[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 9, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H7876-H7878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SUPPORTING THE VALUES AND GOALS OF THE U.S.-BRAZIL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION 
                                  PACT

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1254) supporting the values and 
goals of the ``Joint Action Plan Between the Government of the 
Federative Republic of Brazil and the Government of the United States 
of America to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote 
Equality,'' signed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Brazilian 
Minister of Racial Integration Edson Santos on March 13, 2008, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1254

       Whereas the United States and Brazil have many qualities in 
     common, such as the rich ethnic and cultural diversity of 
     their populations and each country's efforts to protect 
     democracy and the civil rights and liberties of all their 
     citizens;
       Whereas the United States and Brazil share strong values of 
     democracy, a diverse cultural demographic, and histories 
     marred by slavery;
       Whereas in comparison to the general population, minority 
     groups in the United States and Brazil have experienced 
     discrimination in many areas;
       Whereas there is a continuing need to combat racial and 
     ethnic discrimination and promote equality in the United 
     States and Brazil;
       Whereas the Governments of the United States and Brazil 
     have committed to jointly seek solutions to issues affecting 
     both countries, such as racial and ethnic discrimination and 
     inequality;
       Whereas the Department of State, Brazil's Ministry of 
     Exterior Relations, and the Special Secretariat for the 
     Promotion of Racial Equality began formal talks in October 
     2007, to negotiate areas of bilateral cooperation on 
     combating discrimination and creating opportunities for 
     ethnic minorities in the United States and Brazil;
       Whereas, on March 13, 2008, Secretary of State Condoleezza 
     Rice and Brazilian Minister of Racial Integration Edson 
     Santos signed the ``Joint Action Plan Between the Government 
     of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Government of 
     the United States of America to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic 
     Discrimination and Promote Equality'', also known as the 
     United States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against Racial 
     Discrimination;
       Whereas the United States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against 
     Racial Discrimination creates the Steering Group to Promote 
     Equality of Opportunity, which will consist of a panel of 
     government officials from both the United States and Brazil 
     and facilitate the exchange of information on the best 
     practices for antidiscrimination measures and development of 
     ideas on how to bilaterally promote racial and ethnic 
     equality;
       Whereas United States and Brazil should discuss and 
     consider techniques and initiatives for training educators, 
     employers, workers, administrators of justice, such as police 
     officers, judges, and prosecutors, and other members of 
     society, on tolerance, equality, and the elimination of all 
     forms of discrimination;
       Whereas an Advisory Board, consisting of private sector 
     representatives, government officials, civil society members, 
     and experts on race relations and other relevant topics, will 
     collaborate with Steering Group members at the periodic 
     meetings of the Steering Group, to be held alternatively in 
     Brazil and the United States;
       Whereas the Inaugural Meeting of the Steering Group to 
     Promote Equality of Opportunity will take place September 8-
     10, 2008, in Brasilia, Brazil;
       Whereas the Government of Brazil and the Government of the 
     United States each will determine their country's delegate 
     members for the United States-Brazil Steering Group;
       Whereas currently, United States Government participation 
     in initiatives of the United States-Brazil Joint Action Plan 
     Against Racial Discrimination is supported by existing 
     discretionary funds within the Department of State and other 
     participating agencies;
       Whereas the elimination of ethnic and racial discrimination 
     in the United States and Brazil is an ongoing process that 
     requires the long-term dedication of both countries;
       Whereas additional resources may be needed to support 
     future initiatives under the United States-Brazil Joint 
     Action Plan Against Racial Discrimination to address 
     discrimination and promote racial and ethnic equality in the 
     long term;
       Whereas the specific areas of cooperation that the United 
     States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against Racial Discrimination 
     plans to address include education, communications and 
     culture, labor and employment, housing and public 
     accommodation, equal protection under the law and access to 
     legal systems, domestic enforcement of antidiscrimination 
     laws and policies, sports and recreation, health issues 
     prevalent among minorities, access to credit and technical 
     training, and social, historical, and cultural factors that 
     contribute to racial and ethnic prejudices;
       Whereas the Steering Group on Equality of Opportunity will 
     address the top priority of combating discrimination and 
     promoting equality in education at primary, secondary, 
     vocational, undergraduate, and graduate levels;
       Whereas particular programs and initiatives to be 
     considered by the Steering Group include, but are not limited 
     to, training programs, strengthening democratic institutions, 
     public-private partnerships with businesses and 
     nongovernmental organizations, workshops and seminars, 
     exchanges of technical experts, scholarships and fellowships, 
     cooperation with international organizations and civil 
     society, and programs in third countries;
       Whereas the United States and Brazil should support 
     cultural exchanges between minority groups in the two 
     countries and opportunities for the exchange of perspectives 
     and experiences in race relations in both countries; and
       Whereas the Governments of the United States and Brazil 
     value the importance of promoting tolerance and equality by 
     emphasizing education and promoting equal opportunities, 
     democracy, and prosperity in both countries: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the need to promote equality and continue to 
     work towards eliminating racial discrimination in both the 
     United States and Brazil;
       (2) commends Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and 
     Brazilian Minister of Racial Integration Edson Santos for 
     signing the ``Joint Action Plan Between the Government of the 
     Federative Republic of Brazil and the Government of the 
     United States of America to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic 
     Discrimination and Promote Equality'';
       (3) supports the continued involvement of the Government of 
     the United States in the bilateral partnership of the United 
     States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against Racial Discrimination 
     through funding that may be designated for programs as part 
     of this initiative;
       (4) encourages the participation of the Departments of 
     State, Labor, Justice, and Education; the Equal Employment 
     Opportunity Commission; Congress; Federal, State, and local 
     court systems; and other agencies in the collaborative 
     process of the United States-Brazil Steering Group on 
     Equality of Opportunity; and
       (5) urges the involvement of the private sector, civil 
     society, and experts on race relations and other relevant 
     topics to be considered as part of the Steering Group 
     Advisory Board.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days 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 Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
this resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Let me generally, Mr. Speaker, thank the chairman of the full 
committee, Mr. Berman, and the ranking member, Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, 
both of whom are now conducting a hearing regarding the relationship 
between Georgia and Russia, for their leadership on these legislative 
initiatives. And I want to thank the Chairs and ranking members of the 
subcommittees from which these legislative initiatives have come 
forward.
  It is well noted the Foreign Affairs Committee works collaboratively 
together, and I guess it continues to be in the spirit of our fallen 
leader, Representative, former chairman, Tom Lantos.

