01 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 20, 2025 (the date of a potential presidential inauguration), the President is authorized to begin talks with Denmark to secure Greenland's acquisition by the United States.
• Transmission Requirement: Within 5 calendar days of reaching any agreement, the President must send the full agreement, including all related documents and attachments, to designated congressional committees.
• Congressional Review Process:
• A 60-calendar-day review period begins when the agreement is transmitted to Congress.
• If Congress does not pass a joint resolution of disapproval during this period, the agreement automatically takes full legal effect.
• Defined Committees: The "appropriate congressional committees" are the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill introduces a new, specific congressional authorization for the President to pursue territorial acquisition through negotiation, which is not explicitly covered in current U.S. law.
• It establishes a streamlined approval mechanism for such an agreement, differing from the standard treaty ratification process under Article II of the U.S. Constitution (which typically requires a two-thirds Senate vote for approval). Instead, it uses a disapproval resolution, shifting the default to automatic implementation unless Congress actively objects.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The State Department and executive branch would handle negotiations and implementation, potentially requiring new administrative structures for integrating Greenland (e.g., governance, defense, or resource management). Congressional committees would gain oversight roles in reviewing foreign acquisition deals.
• On Citizens: U.S. citizens could see expanded national territory, affecting taxes, military presence, or access to Arctic resources, but Greenland's approximately 56,000 residents (mostly Indigenous Inuit) might face major changes in sovereignty, culture, and self-governance without their direct input specified in the bill.
• On International Relations: This could strain U.S.-Denmark relations, as Denmark has historically rejected similar proposals (e.g., past U.S. interest in buying Greenland). It might also impact NATO alliances, Arctic Council dynamics, and relations with other powers like Russia or China interested in the region for its strategic location and minerals.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government: The President (negotiation lead), Congress (review and potential disapproval), and agencies like the Departments of State and Defense.
• Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland: Denmark as the sovereign power deciding on any sale; Greenland's government and people, whose autonomy and rights could be altered.
• International Community: NATO allies, Arctic nations (e.g., Canada, Russia), and global bodies concerned with territorial integrity and self-determination.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Constitutional: Relies on Congress's power to regulate foreign affairs (Article I) and the President's treaty-making authority (Article II), but the automatic-approval mechanism could be challenged as bypassing traditional Senate treaty ratification, potentially raising separation-of-powers questions.
• Legal: Any resulting agreement would need to address international law on territorial transfers, including Greenland's 2009 Self-Government Act, which grants it significant autonomy. Failure to gain Danish or Greenlandic consent could lead to disputes under treaties like the UN Charter.
• Political: The bill's introduction by a bipartisan group of House members signals interest in Arctic expansion amid climate change and great-power competition, but it risks controversy over colonialism or imperialism. Its nickname ("Make Greenland Great Again Act") evokes partisan rhetoric, potentially polarizing domestic and international opinions.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]

Cosponsors (17)

Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL-2], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-13: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-01-13: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-13: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Make Greenland Great Again Act — issued 2025-01-13 — PDF (3 pages)