I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7183 
To direct the Secretary of State to work with the Government of Brazil 
and the governments of other countries in the Western Hemisphere 
to develop partnerships to strengthen diplomatic relations and energy 
security by accelerating the development of biofuels production, research, 
and infrastructure, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 
Mr. ENGEL (for himself and Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of State to work with the Govern-
ment of Brazil and the governments of other countries 
in the Western Hemisphere to develop partnerships to 
strengthen diplomatic relations and energy security by 
accelerating the development of biofuels production, re-
search, and infrastructure, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Western Hemisphere Energy Compact Act of 2008’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Western Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum. 
Sec. 5. United States-Brazil biofuels partnership. 
Sec. 6. Biofuels feasibility studies. 
Sec. 7. Multilateral development banks. 
Sec. 8. Carbon credit trading mechanisms. 
Sec. 9. Energy crisis response mechanism. 
Sec. 10. Energy foreign assistance. 
Sec. 11. Energy public diplomacy. 
Sec. 12. Report. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The engagement of the United States Gov-
ernment on energy issues with the Government of 
Brazil and the governments of willing countries in 
the Western Hemisphere is a strategic priority be-
cause such engagement can help to— 
(A) reduce the potential for conflict over 
energy resources; 
(B) maintain and expand reliable energy 
supplies; 
(C) expand the use of renewable energy; 
and 
(D) reduce the detrimental effects of en-
ergy import dependence. 
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(2) Current energy dialogues and agreements 
should be expanded and refocused, as needed, to 
meet the challenges described in paragraph (1). 
(3) Countries in the Western Hemisphere can 
most effectively meet their common needs for energy 
security and sustainability through partnership and 
cooperation. Cooperation between governments on 
energy issues will enhance bilateral and regional re-
lationships among countries in the Western Hemi-
sphere. The Western Hemisphere is rich in natural 
resources, and there are significant opportunities for 
the production of renewable energy, including hydro, 
geothermal, solar, and wind. Countries in the West-
ern Hemisphere can provide convenient and reliable 
markets for their own energy needs and for foreign 
trade in energy goods and services. 
(4) Development of sustainable energy alter-
natives in countries in the Western Hemisphere can 
improve energy security, balance of trade, and envi-
ronmental quality, and can provide markets for en-
ergy technology and agricultural products. 
(5) The Government of the United States has 
actively worked with the Government of Brazil to de-
velop a strong biofuels partnership and to increase 
the production and use of biofuels. On March 9, 
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2007, the Memorandum of Understanding Between 
the United States and Brazil to Advance Coopera-
tion on Biofuels, was signed in Sa˜o Paulo, Brazil. 
(6) Brazil and the United States have led the 
world in the production of ethanol. Deeper coopera-
tion on biofuels with other countries in the Western 
Hemisphere would extend economic, security, and 
political benefits. 
(7) The United States is committed to devel-
oping a biofuels partnership in the Western Hemi-
sphere that benefits the welfare of the people of the 
Western Hemisphere. According to the Latin Amer-
ican Energy Organization, the percentage of total 
energy consumption in each of the following coun-
tries in the Western Hemisphere that originated 
from imported crude oil and oil products in 2005 
was— 
(A) 2 percent in Argentina; 
(B) 93 percent in Barbados; 
(C) 7 percent in Bolivia; 
(D) 13 percent in Brazil; 
(E) 55 percent in Chile; 
(F) 4 percent in Colombia; 
(G) 56 percent in Costa Rica; 
(H) 77 percent in the Dominican Republic; 
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