[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 25, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H2829-H2832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1730
U.S. WANTS TO COMPETE FOR A WORLD EXPO ACT
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 534) to require the Secretary of State to take such
actions as may be necessary for the United States to rejoin the Bureau
of International Expositions, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 534
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``U.S. Wants to Compete for a
World Expo Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) is the
organization responsible for governing World Fairs and
International Expositions.
(2) Section 1(a) of Public Law 91-269 (22 U.S.C. 2801(a))
found that ``international expositions . . . have a
significant impact on the economic growth of the region
surrounding the exposition and . . . are important
instruments of national policy''.
(3) The United States has not been an active member of the
BIE since 2001.
(4) State and local governments and private entities in the
United States have continued to participate in international
expositions held in foreign countries as a means of promoting
United States exports and creating jobs, but face
significantly higher costs for such participation because the
United States is not an active member.
(5) State and local governments and private entities in the
United States have expressed interest in an international
exposition being hosted in the United States, but the bid of
a United States city, region, or State to host an
international exposition is unlikely to be successful if the
United States is not a member of the BIE.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States should rejoin the BIE immediately to
promote domestic job creation, global branding, and tourism
to the United States;
(2) the Secretary of State, in partnership with the
Secretary of Commerce, State and local governments, and
private and non-profit entities, should take all necessary
steps to facilitate the timely submission of a request to
rejoin the BIE; and
(3) funding for the participation of the United States in
international expositions or other events facilitated by the
BIE should continue to be privately solicited and sourced, in
accordance with existing law.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State is authorized to
take such actions as the Secretary determines necessary for
the United States to rejoin and maintain membership in the
BIE.
(b) Authorization to Accept Private Contributions.--In
addition to funds otherwise available to the Secretary to
carry out this section, the Secretary is authorized to accept
contributions for such purpose.
[[Page H2830]]
(c) Notification.--The Secretary of State shall notify the
Committees on Foreign Affairs and Appropriations of the House
of Representatives and the Committees on Foreign Relations
and Appropriations of the Senate upon taking any action under
subsection (a).
SEC. 5. CONTINUATION OF PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS
FOR WORLD'S FAIR PAVILIONS AND EXHIBITS.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize any
obligation or expenditure prohibited by section 204 of the
Admiral James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Relations
Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001 (22 U.S.C.
2452b) (relating to limitations on the obligation or
expenditure of funds by the Department of State for a United
States pavilion or exhibit at an international exposition or
world's fair registered by the BIE).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and to include any extraneous material in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 534, the U.S. Wants to Compete for a World
Expo Act. As always, I appreciate the assistance of the ranking member,
Mr. Engel, in expediting this legislation. I would like to commend two
of our body here, Mr. Tom Emmer and Ms. Betty McCollum. We thank them
and their Minnesota colleagues for their leadership on this issue.
Mr. Speaker, this bill will enable American citizens and our
businesses and State and local governments to once again compete on an
even footing against foreign countries to host a World Expo here in the
United States. It does so by authorizing the Secretary of State to take
those steps necessary to rejoin the Bureau of International
Expositions. This BIE, as it is called, is the organization that
governs World Expos, and it determines which cities get to host such an
event.
The United States originally joined the BIE back in 1928, but it
withdrew from active membership in 2001. Unfortunately, the rules of
the BIE make it virtually impossible for bids from nonmember nations to
compete against bids from member nations. This bill will revise this.
It will reverse the longstanding position, and we can lend our support
to a recent surge of American interest in once again hosting a World
Expo in the United States.
Citizens from Minnesota have developed a comprehensive bid and are
actively competing against cities in Argentina and Poland to host the
2023 World Expo, but since these countries are BIE members, the U.S.
must rejoin the BIE in order for Minnesota to compete on an even
playing field when the BIE makes its recommendations to the selection
committee in May.
