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37–911PDF 2007

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

MARKUP

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON 

THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

H. Res. 651

SEPTEMBER 19, 2007

Serial No. 110–100

Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

(

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/
(II)

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

TOM LANTOS, California, Chairman 

HOWARD L. BERMAN, California 

GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York 

ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American 

Samoa 

DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey 

BRAD SHERMAN, California 

ROBERT WEXLER, Florida 

ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York 

BILL DELAHUNT, Massachusetts 

GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York 

DIANE E. WATSON, California 

ADAM SMITH, Washington 

RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri 

JOHN S. TANNER, Tennessee 

GENE GREEN, Texas 

LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California 

SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Texas 

RUBE ́ N HINOJOSA, Texas 

JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York 

DAVID WU, Oregon 

BRAD MILLER, North Carolina 

LINDA T. SA ́ NCHEZ, California 

DAVID SCOTT, Georgia 

JIM COSTA, California 

ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey 

GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, Arizona 

RON KLEIN, Florida 

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida 

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey 

DAN BURTON, Indiana 

ELTON GALLEGLY, California 

DANA ROHRABACHER, California 

DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois 

EDWARD R. ROYCE, California 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado 

RON PAUL, Texas 

JEFF FLAKE, Arizona 

JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia 

MIKE PENCE, Indiana 

JOE WILSON, South Carolina 

JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas 

J. GRESHAM BARRETT, South Carolina 

CONNIE MACK, Florida 

JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska 

MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas 

TED POE, Texas 

BOB INGLIS, South Carolina 

LUIS G. FORTUN ̃ O, Puerto Rico 

GUS BILIRAKIS, Florida 

ROBERT R. KING, Staff Director 

YLEEM POBLETE, Republican Staff Director 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York, Chairman 

GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York 

LINDA T. SA ́ NCHEZ, California 

ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey 

GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, Arizona 

ENI F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American 

Samoa 

DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey 

BILL DELAHUNT, Massachusetts 

RON KLEIN, Florida 

GENE GREEN, Texas 

DAN BURTON, Indiana 

CONNIE MACK, Florida 

MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas 

LUIS G. FORTUN ̃ O, Puerto Rico 

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey 

ELTON GALLEGLY, California 

RON PAUL, Texas 

JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia 

JASON STEINBAUM, Subcommittee Staff Director 

ERIC JACOBSTEIN, Subcommittee Professional Staff Member 

MARK WALKER, Republican Professional Staff Member 

ERIN DIAMOND, Staff Associate 
(III)

C O N T E N T S 

Page

MARKUP OF 

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 .............................................................................................. 2

Amendment to H. Res. 651 offered by the Honorable Eliot L. Engel, a 

Representative in Congress from the State of New York, and Chairman, 

Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere ................................................... 8

(1)

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 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2007

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, 

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, 

Washington, DC. 

The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 3:10 p.m. in room 

2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Eliot L. Engel (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. 

Mr. ENGEL. We will begin. I want to welcome everybody who is 

here. I want to welcome our guests. Before we hear their testimony, I want to have a brief markup. 

Pursuant to notice, I call up the resolution H. Res. 651, which 

is a resolution recognizing the warm friendship and expanding 

strategic relationship between the United States and Brazil, commending Brazil on successfully reducing its independence 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 

signed by President Bush and President Lula. 

For purposes of markup, I call it up and move its recommendation to the full committee. 

Without objection, the resolution will be considered as read and 

open for amendment at any point. So moved. 

[H. Res. 651 follows:] 
2

1

H.L.C.

.....................................................................

(Original Signature of Member)

110TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. ll 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.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. ENGEL (for himself and Mr. BURTON of Indiana) submitted the following

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on

lllllllllllllll

RESOLUTION

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.

Whereas following the oil shock of the early 1970s, Brazil

chose to reduce its energy vulnerability by choosing
3

2

H.L.C.

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 pro-
4

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H.L.C.

mote greater cooperation on ethanol and biofuels in the

Western Hemisphere;

Whereas the United States–Brazil MOU involves technologysharing 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

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) recognizes that the United States and

3 Brazil have arrived at the point of a strategic con4 fluence of interests and urges President George W.
5

4

H.L.C.

1 Bush to continue to deepen the bilateral relationship

2 between the two countries;

3 (2) recognizes Brazil’s role as a leader in the

4 Western Hemisphere and commends its leadership of

5 the United Nations Stabilization Mission

6 (MINUSTAH) in Haiti;

7 (3) commends Brazil for successfully diversi8 fying its energy resources and reducing its depend9 ence on oil;

10 (4) recognizes that the United States has ar11 rived at the point of a strategic confluence of inter12 ests with Brazil and welcomes continued develop13 ment in the bilateral relationship between the two

14 countries;

15 (5) strongly supports the March 9, 2007,

16 United States–Brazil Memorandum of Under17 standing (MOU) on biofuels as a major step forward

18 in bilateral relations, hemispheric integration, and

19 energy diversification;

20 (6) commends joint efforts by the United States

21 and Brazil for their commitment to use expertise to

22 provide technical assistance for biofuels industries in

23 third countries, currently including the Dominican

24 Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, and St. Kitts and

25 Nevis; and
6

5

H.L.C.

1 (7) encourages United States and Brazilian of2 ficials to quickly identify additional countries in the

3 Western Hemisphere to receive technical assistance

4 related to biofuels.
7

Mr. ENGEL. I am very pleased to be considering H. Res. 651 at 

the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee’s first markup. I will save 

the bulk of my remarks for my opening statement, but I do want 

to emphasize that I believe we have in Brazil a true partner and 

friend. 

As subcommittee chairman I believe that we must continue to expand our strategic partnership with Brazil, and H. Res. 651 recognizes this. 

I am pleased to say that our ranking member, our former chairman, Mr. Burton, and I have worked on this together. We have 

similar views about the United States-Brazil relationship. 

The March 9 United States-Brazil MOU on biofuels cooperation 

has really brought a positive agenda to the Americas and rightfully 

establishes our two countries as leaders in the energy field and in 

the hemisphere. Brazil, a country which has successfully reduced 

its dependence on oil through ethanol and other biofuels, is the 

right country to be our partner in the energy realm. This resolution 

is a public recognition of the United States Congress’ commitment 

to our partisanship. 

As I mentioned before, I want to thank Ranking Member Burton 

for introducing this resolution with me. I want to turn to him for 

any statement he may have on the resolution. 

Mr. BURTON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

He said everything I was going to say, so I won’t say anything 

else. That is supposed to be funny. 

Mr. ENGEL. Thank you. 

That is partnership, not partisanship. 

I have a noncontroversial technical amendment at the desk, 

which corrects a duplication in the original text. 

[The amendment referred to follows:] 
8

1

H.L.C.

AMENDMENT TO H. RES. 651

OFFERED BY MR. ENGEL OF NEW YORK

In the resolved clause, strike paragraph (4) and redesignate subsequent paragraphs accordingly.
9

Mr. ENGEL. Without objection, the amendment is considered read 

and the question occurs on the amendment, which we have. All in 

favor, say aye. 

All opposed, nay. 

The ayes have it. 

Are there any other amendments? 

The motion is approved, and the resolution is reported favorably. 

Without objection, the resolution will be reported favorably to the 

full committee in the form of a single amendment in the nature of 

a substitute incorporating the amendment adopted here today. 

Without objection, the staff is directed to make any technical and 

conforming amendments. 

The markup is adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 3:13 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]

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