§2803 Federal participation

Summary

The federal government can take part in an international exposition in the United States only if Congress allows it. If the President thinks joining is in the national interest, he must send Congress a proposal. That proposal must show the expo is federally recognized, that it is registered with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), and include a participation plan from the Secretary of Commerce made with other agencies. The Commerce plan must include any needed documents, a drawing of any proposed pavilion, and the Commerce Department’s recommendation about whether to build one. The Secretary of Commerce must decide if the plan should include a Federal pavilion. If so, the Commerce Secretary asks the General Services Administrator (GSA) to say whether a permanent federal building is needed nearby. If the GSA says yes, it must document the need and send that to Commerce. Commerce and GSA must design a pavilion that works for the expo and for permanent federal use afterward, and Commerce must decide whether the government should receive the land as full, clear ownership. If no design can meet both needs, they must plan a temporary pavilion. Congress must specifically approve money to build the pavilion, to modify a permanent pavilion after the expo, or to remove a temporary pavilion afterwards. Definitions: “Satisfy both needs” means the pavilion can be changed after the expo at a cost no more than demolition or, if higher, no more than 50% of the original building cost. “Temporary pavilion” means it is built only for minimum expo needs and meant to be disposed of after the event.