•HRES 1254 EH 
bating discrimination and creating opportunities for eth-
nic minorities in the United States and Brazil; 
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 
and ethnic equality; 
Whereas United States and Brazil should discuss and con-
sider techniques and initiatives for training educators, 
employers, workers, administrators of justice, such as po-
lice officers, judges, and prosecutors, and other members 
of society, on tolerance, equality, and the elimination of 
all forms of discrimination; 
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;
•HRES 1254 EH 
Whereas the Inaugural Meeting of the Steering Group to 
Promote Equality of Opportunity will take place Sep-
tember 8-10, 2008, in Brasilia, 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;
•HRES 1254 EH 
Whereas the Steering Group on Equality of Opportunity will 
address the top priority of combating discrimination and 
promoting equality in education at primary, secondary, 
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 United States and Brazil should support cul-
tural exchanges between minority groups in the two coun-
tries and opportunities for the exchange of perspectives 
and experiences in race relations in both countries; and 
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: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the need to promote equality and 
continue to work towards eliminating racial discrimina-
tion in both the United States and Brazil; 
(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
•HRES 1254 EH 
Government of the United States of America to Elimi-
nate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote 
Equality’’; 
(3) supports the continued involvement of the Gov-
ernment of the United States in the bilateral partnership 
of the United States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against 
Racial Discrimination through funding that may be des-
ignated for programs as part of this initiative; 
(4) encourages the participation of the Departments 
of State, Labor, Justice, and Education; the Equal Em-
ployment Opportunity Commission; Congress; Federal, 
State, and local court systems; and other agencies in the 
collaborative process of the United States-Brazil Steer-
ing 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 Steering Group 
Advisory Board. 
Attest: 
Clerk.