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 
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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 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 
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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 
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(6) encourages United States and Brazilian officials 

to quickly identify additional countries in the Western 

Hemisphere to receive technical assistance related to 

biofuels. 

Attest: 

Clerk.