[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 29, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8585-H8587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1745
             EXPOSITIONS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES ACT OF 2019

  Mr. PHILLIPS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4842) to authorize the Secretary of State to provide funds 
for a United States pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4842

       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 ``Expositions Provide 
     Opportunities Act of 2019'' or ``EXPO Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. STATE DEPARTMENT AUTHORIZATION FOR PAVILION AT EXPO 
                   2020 DUBAI.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding 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), there is authorized to be appropriated for each of 
     fiscal years 2020 and 2021 funds for a United States pavilion 
     at Expo 2020 Dubai, subject to subsections (b) and (c).
       (b) Cost-share Requirement.--Funds made available pursuant 
     to subsection (a) to the Department of State for a United 
     States pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai shall be made available on 
     a cost-matching basis, to the maximum extent practicable, 
     from sources other than the United States Government.
       (c) Notification.--
       (1) In general.--Funds made available pursuant to 
     subsection (a) to the Department of State for a United States 
     pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai may be obligated only after the 
     appropriate congressional committees are notified not less 
     than 15 days prior to such obligation.
       (2) Matters to be included.--Such notification shall 
     include the following:
       (A) A description of the source of such funds, including 
     any funds reprogrammed or transferred by the Department of 
     State to be made available for such pavilion.
       (B) An estimate of the amount of investment such pavilion 
     could bring to the United States.
       (C) A description of the strategy of the Department to 
     identify and obtain such matching funds from sources other 
     than the United States Government, in accordance with 
     subsection (b).
       (D) An analysis of the human rights record of the United 
     Arab Emirates.
       (E) A certification that each entity receiving amounts for 
     a contract, grant, or other agreement to construct, maintain, 
     or otherwise service such pavilion--
       (i) is not in violation of the labor laws of the United 
     Arab Emirates, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 
     (Public Law 95-213), and any other applicable anti-corruption 
     laws; and
       (ii) does not employ, or otherwise utilize, a victim of 
     trafficking (as defined in section 103 of the Trafficking 
     Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102)).
       (d) Final Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     on which a United States pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is 
     opened, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report that includes--
       (1) the number of United States businesses that 
     participated in such pavilion; and
       (2) the dollar amount and source of any matching funds 
     obtained by the Department.
       (e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means the following:
       (1) The Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
       (2) The Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate.
       (f) Sunset.--This section ceases to be effective on 
     September 30, 2021.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Scanlon). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Phillips) and the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Yoho) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PHILLIPS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 4842.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the Expositions Provide 
Opportunities Act, or the EXPO Act of 2019.
  When I took the oath of office on January 3 of this year, my 
extraordinary team and I set an ambitious goal: To visit every city and 
town in Minnesota's Third Congressional District within the first 6 
months of my

[[Page H8586]]

service; and to listen and learn from the local leaders who know our 
communities best, and bring their voices to Washington, because 
representation begins with listening.
  In Bloomington, Minnesota, we heard something unexpected, and I knew 
we had to help. The city of Bloomington is determined to bring the eyes 
of the world to Minnesota by bidding for host city of the 2027 World 
Expo.
  For generations, the United States has showcased our leadership, 
innovation, and industrial advancement through brilliant displays 
called pavilions at world expos around the world. But for the past 3 
decades, the U.S. has fallen short of its historic leadership role and 
fundraising for 7 of the last 10 American pavilions has been paltry.
  In fact, the United States is the only G7 country that relies on 
private donations to guarantee its presence at world expos, and the 
only country that relies entirely on private funding for the creation 
of its pavilion.
  Madam Speaker, that has left a vacuum, which our strategic 
competitors, like Russia and China, have been all too happy to fill.
  As a result, American cities like Bloomington, Minnesota, and 
Houston, Texas, have been overlooked for hosting rights; missing 
important opportunities to build strong international relationships, 
showcase the strength of American ingenuity, and boost local economies.
  A critical component in competing for host city status is a country's 
pavilion at the current world expo. In this case, the next opportunity 
to make the case for an American host city is the Dubai 2020 World 
Expo, happening next October.
  That is why I am honored to stand with the city of Bloomington, 
Global Minnesota, the entire Minnesota House delegation, and a group of 
like-minded colleagues from both sides of the aisle, like Ranking 
Member McCaul, and Representatives Pete Olson, Lizzie Fletcher, and my 
colleague, Ted Yoho to change all of that with the Expositions Provide 
Opportunities Act, the EXPO Act of 2019.
  Our bill does three things. First, it provides authorization for the 
State Department to use funds to build a pavilion for the 2020 Dubai 
World Expo, so that cities in the U.S., like Bloomington and Houston, 
can compete to be the host city at the 2027 World Expo.
  Next, it requires the State Department to seek out matching funds 
from the private sector in order to alleviate the cost burden.
  Finally, it requires a series of reports from the State Department 
which shall contain the following items:
  One, an estimate of the investment a pavilion could bring to the 
United States;
  Two, a report on the human rights record of the United Arab Emirates; 
and
  Three, ensures that all applicable labor laws in the UAE are followed 
during construction of our pavilion.
  Madam Speaker, we could not have brought this bill to the floor 
without help. I would like to thank Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, and 
Leader McCarthy for their support and their staffs' work on this 
important bill.
  I would also like to thank Ranking Member McCaul for his support and 
his staff's expertise in crafting the bill. And thanks also to Chairman 
Engel and his staff, especially Janice Kaguyutan, who was instrumental 
in helping us get to the finish line.
  The root of this effort started in Minnesota with former Minnesota 
Secretary of State and now Global Minnesota President, Mark Ritchie. He 
was and will always be steadfast in his advocacy on behalf of 
Minnesota.
  Most of all, I am grateful to the city of Bloomington, Minnesota, 
especially Mayor Gene Winstead and City Manager Jamie Verbrugge, for 
their counsel and advocacy on behalf of all Minnesotans.
  Madam Speaker, this is how democracy should work; Democrats and 
Republicans in Congress, working with stakeholders, constituents, and a 
government agency to craft legislation which will benefit both 
localities and the Nation as a whole.
  So I urge my colleagues to support this important, bipartisan 
measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOHO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the importance of strong U.S. 
diplomatic engagement to counter aggression from our adversaries.
  The World Expo is the largest diplomatic exhibition and an invaluable 
opportunity to demonstrate American leadership to an audience of over 
25 million visitors. The United States has proudly participated in the 
World Expo since 1851 and has hosted 11 expos.
  Over a 6-month period, the United States will showcase our values and 
our commitment to rule of law. Without the United States' attendance at 
important international forums like the World Expo, we risk losing out 
to countries like China and Russia.
  In fact, China has committed over $100 million for their 
participation in the 2020 World Expo with the goal of promoting their 
Belt and Road Initiative. And get this: Huawei 5G technology is the 
provider for the whole World Expo. They have also signaled interest in 
competing to host a future expo.

