H.R. 1161: Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025
Sponsor
Earl Carter
Republican · GA-1
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Feb 10, 2025
Referred to Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
Why it matters
Zero cosponsors, but the headline writes itself. H.R. 1161 authorizes the President to negotiate with Denmark to acquire Greenland — and rename it "Red, White, and Blueland." The bill includes provisions for statehood, mineral rights, and a transition period for Danish citizens.
What stands out is what the bill does not include. There is no appropriation amount, no stated cost cap, no enforcement penalty if an agency misses the 180-day deadline, and no separate transition rules for non-federal entities. In plain terms, HR1161 gives the President authority to negotiate with Denmark and orders a government-wide renaming campaign, but leaves the price tag, diplomatic outcome, and implementation costs unspecified.
What does H.R. 1161 do?
President can negotiate acquisition with Denmark
Section 2 authorizes the President to enter into negotiations with the Government of Denmark to purchase or otherwise acquire Greenland. The bill was introduced on 2025-02-10 and does not specify a purchase price, deadline, or funding amount for those talks.
Greenland renamed “Red, White, and Blueland”
Section 3(a) states directly that Greenland shall be known as “Red, White, and Blueland.” This is the bill’s central naming rule and applies as the official U.S. federal name if the section takes effect.
All U.S. legal references automatically change
Section 3(b) says any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to Greenland is deemed to refer to “Red, White, and Blueland.” The listed categories are explicit: law, map, regulation, document, paper, and other U.S. records.
Interior Department oversees map and document changes
Section 3(c)(1) assigns implementation to the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Chairman of the Board on Geographic Names. Their scope covers each Federal document and map, making this a government-wide geographic naming update.
Agencies have 180 days to comply
Section 3(c)(2) requires the head of each Federal agency to update each document and map of that agency not later than 180 days after enactment of the renaming section. The deadline is specific: 180 days, and it applies to each agency head.
Who benefits from H.R. 1161?
The President and executive branch negotiators
They benefit by getting explicit authority in Section 2 to negotiate with the Government of Denmark to purchase or otherwise acquire Greenland, without a price cap or negotiation deadline written into the bill.
Department of the Interior leadership
The Secretary of the Interior and the Chairman of the Board on Geographic Names gain a clearly defined leadership role under Section 3(c)(1) to oversee updates to each Federal document and map.
Federal agencies needing a uniform naming rule
Agencies get a single government-wide standard because Section 3(b) says any U.S. reference to Greenland in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record is deemed to mean “Red, White, and Blueland,” reducing ambiguity during the 180-day update period.
Who is affected by H.R. 1161?
Government of Denmark
Denmark is directly affected because Section 2 authorizes the President to negotiate with the Government of Denmark over purchasing or otherwise acquiring Greenland.
Heads of all federal agencies
Every agency head is assigned a direct compliance duty under Section 3(c)(2): update each document and map of the agency not later than 180 days after enactment of the section.
Federal mapmakers, records managers, and legal staff
These workers would have to revise maps, databases, forms, and legal references because Section 3(b) covers law, map, regulation, document, paper, and other U.S. records, and Section 3(c)(1) applies the change to each Federal document and map.
People and organizations using U.S. federal records
Anyone relying on federal laws, maps, regulations, and documents would see Greenland referred to as “Red, White, and Blueland,” because the bill says all such U.S. references are deemed to use the new name.
H.R. 1161 Common Questions
How many days would federal agencies have to rename Greenland on maps and documents?
Federal agencies would have 180 days after enactment to update their maps and documents under the Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025 (Section 3(c)(2)).
Does the Red, White, and Blueland Act set a price for buying Greenland?
No. According to HR1161 Section 2, the President may negotiate to purchase or otherwise acquire Greenland, but the bill does not state a purchase price or funding amount.
Can the President negotiate with Denmark to buy Greenland under HR1161?
Yes. Under the Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025 (Section 2), the President is authorized to enter negotiations with Denmark to purchase or otherwise acquire Greenland.
