•HRES 1254 IH 
Whereas, on March 13, 2008, Secretary of State Condoleezza 
Rice and Brazilian Minister of Racial Integration Edson 
Santos signed the ‘‘Joint Action Plan Between the Gov-
ernment of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the 
Government of the United States of America to Elimi-
nate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote 
Equality’’, also known as the United States-Brazil Joint 
Action Plan Against Racial Discrimination; 
Whereas the United States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against 
Racial Discrimination creates the Steering Group to Pro-
mote Equality of Opportunity, which will consist of a 
panel of government officials from both the United States 
and Brazil and facilitate the exchange of information on 
the best practices for antidiscrimination measures and 
development of ideas on how to bilaterally promote racial 
equality; 
Whereas United States agencies and civil society members 
can share experiences in training educators, employers, 
workers, administrators of justice, such as police officers, 
judges, and prosecutors, and other members of society, 
on tolerance, equality, and antidiscrimination methods 
aimed at eliminating discrimination in education, hous-
ing, employment, law enforcement, and all other areas of 
society; 
Whereas an Advisory Board, consisting of private sector rep-
resentatives, government officials, civil society members, 
and experts on race relations and other relevant topics, 
will collaborate with Steering Group members at the peri-
odic meetings of the Steering Group, to be held alter-
natively in Brazil and the United States; 
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•HRES 1254 IH 
Whereas the Inaugural Meeting of the Steering Group to 
Promote Equality of Opportunity will take place in July 
2008 in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil; 
Whereas the Government of Brazil and the Government of 
the United States each will determine their country’s del-
egate members for the United States-Brazil Steering 
Group; 
Whereas currently, United States Government participation 
in initiatives of the United States-Brazil Joint Action 
Plan Against Racial Discrimination is supported by exist-
ing discretionary funds within the Department of State 
and other participating agencies; 
Whereas the elimination of ethnic and racial discrimination in 
the United States and Brazil is an ongoing process that 
requires the long-term dedication of both countries; 
Whereas additional resources may be needed to support fu-
ture initiatives under the United States-Brazil Joint Ac-
tion Plan Against Racial Discrimination to address dis-
crimination and promote racial and ethnic equality in the 
long term; 
Whereas the specific areas of cooperation that the United 
States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against Racial Discrimi-
nation plans to address include education, communica-
tions and culture, labor and employment, housing and 
public accommodation, equal protection under the law 
and access to legal systems, domestic enforcement of 
antidiscrimination laws and policies, sports and recre-
ation, health issues prevalent among minorities, access to 
credit and technical training, and social, historical, and 
cultural factors that contribute to racial and ethnic preju-
dices; 
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•HRES 1254 IH 
Whereas the Governments of the United States and Brazil 
value the importance of promoting tolerance and equality 
by emphasizing education and promoting equal opportu-
nities, democracy, and prosperity in both countries; 
Whereas the Steering Group on Equality of Opportunity will 
make combating discrimination and the promotion of 
equality in education a main priority on primary, sec-
ondary, vocational, undergraduate, and graduate levels; 
Whereas particular programs and initiatives to be considered 
by the Steering Group include, but are not limited to, 
training programs, strengthening democratic institutions, 
public-private partnerships with businesses and non-
governmental organizations, workshops and seminars, ex-
changes of technical experts, scholarships and fellowships, 
cooperation with international organizations and civil so-
ciety, and programs in third countries; 
Whereas the promotion of cultural exchanges between minor-
ity groups in the two countries will create opportunities 
for the exchange of perspectives and experiences in race 
relations in both countries, as well as academic opportu-
nities to study abroad and learn foreign languages; and 
Whereas the struggle to eliminate racial discrimination is an 
ongoing process and requires the commitments of both 
countries in order to achieve equal opportunity societies 
for every citizen in the United States and Brazil: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the need to promote equality and 
continue to work towards eliminating racial discrimi-
nation in both the United States and Brazil; 
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•HRES 1254 IH 
(2) commends Secretary of State Condoleezza 
Rice and Brazilian Minister of Racial Integration 
Edson Santos for signing the ‘‘Joint Action Plan 
Between the Government of the Federative Republic 
of Brazil and the Government of the United States 
of America to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimi-
nation and Promote Equality’’; 
(3) supports the continued involvement of the 
Government of the United States in the bilateral 
partnership of the United States-Brazil Joint Action 
Plan Against Racial Discrimination through funding 
that may be designated for programs as part of this 
initiative; 
(4) encourages the participation of the Depart-
ments of State, Labor, Justice, and Education; the 
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Con-
gress; Federal, State, and local court systems; and 
other agencies in the collaborative process of the 
United States-Brazil Steering Group on Equality of 
Opportunity; and 
(5) urges the involvement of the private sector, 
civil society, and experts on race relations and other 
relevant topics to be considered as part of the Steer-
ing Group Advisory Board. 
Æ 
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