Western Hemisphere Energy Compact

Summary

United States-Brazil Energy Cooperation Pact of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of State to establish the Western Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum which should seek to: (1) strengthen relationships between the United States and other countries of the Western Hemisphere through cooperation on energy issues; and (2) enhance cooperation between major energy producers and major energy consumers in the Western Hemisphere, particularly among the governments of Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela. Directs the U.S. government to seek to implement: (1) an energy crisis initiative that will promote national and regional measures to respond to temporary energy supply disruptions; (2) an energy sustainability initiative to facilitate long-term supply security by fostering reliable supply sources of fuels, including energy from biomass; and (3) an energy for development initiative to promote energy access for underdeveloped areas through energy policy and infrastructure development. Directs the Secretary of State to seek Western Hemisphere governments' cooperation in establishing a Western Hemisphere Energy Industry Group, which shall increase public-private partnerships and foster private investment. Directs the Secretary of Energy to facilitate the establishment of the Oil and Gas Working Group, which should strengthen oil- and natural gas-related dialogue among international oil companies, national oil companies, and civil society groups. Directs the Secretary of State to work with Brazil to coordinate efforts to promote the production and use of biofuels among all interested countries, giving preference to the countries in the Western Hemisphere that are among the poorest and most dependent on foreign sources of fuel (particularly oil). Directs: (1) the Secretary of Agriculture to work with Brazil in joint agricultural biofuel extension activities; and (2) the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program to finance advanced biofuels research and collaboration between academic and research institutions in the United States and Brazil. Requires each partner country (as defined by this Act) to participate in a study to determine the feasibility of increasing biofuel production and use. Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) renew tax treaty negotiations with Brazil; (2) work with Western Hemisphere governments and other countries to organize regional and hemispheric carbon trading mechanisms; and (3) seek to establish a Western Hemisphere energy crisis response mechanism. Directs the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to seek to increase U.S. foreign assistance programming in renewable energy, including activities to reduce energy import dependence through biofuel use. Authorizes the Administrator to award grants to nongovernmental organizations for sustainable energy and job creation projects in at-risk nations, such as Haiti. Directs: (1) the Secretary of Commerce to conduct ethanol and natural gas studies; and (2) the Secretary of Energy to seek to work with Mexico to conduct a technical analysis of the status of Mexican oil and gas production, future technological and investment needs, and recommendations for maintaining and increasing hydrocarbon production.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 28 March 2007

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 28 March 2007

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4054)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 28 March 2007

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 23 September 2008

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1044.

   Source: Calendars

5. 23 September 2008

   Reported

   Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

6. 23 September 2008

   Reported

   Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Dodd with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Reported to Senate · 23 September 2008 · Official file
• Introduced in Senate · 28 March 2007 · Official file

Documents

6 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 23 September 2008

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 23 September 2008

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 23 September 2008

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 28 March 2007

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 28 March 2007

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 28 March 2007

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT-2] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE] · R · Cosponsor
• · ssfr00 · Standing

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.