Lawmakers debate unusual resolution urging U.S. diplomatic efforts on Greenland annexation

House Concurrent Resolution 3026, introduced to urge Congress and the president to pursue diplomatic efforts toward the peaceful annexation of Greenland as a U.S. territory, received an extensive floor presentation that ranged from historical context to estimates of Greenland's mineral and energy resources.

Representative Rios presented the resolution and framed the proposal around strategic, economic and scientific interests. His floor remarks recounted historical U.S. interest in Greenland dating to the 19th and 20th centuries, noted the presence of Thule Air Base and argued Greenland's rare earth element, titanium and hydrocarbon resources could become strategically important in coming decades. The presentation listed large-scale resource estimates for rare earth oxides and hydrocarbons and discussed Greenland's potential in Arctic shipping and defense posture.

The resolution advances an unconventional state-level appeal to federal leaders; the sponsor and presenter characterized it as a proactive position on national strategy rather than an immediate policy change at the state level. The floor exchange did not develop into an extended back-and-forth in the available transcript, and the excerpt does not include the final recorded vote or any committee action beyond the read statement. The House moved the measure to final consideration during the session, but the transcript segment provided does not show a final outcome.

Because the resolution calls on federal action and international diplomacy, it is advisory: state legislatures cannot themselves annex foreign territory. The floor record centers on Rios's presentation of resource figures and strategic rationale rather than procedural amendments or fiscal impacts.