[[Page H7877]]

  So let me thank our colleagues, Congressman Eliot Engel and Dan 
Burton, the chairman and ranking member of the Western Hemisphere 
Subcommittee, for introducing this important resolution.
  Brazil and the United States both share a history of slavery in the 
Americas. The legacy and residual effects of that common history remain 
with both our countries long after the abolishment of slavery 
throughout the hemisphere.
  The experience of race and the phenomenon of racism has been treated 
and understood very differently in Brazil than it has in the United 
States. Brazil holds the largest and one of the most ethnically diverse 
and racially mixed populations in the world.

                              {time}  1330

  Historically, Brazil's multi-ethnicity has taken its own unique path, 
devoid of the spasms of violence and resentment that have characterized 
similar historical moments in the United States. In fact, in the 20th 
century, Brazil's tolerance and accommodation came to be known as 
``racial democracy'' and became a source of great pride for its people.
  Having been to Brazil on several occasions, I can attest to the fact 
Brazil and its people seem to be constantly working on finding racial 
accommodations, racial democracy.
  Significant changes have taken place in the U.S. and Brazil in the 
issue of race and racism in the past two decades. Today, Brazilian 
self-identity regarding race has become more nuanced. The undeniable 
fact of Brazilians as a mixture of different races has run headlong 
into the notion of racial exclusion. To paraphrase Professor Edward E. 
Telles of UCLA in his book ``Race in Another America: The Significance 
of Skin Color in Brazil,'' Brazilians today grapple with how their 
society can at the same time reflect inclusiveness and the differences 
that make them unique.
  The United States and Brazil have much to learn from each other in 
this realm. The ways in which our racial histories have diverged, and 
more recently the ways in which they have converged, offer much to 
share and even more to discuss.
  As I mentioned, as I have traveled to Brazil, I have seen the 
opportunity to make everyone a Brazilian. We here are now talking about 
the fact that different groups want to be acknowledged for their own 
cultural history, and also, as we have made everyone a Brazilian, 
different groups have noted that only one group of those Brazilians 
have been able to ascend to the highest corporate ranks as well as 
governmental ranks.
  Therefore, it is especially timely, then, that we take up this 
resolution recognizing how our racial histories currently affect 
minority communities and celebrating the goals of a joint action plan 
between our two governments on racial and ethnic discrimination.
  This resolution supports the ``U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to 
Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality'' that 
was signed by Secretary Rice and Brazilian Minister of Racial 
Integration Edson Santos in March of this year.
  The Joint Action Plan is an agreement between both governments to 
create opportunities for minorities in the U.S. and Brazil to become 
active in technical, academic, and cultural exchange programs. It 
creates the Steering Group to Promote Equality of Opportunity, which 
will consist of a panel of government officials from both the United 
States and Brazil to facilitate the exchange of information and the 
best practices for antidiscrimination measures and develop ideas on how 
to bilaterally promote racial and ethnic equality.
  I want to applaud the Afro-Brazilians Parliamentarians of whom I've 
had the opportunity to meet with who have been a persistent voice in 
asking for this approach to avoiding discrimination and promoting 
affirmative action.
  I also want to thank my good friend and member of the Foreign Affairs 
Committee, Congressman Gregory Meeks, who has worked on these issues 
and as we have traveled together to express our concern about 
discrimination in Brazil.
  This Joint Action Plan is only one part of the expanding strategic 
relationship between the United States and Brazil and is a positive 
step in strengthening that friendship and promoting racial and ethnic 
equality.
  Yes, we applaud racial democracy in Brazil. We applaud the race-
neutral stances that they've taken, but now we applaud even more the 
opportunity to cite different ethnic groups and their contributions to 
Brazil in giving them a greater equal opportunity in Brazil.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I'm pleased to rise in support of House Resolution 1254 and join my 
colleagues in supporting the views and goals of the Joint Action Plan 
signed between the United States and Brazil to eliminate racial and 
