Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) to once again allow states to compete to host a world’s fair and exposition was signed into law on Friday by President Donald Trump.
The U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act would authorize the secretary of state to rejoin the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE), which the United States withdrew from in 2001. Rejoining the international organization that oversees world expos would mark the first step toward bringing a world’s fair to the United States for the first time since 1984.
The United States is competing to win the right to host the 2023 World’s Fair in the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minnesota.
“This legislation becoming law will ensure Minnesota has the chance to compete and showcase our many success stories and contributions on the global stage,” Emmer said.
“Minnesota is a fantastic state, and this excellent opportunity will allow us to highlight Minnesota’s natural beauty and unique culture and incredible innovative spirit, all while bringing more revenue to Minnesota’s businesses,” he said.
Large, six-month expos are organized every five years with one smaller, three-month version held in-between. Expos offer cities and regions a chance to showcase new technologies, art and architecture, as well as to drive economic growth.
If Minnesota was selected to host the 2023 World Expo, the overall national economic impact is estimated to total more than $4 billion, according to the Minnesota World Fair Bid Committee. Funding for all World’s Fair projects in the United States must come from private sources.
An expected 12 million visitors would attend Minnesota’s three-month “specialized expo” on the theme of health and wellness.
U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), who introduced the House version of the bill with Emmer, said by ending the country’s “harmful, self-imposed isolation from the BIE,” the United States would once again be able to showcase its innovation, culture and beauty on a global stage.
“Minnesota’s bid intends to focus on health innovation based on the theme ‘Wellness and Wellbeing for All,’” McCollum said. “Minnesota’s health care industry is advanced, global and innovative — and it deserves the spotlight.”
The United States faces competing bids from Lodz, Poland and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Bureau of International Expositions will make a final decision on the winning site on Nov. 22, 2017.