[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 26887-26889]
[From the U.S. 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 2 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

[[Page 26888]]

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 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).

                              {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.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today strong support of my 
resolution--H. Res. 651--which recognizes the expanding strategic 
relationship between the United States and Brazil. This resolution also 
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 United States--Brazil Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) on biofuels cooperation.
  For years, Brazil has flown below the radar in the United States. We 
never paid much attention to what was happening in the largest country 
in South America. But I believe that we are reaching the end of this 
period of ignorance and neglect and that we, in America, are finally 
waking up not only to Brazil's importance, but also to how natural this 
relationship should be.
  Brazil occupies almost half of the continent of South America and is 
the fifth most populous country in the world. Its economy is the 
eleventh largest in the world, the largest in Latin America, and one of 
the largest in the developing world. Secretary of State Condoleezza 
Rice has called Brazil ``the regional leader and our global partner.'' 
These are words we reserve for only a few countries--those where 
partnership is truly advantageous for both of us.
  Brazil is also the right country with which to cooperate on 
alternative energy sources. Brazil and the United States are by far the 
world's largest ethanol producers. In 2006, the two countries together 
produced 69 percent of ethanol in the world. And Brazil has become a 
global leader on alternative energy. 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.
  On March 9th, the U.S. and Brazil signed a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) to promote greater cooperation on ethanol and 
biofuels in the Western Hemisphere. Our bilateral partnership is 
establishing both countries as leaders in the energy field in the 
hemisphere. I am particularly pleased by joint U.S.-Brazilian efforts 
to provide technical assistance to build biofuels industries in third 
countries, including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, El Salvador and St. 
Kitts and Nevis. This resolution commends these efforts and also 
encourages U.S. and Brazilian officials to quickly move to a second 
wave of countries to receive similar technical assistance.
  Many argue that for too long, the U.S. has focused its agenda in the 
hemisphere on ``trade and drugs'' at the exclusion of other elements. 
The deepening of our energy cooperation with our friends in the 
hemisphere--particularly Brazil--is helping us to develop a positive 
agenda that I hope will continue to grow in the coming years.
  I am also pleased to announce today that I will be leading a 
bipartisan congressional delegation to Brazil on November 25th and I 
encourage my colleagues to join me on this trip.
  I want to close by noting that there is a cynical, old adage about 
Brazil that says, ``Brazil is the land of the future, and always will 
be.'' Brazil's leadership at home, in the Americas and throughout the 
world is proving this statement to be false. I truly believe that 
Brazil's time has come. As Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairman, I 
look forward to continuing to focus intensively on Brazil--a vital 
partner and friend.
  I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 651.
  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

[[Page 26889]]

rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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