[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 651 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                       October 9, 2007.
Whereas following the oil shock of the early 1970s, Brazil chose to reduce its 
        energy vulnerability by choosing sugar-based ethanol to diversify its 
        energy sector and power its automobiles;
Whereas with large private and public investments and support from the World 
        Bank, Brazil greatly expanded the amount of sugarcane it produced and 
        began large-scale construction of alcohol distilleries to process sugar 
        into ethanol;
Whereas decades of state investment have helped Brazil become the world's 
        largest consumer and producer of ethanol from sugar cane;
Whereas ethanol supplies 40 percent of the motor fuel used in Brazil and is 
        extremely competitive with gasoline;
Whereas the transition towards biofuels will have a positive impact on the 
        environment and will help reduce greenhouse gases;
Whereas by the end of 2006, 80 percent of new car sales in Brazil were flex-
        fuel, meaning that they can run on ethanol, gasoline, or any mixture of 
        both;
Whereas Brazil stands out as the leading example of a country that has 
        diversified its energy supply and become a net exporter of energy, in 
        large part by increasing its use and production of alternative energy 
        sources, including ethanol;
Whereas putting the United States on a path toward ending its addiction to oil, 
        as Brazil has done, by investing in clean alternative energy sources is 
        essential in protecting United States national security, the 
        environment, and the stability of the United States economy;
Whereas, on March 9, 2007, the United States and Brazil--the world's two largest 
        ethanol producing countries--signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 
        to promote greater cooperation on ethanol and biofuels in the Western 
        Hemisphere;
Whereas the United States-Brazil MOU involves technology-sharing between the 
        United States and Brazil, feasibility studies and technical assistance 
        to build domestic biofuels industries in third countries, and 
        multilateral efforts to advance the global development of biofuels;
Whereas the first countries targeted for United States-Brazilian technical 
        assistance are the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, and St. Kitts 
        and Nevis;
Whereas United States President George W. Bush and Brazilian President Luiz 
        Inacio ``Lula'' da Silva have met twice in 2007 as visible examples of 
        the expanding warm relations and close ties between the United States 
        and Brazil;
Whereas the United States and Brazil are the two largest and most diverse 
        democracies in the Western Hemisphere;
Whereas Brazil--through its leadership of the United Nations Stabilization 
        Mission (MINUSTAH) in Haiti and other achievements--has emerged as a 
        regional leader in the Western Hemisphere; and
Whereas Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that the United States 
        looks to Brazil as a ``regional leader and a global partner'': Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes that the United States and Brazil have arrived at the 
        point of a strategic confluence of interests and urges President George 
        W. Bush to continue to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two 
        countries;
            (2) recognizes Brazil's role as a leader in the Western Hemisphere 
        and commends its leadership of the United Nations Stabilization Mission 
        (MINUSTAH) in Haiti;
            (3) commends Brazil for successfully diversifying its energy 
        resources and reducing its dependence on oil;
            (4) strongly supports the March 9, 2007, United States-Brazil 
        Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on biofuels as a major step forward in 
        bilateral relations, hemispheric integration, and energy 
        diversification;
            (5) commends joint efforts by the United States and Brazil for their 
        commitment to use expertise to provide technical assistance for biofuels 
        industries in third countries, currently including the Dominican 
        Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, and St. Kitts and Nevis; and
            (6) encourages United States and Brazilian officials to quickly 
        identify additional countries in the Western Hemisphere to receive 
        technical assistance related to biofuels.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.