H.R. 534: U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-13 · International Affairs · Latest: Signed by President.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-01-13 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Signed by President. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

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

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on May 3, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act (Sec. 3) This bill calls for: (1) the United States to rejoin the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) to promote global branding, domestic job creation, and U.S. tourism; and (2) the Department of State to facilitate the timely submission of a request to rejoin the BIE. (Sec. 4) The bill authorizes the State Department to: (1) take necessary actions for the United States to rejoin the BIE, and (2) accept contributions for such purpose. (Sec. 5) Nothing in this bill may be construed to authorize any obligation or expenditure prohibited by provisions of the Admiral James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001 relating to limitations on the obligation or expenditure of funds by the State Department for a U.S. pavilion or exhibit at an international exposition or world's fair registered by the BIE. Such Act is amended to prohibit State Department employees in their official capacity from soliciting funds to pay expenses for such a U.S. pavilion or exhibit.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

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

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6] · 10 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Betty McCollum (D-MN), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6] reported raising $10.9 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (4)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr534.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr534 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115