[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 18, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 77--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
  UNITED STATES AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA SHOULD NEGOTIATE A 
            BILATERAL AGREEMENT ON CLEAN ENERGY COOPERATION

  Ms. CANTWELL (for herself and Mr. Voinovich) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 77

       Whereas the United States and the People's Republic of 
     China are the world's largest producers, consumers, and 
     importers of energy and account for 36 percent of global 
     primary energy use and 41 percent of global carbon dioxide 
     emissions;
       Whereas, in 2007, China surpassed the United States to 
     become the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases and 
     China is projected to increase emissions of greenhouse gases 
     by 3.3 percent annually during the next 2 decades;
       Whereas, by working together to tackle shared economic, 
     environmental, and security challenges, the United States and 
     China can more quickly and cost-effectively develop and 
     implement cleaner, 21st-century energy systems;
       Whereas efforts to develop and implement such systems will 
     benefit from a foundation in sound science and policies that 
     rely on and augment the vast technical capabilities and 
     resources of both the United States and China; and
       Whereas an action plan resulting from a bilateral agreement 
     on clean energy cooperation between the United States and 
     China may serve as a catalyst for the economic growth of the 
     United States, an expression of United States foreign policy 
     with respect to mitigating climate change, and a means for 
     accelerating the development of a global clean energy 
     economy: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the United States and the People's Republic of China 
     should negotiate a bilateral agreement under which the United 
     States and China agree to cooperate in the development and 
     use of clean energy; and
       (2) the negotiation of such an agreement would send a clear 
     signal to the world community that the United States is ready 
     to lead a robust effort to mitigate global climate change 
     that involves all countries that are major emitters of 
     greenhouse gases.

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