ethnic discrimination and promote equality. I would like to thank the 
gentleman from New York, Congressman Engel, for introducing this 
important measure and appreciate the efforts by his office to ensure 
that it was a bipartisan effort.
  On March 13, 2008, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Brazilian 
Minister of Racial Integration Edson Santos signed the ``Joint Action 
Plan Between the Government of the Federated Republic of Brazil and the 
Government of the United States of America to Eliminate Racial and 
Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality.'' This plan recognizes the 
commitments of our governments to promote equality and opportunity. It 
underscores the importance of cooperating in the promotion of human 
rights in order to maintain an environment of peace, democracy, and 
prosperity. And it also strengthens the ongoing and vital partnership 
we share with the country of Brazil.
  Furthermore, the Joint Action Plan provides for the creation of a 
Steering Group to advance the understanding and exchange of information 
between the United States and Brazil and places a special emphasis on 
the role that education plays in both of our countries.
  House Resolution 1254 recognizes the importance of the U.S.-Brazil 
Joint Action Plan and highlights the commitment of our two nations to 
strengthen cooperation in the pursuit of these noble goals. It also 
serves to underscore and further advance our commitments to democracy 
in that region of the world.
  This increased partnership will work to further enhance our 
longstanding relationship with Brazil, a key partner in the Western 
Hemisphere, and deepen the types of friendship between our two peoples.
  I applaud the proactive efforts taken by both countries in 
confronting the ongoing challenges of inequity, and I'm confident that 
the U.S.-Brazilian Joint Action Plan will only work to further 
strengthen the historic bonds between our two nations.
  I support this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the gentleman's comments in support 
of this legislation. I, too, agree that this partnership between Brazil 
and the United States through our respective state departments and 
foreign ministers will be a great asset to creating equal opportunity 
in Brazil.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask that our colleagues support this 
legislation.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
1254, a resolution I authored which commends the United States and 
Brazil for signing the Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic 
Discrimination and Promote Equality. And, I thank the distinguished 
Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Howard Berman for his 
leadership on this issue.
  The Joint Action Plan is an important step forward in global efforts 
to combat the evils of racism and to stand together, as the two largest 
democracies in the Western Hemisphere, to promote equality for all 
people.
  The United States and Brazil share a history of slavery in the 
Americas. The legacy and residual effects of that common history remain 
with both the United States and Brazil long after emancipation. 
Although the experience of race and the phenomenon of racism have been 
treated and understood differently in Brazil and the United States, 
today our paths converge. The ways in which our racial histories have 
diverged, and more recently the ways in which they have converged, 
offer a great learning opportunity for both countries.
  Brazil and the United States are the two largest countries in the 
Western Hemisphere and have the largest Afro-descendant populations--
populations which often face the most

[[Page H7878]]

difficult economic and social barriers. Therefore, it is highly 
significant that our countries are now working together. The United 
States and Brazil have much in common, and our large vibrant minority 
communities are simply another trait we share. As Chairman of the 
Brazil Caucus, I believe that working together to stamp out 
discrimination only helps to bring our countries and peoples closer 
together, while each nation learns from the other's success stories in 
fighting ethnic discrimination.
  I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support of 
this important resolution. Our Congress can and should play a vital 
role in ensuring the success of the Joint Action Plan to Eliminate 
Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality. Our partnership 
on the Joint Action Plan is a positive step in strengthening our 
friendship and promoting racial and ethnic equality.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1254, 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.

                          ____________________