US Codex
Bill
Notes

H.R. 534 — what changed

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

From Introduced in House to Engrossed in House. 3 sections amended and 1 added between Introduced in House and Engrossed in House.

Sec. 2 Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)
changed The Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) is a treaty-based organization, with 169 member states, the organization responsible for governing World Fairs and International Expositions since the signing of the Convention Concerning International Expositions on November 22, 1928. The United States is a party to the Convention.Expositions.
(2)
changed The United States withdrew from membership in the BIE in 2001 in response to congressional limitations Section 1(a) of Public Law 91–269 (22 U.S.C. 2801(a)) found that “international expositions * * * have a significant impact on the expenditure economic growth of funds for United States participation.the region surrounding the exposition and * * * are important instruments of national policy”.
(3)
changed The United States and other non-members has not been an active member of the BIE face significantly higher costs to host and to participate in international expositions because of their non-member status.since 2001.
(4)
changed The bid of a State and local governments and private entities in the United States city, region, or State have continued to host an participate in international exposition is unlikely to be successful if 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 a member of the BIE, because BIE rules require that members receive a preference over non-members for all such bids.an active member.
(5)
changed Since State and local governments and private entities in the United States was previously a member of have expressed interest in an international exposition being hosted in the BIE, and has already acceded to United States, but the Convention, no formal congressional action bid of a United States city, region, or State to host an international exposition is necessary for unlikely to be successful if the United States to rejoin is not a member of the BIE.
(6)
removed 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”.

Sec. 3 Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)
changed there are no statutory provisions that prohibit the United States from rejoining should rejoin the BIE;BIE immediately to promote domestic job creation, global branding, and tourism to the United States;
(2)
changed the United States should rejoin Secretary of State, in partnership with the BIE immediately to promote public diplomacy, global branding, Secretary of Commerce, State and tourism local governments, and private and non-profit entities, should take all necessary steps to facilitate the United States; timely submission of a request to rejoin the BIE; and
(3)
changed funding for the Secretary participation of State, the United States in partnership with international expositions or other events facilitated by the Secretary of Commerce, State and local governments, and private and non-profit entities, BIE should take all necessary steps to facilitate the timely submission of a request continue to rejoin the BIE.be privately solicited and sourced, in accordance with existing law.

Sec. 4 Authorization

(a)
changed In general— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the The Secretary of State shall is authorized to take such actions as may be the Secretary determines necessary for the United States to rejoin the BIE, notwithstanding any prohibitions under 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).maintain membership in the BIE.
(b)
changed Report—Authorization to accept private contributions— The Secretary of State shall inform the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of In addition to funds otherwise available to the Senate upon submitting a request Secretary to rejoin carry out this section, the BIE.Secretary is authorized to accept contributions for such purpose.
(c)
added 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

added

added 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).