3 H.L.C. 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 countriessigned 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 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 4 H.L.C. 1 (1) recognizes that the United States and 2 Brazil have arrived at the point of a strategic con 3 4 fluence of interests and urges President George W. Bush to continue to deepen the bilateral relationship 5 6 7 between the two countries; (2) recognizes Brazil's role as a leader in the Western Hemisphere and commends its leadership of 13 14 States-Brazil (3) commends Brazil for successfully diversi fying its energy resources and reducing its depend ence on oil; (4) strongly supports the March 9, 2007, Memorandum of Under United standing (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 (6) encourages United States and Brazilian of ficials to quickly identify additional countries in the IV 110TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 200 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AUGUST 2, 2007 Mr. KING of New York (for himself and Mr. LANTOS) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Whereas in 1990 the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), a military junta in Burma, nullified the victory of the National League for Democracy (NLD); Whereas NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was not allowed to assume the office of Prime Minister and was subsequently placed under house arrest; Whereas Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was released in July 1995, yet once again placed under house arrest in September 2000; Whereas following a second release, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and several of her followers were attacked by a govern 2 ment-sponsored mob on May 6, 2002, and she was then imprisoned at Insein Prison in Yangon; Whereas on May 16, 2007, more than 50 world leaders released a letter demanding the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a demand repeated by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 14 United Nations human rights experts, the European Union, the United States, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the foreign ministers of three ASEAN member states, yet on May 27 her detention was extended; Whereas for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991; Whereas the ruling military junta in Burma continues to violate the human rights of Burmese citizens, including the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war and extrajudicial killings; Whereas the armed forces in Burma have been accused of large-scale trafficking in heroin and methamphetamines; Whereas the Burmese Government has destroyed more than 3,000 villages, displaced approximately 2 million Burmese people, and arrested approximately 1,300 individuals for expressing critical opinions; Whereas Burma's main broadcasters and publications are state controlled and the media does not report opposing views except to criticize them; Whereas on September 30, 2006, the United Nations Security Council officially included Burma on its agenda for the first time; Whereas the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) denounced the ruling military regime of Burma |