Bush sends nuclear deal to US Congress

ENW DELHI: The White House formally sent the US-India nuclear energy cooperation agreement to Congress late on Wednesday, ramping up pressure on lawmakers to approve the deal before president Bush’s term ends in January.

“The agreement will reinforce the growing bilateral relationship between two vibrant democracies,” Bush said in his transmittal message to the Congress.

He emphasised the strategic and economic benefits that would flow from the deal including “enhanced energy security, an ability to rely extensively on an environmentally-friendly energy source, greater economic opportunities and more robust non-proliferation efforts.”

The State Department remarkably speeded up the internal US “clearance process” to send the deal from the executive to the legislative branch. India also did its bit by completing the final paper work needed to be included in the deal submitted to the Congress. The Bush administration couldn’t have sent the agreement to the Congress without India having made substantial progress towards signing an additional safeguards protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Crucially, the Bush administration now needs the help of Democrats who control the House and the Senate to overcome a law that says Congress may not ratify the accord for 30 working days after receiving it.

It’s a sobering thought as there are only three weeks left before the Congress recesses on September 26. The Congress will have to waive formalities to circle on an early date for an up-or-down vote on the India
agreement.