[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3474-H3476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO BRING THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP COMPETITION TO
CANADA, MEXICO, AND THE UNITED STATES
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 111) recognizing and
supporting the efforts of the United Bid Committee to bring the 2026
Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup
competition to Canada, Mexico, and the United States, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 111
Whereas soccer is one of the fastest growing and most
popular sports in the world and the FIFA World Cup
competition is the single most important event in that sport;
Whereas the United States successfully hosted in 9 cities
throughout the Nation the 1994 FIFA World Cup competition,
which was broadcast to billions of fans around the world and
set an attendance record of nearly 3,600,000, which remains
unbroken today;
Whereas the 1994 FIFA World Cup competition served as a
catalyst for the increased popularity and development of the
game throughout the United States, as well as the
introduction of Major League Soccer, the United States
national first division professional soccer league;
Whereas United States Soccer Federation and its
counterparts in Canada and Mexico have established a United
Bid Committee to prepare and submit an unprecedented joint
bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup competition in North
America;
Whereas Canada, the United States, and Mexico share core
beliefs in justice, freedom, equality, and opportunity, and
have a long history of partnership, innovation, and growth
together on our shared continent;
Whereas for the first time in history the 2026 FIFA World
Cup will include teams from 48 nations and presents an
opportunity for Canada, Mexico, and the United States as host
countries to demonstrate the highest achievable standards and
serve as a benchmark for future organizers;
Whereas North America is home to one of the most
competitive and advanced professional sports landscapes in
the world that is continually updating to take advantage of
the latest innovations and modernizations;
Whereas numerous American cities have been named by the
United Bid Committee as candidates to serve as hosts to FIFA
World Cup matches in 2026, with each of these cities
embodying the diversity and enthusiasm shared by the entire
Nation and guaranteeing each participating team and its
followers a ``home team'' atmosphere;
Whereas the United States and its neighbors offer FIFA a
valuable and receptive market within which to further develop
the sport of soccer, which in turn will have significant
impact on and off the field in both the United States and
throughout the world;
Whereas the United States possesses all necessary state-of-
the-art infrastructure in its stadiums and potential host
cities to ensure that the competition sets a new standard of
quality, comfort, security, and safety for players,
officials, spectators, media, and sponsors alike;
Whereas hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico,
and the United States promises record-setting attendance and
financial performance, allowing revenues and tourism
generated by the competition to be used for the further
development of soccer, FIFA's objectives of positive social
and environmental change, and further economic growth
throughout our Nation;
Whereas hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup competition in
Canada, Mexico, and the United States would serve as a
tremendous impetus to national and international goodwill, as
the competition would bring people from many nations, along
with a diverse public, together under one banner of peace,
friendship, and spirited and fair competition;
Whereas the historical tradition of inclusivity in the
United States is shared by Canada and Mexico and the three
countries are eager to welcome the players, spectators, and
visitors who may travel to North America for the 2026 FIFA
World Cup games; and
Whereas pursuant to FIFA bidding procedures, the President
of the United States and certain Federal agencies have been
asked to issue guarantees that upon authorization or
appropriation, would establish the conditions required to
help make the 2026 FIFA World Cup competition the most
successful in history: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) recognizes and supports the efforts of the United Bid
Committee to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup competition to
Canada, Mexico, and the United States;
(2) encourages the President of the United States and
appropriate Federal agencies to support the United Bid
Committee in its efforts to meet all requirements for the
United States to jointly host with Canada and Mexico the 2026
FIFA World Cup competition; and
(3) stands prepared to give full consideration to
legislative proposals or other requests by the President to
provide support related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup
competition, if Canada, Mexico, and the United States are
selected to host this event.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) 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 extraneous material on this measure.
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.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
LaHood).
[[Page H3475]]
I thank him for introducing a resolution which expresses the broad
bipartisan agreement that the United States supports the United Bid
Committee's effort to jointly host the 2026 FIFA World Cup competition.
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, and the World
Cup is its most important competition. Hosting the tournament would be
a win for the United States and for our neighbors in Canada and Mexico
as well.
The United States has not hosted a FIFA World Cup since 1994, but 24
years later, we still hold the all-time attendance record. Over 3\1/2\
million people attended those matches. I remember. I was there in the
stands for the games in L.A. The economic revenue generated by the 1994
tournament generated more than double what was expected.
The 2026 tournament is expected to break revenue and attendance
records. FIFA has already announced that it will be the first time in
tournament history that 48 teams, instead of 32, are going to compete
in the World Cup. The addition of more teams will mean more economic
opportunities for American cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco
to host and entertain visitors from around the country and around the
world.
The FIFA World Cup, much like the Olympics, has a long tradition of
bringing countries together in a competitive but peaceful environment.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure.
First, let me thank Congressman LaHood for authoring this bipartisan
resolution and Chairman Royce for bringing it to the floor.
With this resolution, we send a strong message of support for the
efforts of the United Bid Committee to bring the FIFA World Cup
competition to the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
We share critical relationships with our neighbors to the north and
south, and it is important that we keep those good relationships. So I
am pleased that Congress continues to push back on anything that would
hurt the relationship.
