[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H10524-H10526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               EXPO 2000

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 139) expressing the sense of 
Congress that the U.S. Government should fully participate in EXPO 2000 
in the year 2000, in Hannover, Germany, and should encourage the 
academic community and the private sector in the United States to 
support this worthwhile undertaking.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 139

       Whereas Germany has invited nations, international and non-
     governmental organizations, and individuals from around the 
     world to participate in EXPO 2000, a global town hall meeting 
     to be hosted in the year 2000, in Hannover, Germany, for the 
     purpose providing a forum for worldwide dialogue on the 
     challenges, goals, and solutions for the sustainable 
     development of mankind in the 21st century;
       Whereas the theme of EXPO 2000 is ``Humankind-Nature-
     Technology'';
       Whereas EXPO 2000 will take place in the heart of the newly 
     unified, free, and democratic Europe;
       Whereas Germany has established a stable democracy and a 
     pluralistic society in the heart of Europe;
       Whereas more than 40,000,000 people in the United States 
     can trace their ancestry to Germany, and in 1983 the United 
     States and Germany celebrated the Tri-Centennial of 
     immigration of Germans into the United States;
       Whereas Germany has been a close political and military 
     ally of the United States for nearly five decades and has 
     been a driving force with respect to the political, monetary, 
     and economic integration of Europe;
       Whereas the United States, as a leading political, 
     intellectual, and economic power,

[[Page H10525]]

     maintains a strong interest in the worldwide strengthening of 
     political freedom and human rights, open market economies, 
     and technological advancement throughout the world; and
       Whereas the United States is eager to share with the global 
     community the vast and promising public and private efforts 
     being made to prepare for the next century; Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the United 
     States--
       (1) should fully participate in EXPO 2000, a global town 
     hall meeting to be hosted in the year 2000, in Hannover, 
     Germany, for the purpose of providing a forum for worldwide 
     dialogue on the challenges, goals, and solutions for the 
     sustainable development of mankind in the 21st century; and
       (2) should encourage the academic community and the private 
     sector in the United States to support this worthwhile 
     undertaking.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter] and the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Payne] 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter].


                             General Leave

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on House Concurrent Resolution 139.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nebraska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in 3 years Germany will be hosting EXPO 2000, a World's 
Fair to mark the new millennium. The timing and the location of this 
event could hardly be more appropriate. Hannover, Germany, is the 
center of a new Europe.
  Europe, as we all know, is in the center of major changes. By the 
year 2000, there will be at least three new members of NATO and also 
new members in the EU. Europe is rapidly unifying, and EXPO 2000 
represents a showcase to demonstrate that change. To date, 143 nations 
have agreed to participate.
  I would note that President Clinton noted on August 15 that the 
United States was accepting the German invitation to participate in 
EXPO 2000 and encouraged private industry to do so. In this respect, it 
is similar to resolutions that the Congress has approved in the past 
regarding U.S. participation in the EXPO in Lisbon.
  House Concurrent Resolution 139 comes to the Committee from the 
Congressional German-American Study Group. The cosponsors include the 
former chairmen on both sides of the aisle; the gentleman from Indiana 
[Mr. Hamilton], the current German-American Study Group chairman; the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Oxley]; and the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. 
Pickett], who is currently the vice chairman and will be the chairman 
next year.
  I would also tell my colleagues that two distinguished members of the 
other body are also active in similar kinds of efforts.
  The resolution recognizes the value of EXPO 2000 and expresses our 
support for private sector support.
  I think in looking at the resolution, one of the most interesting 
things is the theme of this conference. It is to encourage sustainable 
development of mankind in the 21st century. I think it is important, 
therefore, that we participate in this effort to establish a worldwide 
dialogue on the challenges, goals, and solutions for the sustainable 
development of mankind in the 21st century.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the chairman of the Committee on International 
Relations, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], for bringing this 
resolution to the floor, and I commend the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. 
Bereuter] for his sponsorship of it.
  EXPO 2000 is a World's Fair in Hannover, Germany, to usher in the new 
millennium. One hundred forty-three countries have already announced 
their participation. It will take place in the heart of the newly 
unified free and democratic Europe, as we move forward to the new 
European Community where the borders will drop and the continent will 
be united.
  This will be a very important forum. This forum will focus the 
attention of states, international and nongovernmental organizations, 
and individuals from around the world on the key challenges for a 
sustainable development of mankind for the next century.
  This is an important event, Mr. Speaker, and the United States should 
fully participate in it. The resolution emphasizes private funding for 
that participation. Academics and business leaders from the United 
States will have a great deal to offer to this important discussion on 
sustainable development of mankind in the 21st century.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe the Congress is right to encourage those 
leaders to actively participate in this important dialogue. This is a 
good resolution, Mr. Speaker, and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to 
the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the distinguished chairman of 
the Committee on International Relations.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our colleague, the gentleman 
from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter], for taking the initiative to introduce 
this resolution calling our attention to the upcoming World Exposition 
that is going to be held in Hannover, Germany, in the year 2000. Such 
expositions provide an excellent opportunity for our citizens to 
showcase the goods and services that have helped contribute to our 
national greatness.
  EXPO 2000 will focus on the theme of sustainable development. While 
that concept has come to mean many things to different people, this 
resolution, by highlighting the principles of political freedom, human 
rights, and the free market, establishes the appropriate framework for 
the involvement of our Nation.
  I believe our Government should strongly encourage our talented 
academic community and our private sector, the most productive in the 
world, to actively participate in this trade exposition. The amendment 
we made in committee made it clear that the Government's role is solely 
one of encouraging efforts in the private sector to participate, and no 
government funds would be spent.

