CHAPTER 40—INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITIONS

        

§2801. Congressional findings

The Congress finds that—

(a) international expositions, when properly organized, financed, and executed, have a significant impact on the economic growth of the region surrounding the exposition and, under appropriate international sanction, are important instruments of national policy, particularly in the exchange of ideas and the demonstration of cultural achievements between peoples;

(b) in view of the widely varying circumstances under which international expositions have developed in the United States, the different degrees to which the Federal Government has assisted and participated in such expositions, and the increasing number of proposals for future expositions, the national interest requires that Federal action concerning such expositions be given orderly consideration; and

(c) such orderly consideration is best achieved by the development of uniform standards, criteria, and procedures to establish the conditions under which the Government hereafter will (A) recognize international expositions proposed to be held in the United States, and (B) take part in such expositions.

(Pub. L. 91–269, §1, May 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 271.)

§2802. Federal recognition

(a) Eligibility requirements

Any international exposition proposed to be held in the United States shall be eligible on application from its sponsors to receive the recognition of the Federal Government upon a finding of the President that recognition will be in the national interest. In making such a finding the President shall consider—

(1) a report by the Secretary of Commerce which shall include (A) an evaluation of purposes and reasons for the exposition, and (B) a determination that guaranteed financial and other support has been secured by the exposition from affected State and local governments and from business and civic leadership of the region and others in amounts sufficient in his judgment to assure the successful development and progress of the exposition;

(2) a report by the Secretary of State that the proposed exposition qualifies for consideration of registration by the Bureau of International Expositions (hereafter referred to as BIE); and

(3) such other evidence as the President may consider to be appropriate.

(b) Recognition and registration procedure; compliance with international convention; participation by States and foreign governments

Upon a finding by the President that an international exposition is eligible for Federal recognition, the President may take such measures recognizing the exposition as he deems proper, including, but not limited to—

(1) presenting of an official request by the United States for registration of the exposition by the BIE;

(2) providing for fulfillment of the requirements of the Convention of November 22, 1928, as amended, relating to international expositions; and

(3) extending invitations, by proclamation or by such other manner he deems proper, to the several States of the Union and to foreign governments to take part in the exposition, provided that he shall not extend such an invitation until he has been notified officially of BIE registration for the exposition.

(c) Report to Congress

The President shall report his actions under this section promptly to the Congress.

(Pub. L. 91–269, §2, May 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 271.)

§2803. Federal participation

(a) Congressional authorization; proposals

The Federal Government may participate in an international exposition proposed to be held in the United States only upon the authorization of the Congress. If the President finds that Federal participation is in the national interest, he shall transmit to the Congress his proposal for such participation, which proposal shall include—

(1) evidence that the international exposition has met the criteria for Federal recognition and, pursuant to section 2802 of this title, it has been so recognized;

(2) a statement that the international exposition has been registered by the BIE; and

(3) a plan prepared by the Secretary of Commerce in cooperation with other interested departments and agencies of the Federal Government for Federal participation in the exposition. The Secretary of Commerce shall include in such plan any documentation described in subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section, a rendering of any design described in subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section, and any recommendation based on the determination under subsection (b)(1)(C) of this section.

(b) Construction of Federal pavilion

(1) In developing a plan under subsection (a)(3) of this section the Secretary of Commerce shall consider whether the plan should include the construction of a Federal pavilion. If the Secretary of Commerce determines that a Federal pavilion should be constructed, he shall request the Administrator of General Services (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "Administrator") to determine, in consultation with such Secretary, whether there is a federally endorsed need for a permanent structure in the area of the exposition. If the Administrator determines that any such need exists—

(A) the Administrator shall fully document such determination, including the identification of the need, and shall transmit such documentation to the Secretary of Commerce;

(B) the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Administrator, shall design a pavilion which satisfies the federally endorsed needs for—

(i) participation in the exposition; and

(ii) permanent use of such pavilion after the termination of participation in the exposition; and

(C) the Secretary of Commerce shall determine whether the Federal Government should be deeded a satisfactory site for the Federal pavilion in fee simple, free of all liens and encumbrances, as a condition of participation in the exposition.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, if the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Administrator determines that no design of a Federal pavilion will satisfy both needs described in paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, the Secretary shall design a temporary Federal pavilion.

(c) Authorization of appropriations for Federal pavilion

The enactment of a specific authorization of appropriations shall be required—

(1) to construct a Federal pavilion in accordance with the plan prepared pursuant to subsection (a)(3) of this section;

(2) if the Federal pavilion is not temporary, to modify such Federal pavilion after termination of participation in the exposition if modification is necessary to adapt such pavilion for use by the Federal Government to satisfy a need described in subsection (b)(1)(B)(ii) of this section; and

(3) if the Federal pavilion is temporary, to dismantle, demolish, or otherwise dispose of such Federal pavilion after termination of Federal participation in the exposition.

(d) Requisites and temporary nature of Federal pavilion

For the purposes of this section—

(1) a Federal pavilion shall be considered to satisfy both needs described in subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section if the Federal pavilion which satisfies the needs described in paragraph (1)(B)(i) of such subsection can be modified after completion of the exposition to satisfy the needs described in paragraph (1)(B)(ii) of such subsection, provided that such modification shall cost no more than the expense of demolition, dismantling, or other disposal, or if the cost is higher, it shall be no more than 50 per centum of the original cost of the construction of the pavilion; and

(2) a Federal pavilion is temporary if the Federal pavilion is designed to satisfy the minimum needs of the Federal Government described in subsection (b)(1)(B)(i) of this section and is intended for disposal by the Federal Government after the termination of participation in the exposition.

(Pub. L. 91–269, §3, May 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 272; Pub. L. 97–254, §16(a), Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 812.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–254, §16(a)(1)–(3), designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), redesignated cls. (a) to (c) thereof as cls. (1) to (3) respectively, and in cl. (3) as so redesignated, substituted provisions requiring the Secretary of Commerce to include in a plan under this section any documentation, designs, or recommendations described in subsec. (b) of this section for provisions that the Secretary in developing a plan should consider whether there was a need for the construction of a Federal pavilion, and if so, that there could be included in the plan a recommendation that Government participation in the exposition be conditioned on its being deeded a satisfactory site for the pavilion and that the Secretary would seek the advice of the Administrator of the General Services Administration in carrying out the provisions of former subsec. (c).

Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 97–254, §16(a)(4), added subsecs. (b) to (d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–254 effective Sept. 8, 1982, see Pub. L. 97–254, §15, Sept. 18, 1982, 96 Stat. 812.

§2804. Establishment of standards and criteria; publication in the Federal Register

(a) The Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized and directed to establish and maintain standards, definitions, and criteria which are adequate to carry out the purposes of section 2802(a)(1) and section 2803(a) of this title; and

(b) Standards, definitions, and criteria established by the Secretary and such revisions in them as he may make from time to time shall be published in the Federal Register.

(Pub. L. 91–269, §4, May 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 272.)

§2805. Withdrawal of Federal recognition or participation

The President may withdraw Federal recognition or participation whenever he finds that continuing recognition or participation would be inconsistent with the national interest and with the purposes of this chapter.

(Pub. L. 91–269, §5, May 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 272.)

§2806. Other provisions unaffected

Nothing in this chapter shall affect or limit the authority of Federal departments and agencies to participate in international expositions or events otherwise authorized by law.

(Pub. L. 91–269, §6, May 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 272.)

§2807. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums, not to exceed $200,000 in any fiscal year, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(Pub. L. 91–269, §8, May 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 272.)