Senate committee advances resolution praising Alaska'Greenland ties, sets amendment deadline

Chair Senator Giesel introduced Senate Joint Resolution 24 as the committee's second agenda item and asked staff to provide a brief overview. Paige Brown, staff to Senator Giesel, told the committee the resolution "recognizes and honors the longstanding relationship between The United States Of America and Greenland," underscores cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark in the Arctic and highlights cultural and practical ties between Alaska Native peoples and Greenland's Inuit communities.

Brown and Chair Giesel framed the resolution as focused on Arctic cooperation—shared scientific research, defense and resource management—and as a nonpartisan affirmation of longstanding relationships. Senator Kawasaki voiced support but asked whether observers might interpret the measure as a political signal to the federal administration. Senator Stevens noted a factual correction on a historical point raised in discussion, saying the U.S. never "owned" Greenland during World War II and recommended avoiding that inaccurate language.

Chair Giesel opened public comment on the resolution; no one registered to testify online or in the room, and Giesel closed public comment. The chair then "set the resolution aside" for further work and announced an amendment deadline of March 4 at 5:00 p.m. The committee scheduled a follow-up meeting for May 5 to reconsider the resolution.

What comes next: Amendments to SJ Res 24 are due March 4 at 5 p.m., and the committee will revisit the resolution at its May 5 meeting. No formal vote was taken at this session.