What would Greenland be renamed under the Red, White, and Blueland Act?
Under the Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025 (Section 3(a)), Greenland would be known as “Red, White, and Blueland.”
Does HR1161 automatically change U.S. legal references to Greenland?
Yes. According to HR1161 Section 3(b), any U.S. reference to Greenland in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record is deemed to mean “Red, White, and Blueland.”
Which federal department would oversee changing Greenland to Red, White, and Blueland?
The Department of the Interior would oversee it, through the Chairman of the Board on Geographic Names, under the Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025 (Section 3(c)(1)).
Which U.S. records would have to use the name Red, White, and Blueland?
Under HR1161 Section 3(b), the change applies to laws, maps, regulations, documents, papers, and other U.S. records that refer to Greenland.
Does the bill require every federal agency to update its own Greenland records?
Yes. Under the Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025 (Section 3(c)(2)), the head of each federal agency must update that agency’s documents and maps.
Is Greenland acquisition under HR1161 limited to a purchase only?
No. According to HR1161 Section 2, the President may negotiate to “purchase or otherwise acquire” Greenland, so the bill allows more than a straight purchase.
Does HR1161 set a deadline for the President to finish Greenland negotiations with Denmark?
No. Under the Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025 (Section 2), the President is authorized to negotiate with Denmark, but the bill gives no negotiation deadline.
Based on H.R. 1161 bill text
HR1161 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Feb 10, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
About the Sponsor
Earl Carter
Republican, Georgia's 1st congressional district · 11 years in Congress
Committees: Energy and Commerce, the Budget
View full profile →
Committee Sponsors
Natural Resources Committee
0 of 43 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Foreign Affairs Committee
0 of 51 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
51 Republicans across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 1161 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Natural Resources
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- International Affairs
- Introduced
- Feb 10, 2025
Referred to Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
Feb 10, 2025
Official Sources
Official Congress.gov page for the Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025, covering bill text, status, and legislative actions.
The bill assigns implementation oversight to the Chairman of the Board on Geographic Names for updating federal maps and documents.
The Secretary of the Interior is the federal official named in the bill to oversee the renaming implementation.
USGS and the Board on Geographic Names manage federal geographic naming processes relevant to changing official map references.
The bill would affect how federal regulations and other official records refer to Greenland after enactment.
GovInfo provides official government-published bill texts and related legislative documents for measures like HR1161.
Negotiations with the Government of Denmark would implicate official U.S. foreign affairs and diplomatic processes.
Official U.S. government reference page for Greenland that provides background context on the territory discussed in the bill.
H.R. 1161 Bill Text
“To authorize the President to enter into negotiations to acquire Greenland and to rename Greenland as “Red, White, and Blueland”.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
Get notified when H.R. 1161 moves
Committee votes, floor action, cosponsor changes — straight to your inbox.
Bill alerts + Legisletter's monthly briefing. Unsubscribe anytime.
International Affairs Bills
9 related bills we're tracking
Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025
Motion to place bill on Consensus Calendar filed by Mr. Lawler.
Jan 12, 2026
United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 12, 2025
Global Respect Act
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 19, 2025
United States-Israel FUTURES Act of 2026
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 12, 2026
To abolish the United States Agency for International Development, and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 7, 2025
Food for Palestinian Children and Families in Gaza Act of 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Feb 12, 2026
IRAN Act
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 4, 2026
SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act of 2026
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 326.
Feb 10, 2026
FADS Act of 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Jun 27, 2025
Trending Right Now
Bills gaining momentum across Congress
Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Sep 11, 2025
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 890 East 152nd Street in Cleveland, Ohio, as the "Technical Sergeant Alma Gladys Minter Post Office Building".
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Apr 15, 2026
Love Lives On Act of 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Feb 3, 2026
Tracking International Affairs in Congress? Monitor bills, track cosponsor momentum, and launch advocacy campaigns — all from one advocacy platform.