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 sup-
port 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 be-
come the world’s largest consumer and producer of eth-
anol 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 green-
house gases; 
Whereas by the end of 2006, 80 percent of new car sales in 
Brazil were flex-fuel, meaning that they can run on eth-
anol, gasoline, or any mixture of both; 
Whereas Brazil stands out as the leading example of a coun-
try that has diversified its energy supply and become a
•HRES 651 EH 
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-
mote 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-Bra-
zilian technical assistance are the Dominican Republic, 
El Salvador, Haiti, and St. Kitts and Nevis; 
Whereas United States President George W. Bush and Bra-
zilian 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 Hemi-
sphere; 
Whereas Brazil—through its leadership of the United Na-
tions Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) in Haiti and
•HRES 651 EH 
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 in-
terests 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 West-
ern 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 pro-
vide technical assistance for biofuels industries in third 
countries, currently including the Dominican Republic, 
El Salvador, Haiti, and St. Kitts and Nevis; and