IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 509 

Encouraging the United States to fully participate in the Shanghai Expo 

in 2010. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 4, 2009 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for himself and Mr. HONDA) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Encouraging the United States to fully participate in the 

Shanghai Expo in 2010. 

Whereas the Universal Exposition, or World’s Fair, is an 

international tradition dating back to at least before 

1851, making the event older than the modern-day Olympics; 

Whereas the World’s Fair is the third largest international 

event in economic and cultural impact, just behind the 

FIFA World Cup and the modern-day Olympics; 

Whereas for over 150 years the World’s Fair has showcased 

and influenced new and emerging developments in technology, transportation, art and design, architecture, tourism, international trade, bi- and multi-lateral relations, 

and cultural exchange; 


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•HRES 509 IH 

Whereas each participating country creates a national pavilion for the World’s Fair, showcasing particular national 

achievements, products, and culture to visitors; 

Whereas some of the most enduring symbols of hosting cities 

were created for the World’s Fair, including the Seattle 

Space Needle and the Eiffel Tower; 

Whereas the United States has a long history of involvement 

with the World’s Fair, including hosting over 18 World’s 

Fairs in such cities as Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Omaha, St. 

Louis, San Antonio, Knoxville, and many others; 

Whereas the United States participation has waned in recent 

years, leaving dedicated pavilion lots to stand vacant and 

undeveloped; 

Whereas millions of people attend the World’s Fair, including 

more than 22,000,000 visitors to the 2005 Expo in Aichi, 

Japan; 

Whereas the 2010 World’s Fair will be hosted by China in 

Shanghai, and expects over 70,000,000 visitors over 6 

months; 

Whereas the United States has verbally committed to participate but continues to miss key opportunities to formally 

declare its participation, leaving the World’s Fair organizer and the Chinese Government confused about the 

United States level of commitment; 

Whereas the Chinese Government has set aside 60,000 

square feet for the United States pavilion to anchor one 

side of the central promenade, sharing that honor only 

with China; 

Whereas while most other countries fund their national pavilions, since 1991 the United States has relied on corVerDate Nov 24 2008 04:11 Jun 05, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR509.IH HR509

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•HRES 509 IH 

porate funding and private donors for the tens of millions 

of dollars required to construct a pavilion; 

Whereas the necessary funds have not yet been raised; 

Whereas the pavilion has already been conceived and designed, and will feature environmentally friendly resource 

sustainability technologies such as water-misting systems, 

roof gardens, wild bird habitats, and other features; 

Whereas government officials there expressed their concern to 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the lack of 

United States commitment on her last trip to China; 

Whereas Secretary Clinton has repeatedly affirmed the 

United States interest and intent to fully participate in 

the Shanghai Expo in 2010; 

Whereas United States participation is an essential opportunity to demonstrate our national interest in and appreciation for the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to demonstrate to the 170 participating nations our desire to 

play an active, constructive, and leadership role on the 

international stage; and 

Whereas the Shanghai Expo offers an opportunity for the 

United States and China to improve bilateral relations: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses its support for full United States 

3 participation in the Shanghai 2010 Expo, including 

4 the construction of a national pavilion to showcase 

5 United States innovations and culture; 

6 (2) expresses its sense that United States par7 ticipation is an important application of ‘‘soft 


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•HRES 509 IH 

1 power’’, affording other nations and millions of citi2 zens an opportunity to appreciate United States 

3 technological innovations, cultural traditions, partici4 pation in peaceful and beneficial global events, and 

5 our national respect for other nations and cultures; 

6 and 

7 (3) encourages relevant stakeholders, including 

8 private companies, individuals, and the United 

9 States Government, to work together to ensure full 

10 United States participation in the Shanghai 2010 

11 Expo. 

Æ 


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