It is not just Minnesota that is interested in this. At least five
other U.S. States and cities are actively exploring hosting a World
Expo in the future, including Los Angeles and San Francisco from my
home State of California. These cities know that World Expos create
American jobs. They promote American exports. They enhance the image of
America around the world. Indeed, in November, the Departments of
Commerce and State submitted reports to the President certifying that
the Minnesota proposal was in the national interest of the United
States and had guaranteed financial support from State, from local,
from private, and other sources.
Members should know that U.S. law requires that the cost of hosting
or participating in a World Expo be funded entirely by private donors.
This bill does not change that. In fact, it reaffirms that requirement.
This bill also specifically authorizes the Department of State to
accept private contributions in order to cover any costs associated
with rejoining the organization. Indeed, the organizers of Minnesota's
2023 Expo bid have committed to do just that.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 534 in
order to once again give the American people the opportunity to host a
World Expo here in the United States.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of the U.S. Wants to Compete for a World
Expo Act. Let me thank our chairman, Ed Royce, for his leadership of
the Committee on Foreign Affairs. I also want to thank my colleagues
from Minnesota, Ms. McCollum and Mr. Emmer, for their hard work on this
measure.
World Fairs and World Expos explore and bring millions of people
together from around the globe. They drive billions of dollars of
investment to host cities, and they provide a forum for working toward
new and creative solutions to serious problems. Across more than a
century, these Expos have given us some of the world's most iconic
architecture: the Golden Gate Bridge, the Space Needle, and the Eiffel
Tower. They have brought together world leaders and experts to discuss
topics ranging from nutrition to the future of energy.
The last Expo held in the United States was in 1984, and Minnesota is
a potential candidate to host the 2023 World Expo. This Expo could
bring in about 12 million visitors and $4 billion of revenue to
Minnesota and connect the public and private sector to discuss Wellness
and Well-Being for All.
Mr. Speaker, we are at a grave disadvantage in competing for this
event. In 2001, at the direction of Congress, the State Department
withdrew from numerous international associations, including the Bureau
of International Expositions, or BIE. Then-Secretary of State Colin
Powell warned that this action could force the U.S. to pay a higher fee
for participation and decrease the chance of an American city being
selected as a host city.
We are currently facing these consequences. As a nonmember of the
BIE, the United States faces significantly higher costs to participate
in expositions and will also face substantial barriers in hosting since
preference is given to member nations.
Mr. Speaker, the remedy is simple. We must rejoin the BIE. Private
sector companies have shown interest in paying membership dues, so
rejoining the BIE would not be an additional burden to taxpayers.
Hosting the World Expo would increase revenue and tourism to
Minnesota and the U.S. generally, put us at the forefront of
international discussion on health, and increase our chances to hold
specialized and World Expos in the future. I am proud of the hard work
that has gone into this by my colleagues. I am glad once again that we
are working in a bipartisan manner to pass legislation that advances
our interests.
Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two
letters of support for this bill. One is from the administration, and
the other is from ExpoUSA, the United States World's Fairs Council.
United States Department of State,
Washington, DC, April 24, 2017.
Hon. Edward R. Royce,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Department of State appreciates
Congress' interest in facilitating the bids of states to host
international expositions. Not only do such events
potentially generate considerable economic benefits but they
also create ideal opportunities for showcasing American
commercial capabilities to interested international
audiences. This is consistent with the President's policy to
promote domestic job growth and American innovation.
As the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) is the
international organization responsible for selecting venues
offered by bidders, the chances of U.S. bidders being
selected would be greatly enhanced if the U.S. were to renew
and maintain its membership in the BIE. H.R. 534, the ``U.S.
Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act'', as amended, would
provide the needed permissive authority for the Secretary of
State to do so.