Last year, the House passed my resolution with Congressman McCaul
reaffirming the importance of the U.S.-Mexico partnership, as well as a
resolution from Congressman Jeff Duncan on the U.S.-Canada alliance.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup provides another key opportunity for us to
reinforce our strong alliances with both Mexico and Canada.
The United States has hosted the World Cup three times: the men's
tournament in 1994, and the women's World Cup in both 1999 and 2003. We
have the infrastructure. We know how to prepare. We have 25 American
cities eligible to host. Bringing the world's most popular tournament
back to North America would generate increased tourist revenue for host
sites as fans arrive from all over the world.
Congress should not only pass this resolution, but Congress should
also continue to provide support for the United Bid Committee and its
efforts in our own conversations with foreign leaders and other
stakeholders.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), the author of this resolution.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Royce for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 111, recognizing
and supporting the efforts of the United Bid Committee to bring the
2026 FIFA World Cup soccer competition to the United States, Canada,
and Mexico.
This bipartisan resolution, introduced by the co-chairs of the
Congressional Soccer Caucus--myself, Congresswoman Castor, Congressman
Bacon, Congressman Kihuen--conveys our strong support for this united
North American bid to host the 2026 World Cup as well as voicing our
overall support for soccer at the global level.
When the U.S. last hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup competition, it
served as a catalyst for the increased popularity and development of
soccer across America and the introduction of Major League Soccer,
which is thriving today.
Since the games in 1994, soccer has become one of the fastest growing
sports in the United States, promoting a competitive and a healthy and
active lifestyle, teamwork, and sportsmanship to over 24 million
Americans of all ages in every State. This includes the 20 percent of
American children under the age of 12 who currently play soccer.
As the father to three young soccer players and the Representative of
a district which includes eight college soccer programs, I recognize
the value that soccer has for families and communities. Additionally,
in my home State of Illinois, we are proud to be the home of the U.S.
Soccer Federation and the Chicago Fire, one of Major League Soccer's
original soccer clubs.
By uniting players and fans from different nations under one banner
of friendship and fair competition, it is our hope that hosting the
2026 competition would promote and further the positive impact of
soccer here and abroad.
As the consideration of the 2026 location by FIFA continues, support
from Congress will help demonstrate that our government is equally
enthusiastic for North America's three largest nations to host one of
the world's preeminent sporting events, which is soccer.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues who have supported this
effort, including Chairman Royce, who has been a strong advocate for
this resolution, and also my colleagues on the U.S. Congressional
Soccer Caucus.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H. Con. Res. 111.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Castor), an original cosponsor of this resolution, but
even more importantly, co-chair of the Congressional Soccer Caucus.
Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the United States of America and
our North American neighbors of Canada and Mexico have a wonderful
opportunity to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. This is
a combined North American bid.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Representative
LaHood, and Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their support
of this resolution, and I also commend my colleagues, Congressman Bacon
and Congressman Kihuen, who also co-chair the Congressional Soccer
Caucus.
The United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994. We had nine
cities. The attendance was over 3\1/2\ million. We think now for 2026
it is going to be bigger and better than ever because we are going to
combine efforts with our North American neighbors of Canada and Mexico,
where they will also host many of the tournament matches.
{time} 1715
Mr. Speaker, I noticed that Mr. Webster was on the floor, along with
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen and Mr. Deutch, and they should be proud to know that
Orlando and Miami, from our home State of Florida, will be
participating, and we love soccer in the Sunshine State.
But I also offer my strong support for this resolution because of the
inspiration that the World Cup soccer tournament provides to young
people all across this country. It is like the Olympics. It encourages
them to be healthy and well, to participate in team supports and
athletics. It exposes and encourages children and young people to be
good sports and understand what a world competition means in a friendly
way.
Studies show that team sports lead to healthier lifestyles, increased
knowledge about exercise and nutrition, positive gains in reading and
math; and that is why the Congressional Soccer Caucus works with the
U.S. Soccer Foundation because they really provide the national model
for programs about ``the beautiful game,'' and they make so many
helpful investments in communities across the country to encourage kids
to get out, be active, and learn about great sportsmanship.
So here is this resolution. We are coming together in a bipartisan
way, to recognize the effort, to support it, to make sure that
Americans everywhere know that we expect the men's team to live up to
their expectations. The women's team, national team, of course,
[[Page H3476]]
has been champion after champion after champion. It is time, also, for
the men's team and this generation to try to meet their goals.
We would like to encourage everyone to pay attention, support the
effort.
Again, I thank my colleague, Mr. LaHood, Chairman Royce, Ranking
Member Engel; and I urge the House to kick this resolution towards
passage so that we can meet our goals.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The ties between the United States, Mexico, and Canada are
longstanding and deep; and I am pleased that the United States can
continue to come together in partnership with our friends from both of
those countries on the United Bid Committee to try to bring the 2026
World Cup to North America.
I stand ready to support the North American bid in any way that I
can. It would really be terrific to get it, and I know we all feel the
same way.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
In closing, I would like to, once again, thank the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. LaHood), and I also thank the 40 cosponsors who have been
pushing this important, bipartisan resolution. By passing this
resolution, we show our support for the efforts of the United Bid
Committee to bring the excitement of the World Cup tournament to the
United States once again, for the first time since 1994.
Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous support for this measure, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Poe of Texas). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con.
Res. 111, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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