Whereas the United States and Brazil have many qualities in common, such as the rich ethnic and cultural diversity of their populations and each country’s efforts to protect democracy and the civil rights and liberties of all their citizens;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the United States and Brazil share common histories of slavery and colonialismstrong values of democracy, a diverse cultural demographic of European, African, Asian, and indigenous peoples, and strong values of democracy;Whereas these commonalities result in an extraordinary ability to jointly seek solutions to distinct issues that affect both countries, such as racial discrimination and inequalit, and histories marred by slavery;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas in comparison to the general population, minority groups in the United States and Brazil are more at risk for discrimination in the areas of employment, education, law enforcement, and access to justice and basic services, including health care, housing, and lending;Whereas African-Americans, Afro-Brazilians, and indigenous people in the United States and Brazil have been disadvantaged due to a history of racial inequality anexperienced discrimination in each country;Whereas due to social disparities that exist as a result of racial discrimination in the United States and Brazil,many areas;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas there is a continuing need to combat racial and ethnic discrimination and promote equality throughout both societies;Whereas in recognition of the need to address racial and ethnic discrimination and promote equality inin the United States and Brazil;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the Governments of the United States and Brazil have committed to jointly seek solutions to issues affecting both countries, such as racial and ethnic discrimination and inequality;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the Department of State, Brazil’s Ministry of Exterior Relations, and the Special Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality began formal talks in October 2007, to negotiate areas of bilateral cooperation on combating discrimination and creating opportunities for ethnic minorities in the United States and Brazil;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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 Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Government of the United States of America to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality’, also known as the United States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against Racial Discrimination;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the United States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against Racial Discrimination creates the Steering Group to Promote 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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas United States agencies and civil society members can share experiences innd Brazil should discuss and consider techniques and initiatives for 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, housing, employment, law enforcement, andthe elimination of all other areas of societyforms of discrimination;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas an Advisory Board, consisting of private sector representatives, government officials, civil society members, and experts on race relations and other relevant topics, will collaborate with Steering Group members at the periodic meetings of the Steering Group, to be held alternatively in Brazil and the United States;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the Inaugural Meeting of the Steering Group to Promote Equality of Opportunity will take place in July 2008 in Salvador da BahSeptember 8-10, 2008, in Brasilia, Brazil;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the Government of Brazil and the Government of the United States each will determine their country’s delegate members for the United States-Brazil Steering Group;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas currently, United States Government participation in initiatives of the United States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against Racial Discrimination is supported by existing discretionary funds within the Department of State and other participating agencies;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas additional resources may be needed to support future initiatives under the United States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against Racial Discrimination to address discrimination and promote racial and ethnic equality in the long term;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the specific areas of cooperation that the United States-Brazil Joint Action Plan Against Racial Discrimination plans to address include education, communications 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 recreation, health issues prevalent among minorities, access to credit and technical training, and social, historical, and cultural factors that contribute to racial and ethnic prejudices;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the Governments of the United States and Brazil value the importance of promoting tolerance and equality by emphasizing education and promoting equal opportunities, democracy, and prosperity in both countries;Whereas the Steering Steering Group on Equality of Opportunity will makeaddress the top priority of combating discrimination and the promotion ofpromoting equality in education a main priority ont primary, secondary, vocational, undergraduate, and graduate levels;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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 nongovernmental organizations, workshops and seminars, exchanges of technical experts, scholarships and fellowships, cooperation with international organizations and civil society, and programs in third countries;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the promotion ofUnited States and Brazil should support cultural exchanges between minority groups in the two countries will createand opportunities for the exchange of perspectives and experiences in race relations in both countries, as well as academic opportunities to study abroad and learn foreign languages; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Whereas the struggle to eliminate racial discrimination is an ongoing process and requires the commitments of both countries in order to achieveGovernments of the United States and Brazil value the importance of promoting tolerance and equality by emphasizing education and promoting equal opportunity societies for every citizen in the United States and Brazilies, democracy, and prosperity in both countries: Now, therefore, be itCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) recognizes the need to promote equality and continue to work towards eliminating racial discrimination in both the United States and Brazil;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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 Discrimination and Promote Equality’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) encourages the participation of the Departments of State, Labor, Justice, and Education; the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Congress; Federal, State, and local court systems; and other agencies in the collaborative process of the United States-Brazil Steering Group on Equality of Opportunity; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(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.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink