§2803 Federal Participation

Summary

The federal government can join an international exposition in the United States only if Congress approves. If the President thinks joining is in the national interest, he must send Congress a proposal that proves the expo has federal recognition, shows it is registered with the BIE, and includes a plan from the Secretary of Commerce for how the government will take part. That plan must include supporting documents, any design drawings for a pavilion, and the Commerce Department’s recommendation on whether a pavilion is needed. The Secretary of Commerce must decide if the plan should include building a Federal pavilion. If so, the Secretary asks the General Services Administrator (GSA) to check whether a permanent building is needed in the expo area. If the GSA finds a need, it must document that and work with Commerce to design a pavilion that works for the expo and can be used later. Commerce must also decide if the government should get full, clear ownership of the site. If no design can meet both short-term and long-term needs, a temporary pavilion must be designed. Congress must pass a specific funding law to build the pavilion, to modify a permanent pavilion after the expo if needed, or to remove a temporary pavilion. A pavilion counts as meeting both needs if post-expo changes cost no more than demolition, or if higher, no more than 50% of the original construction cost. A temporary pavilion is one made only to meet the government’s minimum expo needs and meant to be disposed of afterward.