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







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 651

 Recognizing the warm friendship and expanding strategic relationship 
between the United States and Brazil, commending Brazil on successfully 
 reducing its dependence on oil by finding alternative ways to satisfy 
its energy needs, and recognizing the importance of the March 9, 2007, 
  United States-Brazil Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on biofuels 
                              cooperation.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 17, 2007

    Mr. Engel (for himself and Mr. Burton of Indiana) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the warm friendship and expanding strategic relationship 
between the United States and Brazil, commending Brazil on successfully 
 reducing its dependence on oil by finding alternative ways to satisfy 
its energy needs, and recognizing the importance of the March 9, 2007, 
  United States-Brazil Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on biofuels 
                              cooperation.

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) recognizes that the United States has arrived at the 
        point of a strategic confluence of interests with Brazil and 
        welcomes continued development in the bilateral relationship 
        between the two countries;
            (5) 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;
            (6) 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
            (7) encourages United States and Brazilian officials to 
        quickly identify additional countries in the Western Hemisphere 
        to receive technical assistance related to biofuels.
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