Further, the Department greatly appreciates the efforts of
Congress to ensure the bill is consistent with similar
authorizations. Insofar as BIE has advised of the need for
United States membership to be renewed by May 12, 2017, to
ensure timely consideration of the Minnesota Expo 2023 bid,
the Department urges that, if possible, the bill be passed
quickly. This will enable the Department to take the
necessary steps to renew membership, enhancing prospects that
state bids to host upcoming expositions will prevail. With
the U.S. membership within BIE,
[[Page H2831]]
costs for states to bid and host will be decreased by half
and provide long-term savings for U.S. businesses interested
in participating in future expos, both domestically and
internationally.
Finally, expeditious renewal of United States membership in
the BIE will return the United States to the decision-making
body for future World's Fairs and Expos, offsetting the
growing influence of other countries, such as China.
The Office of Management and Budget has no objection to the
views expressed in this letter.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Joseph E. Macmanus,
Bureau of Legislative Affairs.
____
ExpoUSA, The United States
World's Fairs Council,
April 19, 2017.
Hon. Ed Royce,
Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Eliot Engel,
Ranking Member, House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel: On behalf of
ExpoUSA and Minnesota's World's Fair Bid Committee, we write
in support of The U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act
(H.R. 534). This bill authorizes the United States to rejoin
Bureau of International Exhibitions (BIE), the organization
that coordinates World's Fairs, also known as Expos. Renewing
membership in the BIE will promote public diplomacy, U.S.
exports and travel and tourism. It will also ensure that U.S.
cities wanting to host Expos will have that opportunity to
compete against cities around the world. H.R. 534 has gained
bipartisan and national support.
While the U.S. has not hosted a World's Fair in more than
30 years, there's been a surge of local interest over the
past few years. Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las
Vegas, and Philadelphia have actively considered bidding for
future Expos, and the U.S. Government gave official support
for Minnesota's bid to host a World's Fair in 2023 focused on
health and wellness. After passing a rigorous review by the
United States Commerce Department, State Department, and the
White House, the State Department formally recommended
Minnesota's bid to the BIE. Minnesota will now compete
against Buenos Aires, Argentina and Lodz, Poland. Voting will
take place at the BIE General Council meeting in November
2017.
Under current rules, the BIE is required to discriminate
against bids from non-member countries if there are competing
proposals from member countries. Since Argentina and Poland
are BIE members, the U.S. must rejoin the BIE in order for
Minnesota to compete against these foreign bidders when the
BIE makes its recommendations to the selection committee in
May. Therefore, Congress must pass legislation authorizing
the Secretary of State to rejoin the BIE by May 13, 2017 in
order for Minnesota's bid to be viable.
Expos held in the U.S. are local initiatives that are
funded entirely by the private sector; therefore no taxpayer
money will be used to pay for Expo 2023. Additionally, if
Congress acts to rejoin the BIE, ExpoUSA stands ready to pay
the costs of BIE membership with private sector funds,
including membership dues both past and current, in order to
save money by reducing fees and to give Minnesota and the
U.S. a renewed voice in the BIE.
World's Fairs are the largest gatherings held on the
planet, generating billions of dollars in economic activity
for the region and country in which they are held. Expo 2023
will attract 12 million visitors, generating 22,000 jobs in
the upper Midwest region, paying an annual wage of $47,000,
and another 18,000 jobs nationwide in the tourism, travel,
and hospitality sectors. Total economic impact in the Twin
Cities metropolitan area will be $1.4 billion. International
visitor spending will total $581 million, and on average will
stay 6 days in Minnesota and another 5 days in other
locations around the United States.
We ask for your support in expeditiously moving legislation
authorizing the United States to rejoin the BIE.
Thank you for consideration of our request and for your
interest in helping cities like Minneapolis/St. Paul bid on
future World's Fairs.
Sincerely,
Mark Ritchie,
President and CEO, Minnesota World's Fair Bid Committee,
Board Member, ExpoUSA.
Manuel Delgado,
Chairman, ExpoUSA.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Emmer). He is the author of this bill. He
has worked very hard preparing this legislation for passage.
Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. I thank
Chairman Ed Royce, Ranking Member Engel as well, and the entire staff
on the Committee on Foreign Affairs for working to get this important
legislation to the floor today.
