Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of the U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act. Let me thank our chairman, Ed Royce, for his leadership of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. I also want to thank my colleagues from Minnesota, Ms. McCollum and Mr. Emmer, for their hard work on this measure. World Fairs and World Expos explore and bring millions of people together from around the globe. They drive billions of dollars of investment to host cities, and they provide a forum for working toward new and creative solutions to serious problems. Across more than a century, these Expos have given us some of the world's most iconic architecture: the Golden Gate Bridge, the Space Needle, and the Eiffel Tower. They have brought together world leaders and experts to discuss topics ranging from nutrition to the future of energy. The last Expo held in the United States was in 1984, and Minnesota is a potential candidate to host the 2023 World Expo. This Expo could bring in about 12 million visitors and $4 billion of revenue to Minnesota and connect the public and private sector to discuss Wellness and Well-Being for All. Mr. Speaker, we are at a grave disadvantage in competing for this event. In 2001, at the direction of Congress, the State Department withdrew from numerous international associations, including the Bureau of International Expositions, or BIE. Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell warned that this action could force the U.S.…”