U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act

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.

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.

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.

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,

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act (H.R. 534).

World Expos are gatherings of millions of people from around the globe exploring ideas, innovation and international understanding. A World Expo is a six month long event that highlights the very best that the host city and nation has to offer in science, technology, innovation, and culture. It is no wonder that states and cities across the United States are interested in competing on the global stage and hosting a World Expo. A city that hosts a World Expo instantly becomes a global destination.

My home state of Minnesota is competing against Buenos Aires, Argentina and Lodz, Poland to host the 2023 World Expo. Minnesota's bid intends to focus on health innovation based on the theme ``Wellness and Well-Being for All.'' Minnesota's healthcare industry is advanced, global, and innovative--and it deserves the spotlight. Hosting the World Expo in 2023 would be a remarkable event for the people of my state.

Unfortunately, an American state or city competing to host a World Expo is currently at an almost insurmountable disadvantage because the United States is not a member of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE)--the governing body for World Expos. Unless Congress affirmatively authorizes the State Department to rejoin the BIE, from which the United States withdrew almost two decades ago, it is unlikely that Minnesota or any other state or city will be awarded a World Expo.

The U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act is a bipartisan effort that levels the playing field. It authorizes the Secretary of State to take the steps to rejoin the BIE immediately. By ending this harmful self-imposed isolation from the BIE, the United States will once again be in a position to host a World Expo and showcase the innovation, culture, and beauty of our great nation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 534, legislation that lets our country compete for the many benefits provided by hosting a World Expo.

Mr. President, I thank my friend and colleague from Minnesota for working with us on this piece of legislation. People sometimes say nothing ever gets done around here on a bipartisan basis, and this proves that is wrong. While that isn't one of the biggest pieces of legislation to come down the pike, it is important because of the importance of the State Department's rejoining the Bureau of International Expositions in order to preserve the possibility, in my case, for Houston's world fair bid to be considered. I know the Senator from Minnesota has a similar interest in her State. So it was a pleasure to work with her on it, and I am happy we are able to see this accomplished today.