[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 365 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>


107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 365

  Congratulating the people of Brazil on the completion of peaceful, 
  free, and fair elections in Brazil and the election of President da 
                                 Silva.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 20, 2002

     Mr. Chafee (for himself and Mr. Dodd) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Congratulating the people of Brazil on the completion of peaceful, 
  free, and fair elections in Brazil and the election of President da 
                                 Silva.

Whereas, in October 2002, the people of Brazil completed peaceful, free, and 
        fair elections of a President and other officials of their country;
Whereas Luiz Inacio ``Lula'' da Silva, candidate of Brazil's Worker's Party, was 
        elected President of Brazil on October 27, 2002, receiving 52,793,364 
        votes, representing 61.27 percent of the votes cast;
Whereas Brazil utilized a new nationwide computerized voting system, which 
        enabled the tallying of approximately 100,000,000 votes in less than 10 
        hours, including votes cast in areas that are accessible only by boat or 
        plane;
Whereas Brazil has a population of 174,500,000, making it the eighth most 
        populous nation in the world and the most populous nation in Latin 
        America;
Whereas Brazil's diversified economy is the eighth largest in the world, and 
        Brazil's gross domestic product, which was $540,000,000,000 in 2001, is 
        the largest in Latin America;
Whereas Brazil plays a critical regional leadership role in Latin America within 
        the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Treaty of 
        Reciprocal Assistance (commonly known as the ``Rio Treaty''), the Latin 
        American Integration Association, and Mercosur/Mercosul (Southern Common 
        Market), and is one of the guarantors of the Peru-Ecuador peace process; 

Whereas Brazil has been a member of the United Nations Security Council four 
        times, most recently from 1998 through 2000, has contributed troops to 
        several United Nations peacekeeping missions, and is an active 
        participant in international cooperation and commerce as a party to 
        numerous international treaties and conventions;
Whereas the economic relationship between Brazil and the United States is 
        substantial and growing, with United States direct foreign investment 
        increasing from less than $19,000,000,000 in 1994 to an estimated 
        $35,000,000,000 in 2000, United States exports to Brazil increasing from 
        $8,100,000,000 in 1994 to $15,900,000,000 in 2001, and United States 
        imports from Brazil increasing from $8,700,000,000 in 1994 to 
        $14,500,000,000 in 2001;
Whereas Brazil will play a critical role in the continuing negotiations related 
        to the creation of a Free Trade Area of the Americas, which the United 
        States and Brazil will co-chair during the next two years;
Whereas the United States and Brazil have a long history of friendly relations 
        beginning when the United States became the first country to recognize 
        Brazil's independence in 1822;
Whereas Brazil led the parties to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal 
        Assistance in stating on September 11, 2001, that the attacks on the 
        United States on that date were attacks on all American States;
Whereas there are an estimated 50,000 United States citizens residing in Brazil, 
        and some 150,000 United States citizens visit Brazil each year;
Whereas the United States and Brazil have entered into many agreements together, 
        including the Education Partnership Agreement, the Technical Safeguards 
        Agreement, the Common Agenda on the Environment, and agreements to 
        cooperate in matters relating to energy, the international space 
        station, national parks, and government reform; and
Whereas cooperation between the United States and Brazil on several counter-
        narcotics efforts, including the United States training of Brazilian 
        counter-narcotics agents and Operation Cobra in northern Brazil, has 
        increased significantly in recent years: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the people of Brazil on successfully 
        completing peaceful, free, and fair elections on October 6, 
        2002, and October 27, 2002;
            (2) congratulates President-elect Luiz Inacio ``Lula'' da 
        Silva on his electoral victory and welcomes him as a democratic 
        partner in the numerous bilateral and multilateral efforts to 
        which the United States and Brazil are parties;
            (3) endorses President Bush's invitation of President-elect 
        da Silva to Washington, District of Columbia, which will result 
        in a meeting between the two leaders on December 10, 2002;
            (4) urges President Bush and President-elect da Silva to 
        pursue policies on economic, security, drug enforcement, and 
        other matters of mutual interest to Brazil and the United 
        States that will continue to strengthen the relationship 
        between the people and governments of the two countries; and
            (5) pledges the Senate's continued support for a strong and 
        friendly economic, political, and cultural relationship between 
        the United States and Brazil based on shared values.