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

HRES 651 EH

H. Res. 651

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

October 9, 2007.

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.