[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 152 (Tuesday, October 9, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H11352-H11353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPANDING STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND BRAZIL
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (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, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 651
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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
I would first like to thank our colleagues, Congressman Eliot Engel
and Dan Burton, for introducing this important resolution. Their
leadership on Brazil-related matters is greatly appreciated.
Mr. Speaker, Brazil has the largest economy, population, and land
mass in South America. It is the fifth most populous country in the
world, and its economy is the 11th largest. It is high time we
recognize, as this resolution does, the expanding strategic
relationship between the United States and Brazil.
We in America are finally waking up not only to Brazil's importance,
but to how natural this relationship should be. Brazil is also the
right country with which to cooperate on alternative energy sources.
This resolution commends Brazil on successfully reducing its
dependence on oil by finding alternative ways to satisfy its energy
needs and recognizes the importance of the March 9, 2007, U.S.-Brazil
memorandum of understanding on biofuels cooperation.
The agreement promotes greater cooperation on ethanol and biofuels
between the world's two largest ethanol-producing countries. Brazil has
become the world's largest consumer and producer of ethanol from sugar
cane. By the end of 2006, 80 percent of new-car sales in Brazil were
flex-fuel, meaning they can run on a mixture of ethanol and gasoline.
Furthermore, ethanol supplies 40 percent of the motor fuel used in
Brazil and is extremely competitive with gasoline. We as Americans can
learn a great deal from Brazil and they from us as we try to reduce
their dependence on oil and diversify our energy resources. The U.S.
and Brazil are providing technical assistance to build biofuels
industries in Third World countries, including the Dominican Republic,
Haiti, El Salvador, St. Kitts, and Nevis.
It is also important to note that Brazil, through its leadership of
the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti and other
achievements, has emerged as a regional leader in the Western
Hemisphere, a role this resolution recognizes for Brazil.
Brazil's leadership in the Americas and throughout the world signals
the emergence of a vital partner and friend to the United States. That
is why I
[[Page H11353]]
strongly urge all Members to support this important resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, early this year, the U.S. and Brazil signed a memorandum
of understanding on biofuels cooperation. This document symbolizes not
only a shared interest in reducing energy vulnerability, but also a
growing relationship between our two countries based on the common goal
of regional stability and prosperity throughout the Western Hemisphere.
I am pleased to learn of the progress made under the United States-
Brazil memorandum of understanding and applaud the proactive efforts
being taken by both of our countries in confronting the constraints of
oil dependence.
As Hugo Chavez continues to exploit Venezuela's oil supply to spread
his propaganda across the Western Hemisphere, it is essential that the
U.S. and Brazil continue to lead the way in diminishing our historical
dependence on oil by finding alternative ways to satisfy our energy
needs.
Additionally, while I appreciate the growing and valuable role of
Brazil as a strategic partner, we must remain vigilant of Brazil's own
activities.
As the U.S. continues to work to promote freedom and democracy in the
hemisphere, we continue to face challenges by the likes of Venezuela's
Chavez and Bolivia's Morales, under the tyrannical influences of
Castro.
We must be cognizant of the fact that President da Silva was in fact
a founding member of the Foro de Sao Paolo, which plays host to these
men and promoter to their increasingly anti-American rhetoric
throughout the region.
Brazil has a history of noncompliance with the IAEA obligations and
an expressed interest in pursuing future enrichment programs.
This mixed with the increasing of rogue regimes, like Iran and Syria,
to make inroads into the unstable political, economic and social worlds
of Latin America requires the U.S. be vigilant in our assessment of
Brazil and the region as a whole.
As biofuels cooperation allows our two countries to work increasingly
closely together, I am hopeful that continued success in bilateral
relations, hemispheric integration, and energy diversification will
help to mitigate these challenges.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
{time} 1715
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished
gentlewoman for her leadership and my good friend and colleague Mr.
Bilirakis for their support of this legislation.
Let me commend Congressman Engel and Congressman Burton, both
chairman and ranking member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee on
Foreign Affairs, and the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Lantos,
and the ranking member of the committee.
This is an important step that cements and further enhances the
relationship between Brazil and the United States, the largest economy,
population land mass in South America.
But it's even more important to reinforce the strategic relationship
that we are establishing between Brazil and the United States, the
friendship that we are establishing, and to have both countries wake up
to the importance of our relationship to each other and for it to be a
natural relationship.
Brazil is also the right country in which to cooperate with
alternative energy sources. It has an enormously diverse population and
a very large Afro-Brazilian population. In fact, it is the largest
African population in South America.
I would hope that as we move forward on this legislation that we
emphasize the successful relationship between Brazil and the United
States as we work towards alternative fuels. This is a good
partnership. It is a good legislative initiative, and I congratulate
the sponsors and look forward to working with them on expanding our
relationship between the United States and Brazil.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 651, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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