[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 7, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4481-S4482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 753--URGING THE GOVERNMENT OF BRAZIL TO ENSURE THAT 
  THE OCTOBER 2022 ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED IN A FREE, FAIR, CREDIBLE, 
                    TRANSPARENT, AND PEACEFUL MANNER

  Mr. SANDERS (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Merkley, Mr. 
Blumenthal, and Ms. Warren) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 753

       Whereas, in 1822, the United States was the first country 
     to recognize Brazil as an independent country;
       Whereas the United States and Brazil are 2 of the largest 
     democracies and economies in the Western Hemisphere;
       Whereas bilateral relations between the United States and 
     Brazil are rooted in a shared commitment to democracy and 
     prosperity and the promotion of international peace, 
     security, respect for human rights, and environmental 
     stewardship, including protection of the Brazilian Amazon;
       Whereas efforts to incite political violence, encourage the 
     armed forces of Brazil to intervene in the conduct of the 
     electoral processes of the Brazil, and question or subvert 
     the democratic and electoral institutions of Brazil ahead of 
     the country's October 2, 2022, general elections undermine 
     the democratic foundation of relations between the United 
     States and Brazil and must be resolutely rejected by both 
     countries;
       Whereas, according to a recent survey by the Federal 
     University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is 
     experiencing a 335-percent increase in violence directed 
     against political leaders in 2022 relative to 2019;
       Whereas Brazilians from all sectors of society have 
     publicly expressed serious concern about ongoing efforts to 
     undermine democracy in Brazil, including--

[[Page S4482]]

       (1) close to 1,000,000 Brazilians who signed an open letter 
     released on July 26, 2022, defending the democratic 
     institutions of Brazil and the rule of law; and
       (2) prominent Brazilian business, religious, political, and 
     civil society leaders who released a statement expressing 
     confidence in the electoral systems of Brazil on August 5, 
     2022; and

       Whereas the United States Government has on multiple 
     occasions expressed full confidence in the strength of the 
     democratic institutions of Brazil and the ability of the 
     electoral system of Brazil to carry out free and fair 
     elections absent fraud: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) urges the Government of Brazil to ensure that the 
     October 2022 elections are conducted in a free, fair, 
     credible, transparent, and peaceful manner that enables all 
     citizens of Brazil to exercise the right to vote; and
       (2) calls for the United States Government--
       (A) to continue to speak out against efforts to incite 
     political violence and undermine the electoral process in 
     Brazil and to hold the Government of Brazil accountable for 
     respecting the rights of the citizens of Brazil in accordance 
     with international obligations and the Constitution of the 
     Federative Republic of Brazil;
       (B) to immediately recognize the outcome of the election in 
     Brazil, if that election is determined by international 
     observers and organizations to have been free and fair; and
       (C) to make unequivocally clear that the United States 
     considers bilateral United States assistance to Brazil to be 
     predicated on the historic and ongoing commitment of the 
     Government and people of Brazil to democratic principles and 
     human rights and will--
       (i) review and reconsider the relationship between the 
     United States any government that comes to power in Brazil 
     through undemocratic means, including a military coup; and
       (ii) ensure United States security assistance and other 
     forms of bilateral United States assistance to Brazil remain 
     compliant with relevant laws of the United States related to 
     the peaceful and democratic transition of power, including 
     longstanding restrictions on the provision of security 
     assistance in the event of a military coup.

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