Mr. Speaker, when many Americans look back in our Nation's history,
they remember the iconic nature of the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle or
the 1939 and 1964 World's Fairs in New York. Those events highlighted
the best the United States had to offer in science, technology, and
innovation, all while bringing visitors and revenue to this great
country.
While the United States remains a global leader in these fields, our
country has been noticeably absent over the past three decades when it
comes to hosting a World's Fair. In fact, New Orleans was the last city
in the United States to host a World's Fair in 1984. But it is time for
that to change and to bring this incredible event back to our great
country.
Thankfully, in recent years there has been an upsurge of local
interest in hosting a World's Fair. Exploratory committees in Houston,
Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
are actively considering bidding to host a future World's Fair.
Currently, my home State of Minnesota is competing against Argentina
and Poland to do just that, with the goal of hosting the 2023 World
Expo. However, under the current rules, the Bureau of International
Expositions will not give bids submitted by a nonmember country the
same consideration as those from a country who is a member of the
organization.
For those of you who may not know, the Bureau of International
Expositions is the intergovernmental organization in charge of
overseeing and regulating World Expos. Despite being one of the
founding members in 1928, the United States has not been a member since
2001. The U.S. must renew its membership so Minneapolis and every city
across the country can have an opportunity to host a World's Fair.
That is why I have introduced and I am happy to see H.R. 534 under
consideration before the House today. The U.S. Wants to Compete for a
World Expo Act provides the Secretary of State with the authority to
rejoin the Bureau of International Expositions so that U.S. cities can
compete against foreign cities to host a World Expo. The 6-month World
Expo, held every 5 years, can draw millions of visitors and generate
billions of dollars in tourism, construction, and other job-creating
economic activity, all while promoting exports of U.S. products around
the world.
In Minnesota's case, a 2016 economic analysis conducted by Rockport
Analytics found that hosting the 2023 World Expo will attract 12
million visitors, create almost 22,000 jobs, yield $185.3 million in
State and local tax revenue, and generate $1.5 billion in total
economic benefits. This legislation also has safeguards for protecting
taxpayers and ensuring proper use of funds. Recognizing the difficult
fiscal climate our country currently faces, H.R. 534 authorizes the use
of private funds to pay outstanding as well as future membership dues.
It also maintains taxpayer safeguards which prohibit tax dollars from
being used to fund a United States pavilion or exhibit at an
international exposition or World's Fair.
By approving this legislation today, we will give American cities the
ability to compete with other cities around the world to host future
Expos and World's Fairs where we can showcase American innovation and
success while continuing to be wise stewards of the taxpayers' hard-
earned dollars.
Again, I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel in helping
bring this legislation to the floor today. I urge my colleagues on both
sides of the aisle to support this legislation, and I look forward to
bringing the next World's Fair back to the United States.
Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
World Expos are designed to showcase a nation's products, the
technology, the innovative spirit. And what nation on Earth produces
more innovative products and technology than the United States or has a
better or more skilled workforce?
Simply put, when Americans compete in the world on an even footing,
America wins. It is therefore in our interest to once again compete to
host a World Expo.
[[Page H2832]]
This bill does that by empowering our fellow citizens to mount
competitive private bids to bring a World Expo to the U.S., and it does
so while maintaining a sound legal requirement that participation in
Expos continue to be privately funded. It goes further to permit
private funding for the relatively modest cost to rejoin the BIE. That
is why this measure has the support of Members from both parties and
the administration, which has written that H.R. 534 is consistent with
the President's policy to promote domestic job growth and American
innovation.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this measure and give our
fellow Americans the chance to compete and win a World Expo for
America. I again thank the bill's committed sponsors, Representatives
Tom Emmer and Betty McCollum. I want to give a special thanks to Sean
O'Neill, a detailee on my staff, whose skill and dedication have made
today's consideration of this measure possible.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 534, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________