  China is at the forefront of our strategic long-range diplomatic, 
security, and economic policies here in Washington. We must stop 
Communist China from achieving global dominance. Make no mistake. This 
is their goal.
  Under Xi Jinping's leadership, the Chinese Communist Party is 
challenging America's leadership like never before; stepping up 
territorial aggression against our partners and allies, openly engaging 
in unfair and illegal business practices, and exporting authoritarian 
ideologies across the globe.
  Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative and associated debt traps have 
set the stage for economic and diplomatic coercion and military 
expansion. That is one of the reasons I introduced the BUILD Act last 
Congress--and through bipartisan support it got passed and was signed 
into law--that creates the United States International Development 
Finance Corporation.
  If we, the American government, are not there, how can we compete 
against China's Belt and Road Initiative?
  As part of this program, China has tried to build military bases in 
the South Pacific to cut us off from partners like Australia and New 
Zealand, and they are going to continue this expansion.
  In Africa, they have a military base next to ours in Djibouti. China 
has even made major roads in the Western Hemisphere, controlling both 
sides of Teddy Roosevelt's Panama Canal.
  I was down in the countries of Chile and Argentina not too long ago, 
and China is looking and trying to push really hard to bring 5G cable 
from China to South America. This is something that American leadership 
cannot--we cannot stand by idly. And if we are not there at the World 
Expo to promote our U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, 
how else are we going to get this word out? This is something that is a 
national security interest.
  In addition, China has also cornered the market on rare earth 
minerals. They control over 85 percent of the API, which is the active 
pharmaceutical ingredients, in all the vitamins, antibiotics, and drugs 
that we take. They have 100 percent of the vitamins and minerals used 
in our livestock feed. China, when they ship that product back, it is 
impure. It doesn't meet FDA standards.
  China has been at the forefront of 5G technology, as I mentioned. In 
fact, Huawei, which the U.S. has deemed a national security threat, has 
received the contract for this expo.
  As we work to combat this continued and ever-increasing aggression, 
we must ensure that our partners know the United States intends to 
remain present.
  The United States' absence at important international forums like the 
World Expo only gives China the opportunities to spread their ideals; 
ones they claim are merely ``socialism with Chinese characteristics.'' 
But make no mistake, it is communism through and through.
  We cannot let China fill a void left by the United States. The stakes 
are too high.
  And understand this: If the United States doesn't show up--there are 
only two countries that don't show up. One is the United States and the 
other is Syria. I don't want to be in that category.
  This is a bill that we ask everybody to support. It is good for 
America. It is good for American business, and it is great for national 
security.

[[Page H8587]]

  Madam Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume for the purpose of closing.
  I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho), my good friend, for 
his remarks as well.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this very important 
and bipartisan bill which allows America to compete on the world stage.
  As I said before, representation starts with listening and if we pass 
this bill, we will have shown the American people that Democrats and 
Republicans can put their differences aside, listen to their 
constituents, and get something done.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Phillips) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4842, 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.

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