HR7012-119

What This Bill Does

The Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act gives the President authority to take steps necessary to annex or otherwise acquire Greenland as a territory of the United States, including seeking negotiations with the Kingdom of Denmark. If annexation or acquisition is completed, the President must submit a report to Congress identifying changes to federal law that the President considers necessary to admit the newly acquired territory as a State. The statehood process would be expedited only after Greenland adopts a constitution that Congress determines is republican in form and consistent with the U.S. Constitution.

Who Benefits and How

U.S. strategic planners and supporters of Greenland acquisition benefit because the bill creates statutory authorization for negotiations and post-acquisition statehood planning. Greenland residents could benefit from a defined statehood path if acquisition occurred and if they adopted a qualifying constitution, although the bill does not itself secure local consent or Danish agreement. Congress benefits from a required report identifying legal changes needed for statehood.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The President, State Department diplomats, Defense Department planners, Interior territorial affairs staff, and congressional committees would face major diplomatic, legal, constitutional, and implementation work if negotiations proceeded. Denmark and Greenlandic self-government institutions would bear diplomatic pressure from a U.S. acquisition effort. Federal budget planners would need to evaluate statehood, territorial administration, defense, infrastructure, social programs, and representation costs.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the President to seek negotiations with Denmark to annex or acquire Greenland.
• Authorizes steps necessary to make Greenland a U.S. territory.
• Requires a presidential report to Congress after acquisition on federal-law changes needed for statehood.
• Requires Greenland to adopt a constitution that Congress finds republican in form and consistent with the U.S. Constitution before statehood approval is expedited.