                              {time}  1830

  Accordingly, I urge our colleagues to fully support this resolution.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from West 
Virginia [Mr. Wise].
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution and thank the committee 
for bringing it to the floor. As a former chair of the Congressional 
Study Group on Germany, I can tell my colleagues that when we visited 
Germany just two years ago, I know that one of the first questions I 
asked was how is the United States participating in Hannover 2000, and 
what is the United States role going to be? If we are a world power and 
we are an economic power, then we have to be fully involved in these 
significant economic events.
  Let me also urge each Member to go back and talk to your State 
Department of Development or Commerce, or whatever it is, to find out 
the balance of trade with Germany and the European nations and they 
will find out that one of the fastest growing areas, both in investment 
and in exports that is selling United States goods to another nation is 
in Germany. So, once again, this is an excellent opportunity, as the 
people from both sides of the aisle have pointed out, to showcase our 
products to the world, not just Germany where it is being held, of 
course, but to the world.
  So if I had my way, I would actually have us participating more than 
we probably are in terms of taxpayers possibly being involved as well, 
but the important thing is that the private sector fully be involved, 
that we send a message that the United States is fully committed, and 
that we encourage the fullest amount of U.S. participation.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from West Virginia 
for that outstanding statement.
  It is now my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the 
distinguished gentleman from Ohio [Mr.

[[Page H10526]]

Oxley], who I consider to be, along with myself, a primary sponsor of 
this legislation. As I mentioned earlier in the debate, he is chairman 
of the German-American Study Group.
  (Mr. OXLEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, before I begin my remarks, let me thank the 
gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter] for bringing this Expo 2000 
resolution to the floor today and for his leadership in the Committee 
on International Relations on these important issues.
  As the gentleman from Nebraska indicated, I am Chairman of the 
Congressional Study Group on Germany for 1997. I am proud to rise in 
support of this resolution. The resolution provides an important 
congressional endorsement of Expo 2000 and, as an original cosponsor, I 
am hopeful that my colleagues will support this resolution.
  The Expo, to be held in Hannover, Germany, will provide an important 
opportunity for the international community to discuss solutions to 
problems we will be facing in the 21st century, including global 
climate change, sources of energy, population growth, and development. 
Given America's leading position in the development of technology and 
our problem-solving capabilities, I applaud the President's 
announcement of American participation in the Expo 2000. This 
resolution will provide another voice of support to American academic 
and private sector involvement in the Expo.
  Given the dramatic progress this Congress has made in balancing the 
budget and promoting fiscal responsibility, I think it is important to 
note that no Federal funds will be used to support American 
participation in this Expo. While this was the clear intention of the 
resolution when introduced, I applaud the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
Gilman] for introducing an amendment in the committee process that 
makes this absolutely clear.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
express my appreciation and thanks to all of the Bundestag colleagues I 
have gotten to know over the past year. I believe that German-American 
relations provide an important cornerstone of stability in Europe. 
American participation in Expo 2000 will further this relationship, and 
I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 139.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia [Mr. Pickett].
  Mr. PICKETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. I also want to thank the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter] 
for sponsoring this resolution.
  It is very important that we participate in this worldwide event. 
Just recently we have seen the effect of what happens in our own 
country when economic conditions change in Asia, and we have also heard 
a great deal recently about global warming and what our country should 
do in the world environment as far as global warming is concerned.
  It is very appropriate that we encourage through our government the 
academic community and the private sector to participate in Expo 2000. 
This is a very eloquent and far-reaching event that is going to be held 
in Hannover, Germany in the year 2000 for worldwide dialogue on the 
challenges, goals and solutions for the sustainable development of 
mankind in the 21st century. This fits in with our economic objectives, 
it fits in with our environmental objectives, and it fits in with our 
commitment to the world community, and I urge everyone to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution, to support Expo 2000 in Hannover, Germany.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter] that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 139.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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