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Senate likely to take up nuclear deal in November

Washington: The U.S. Senate is unlikely to consider the nuclear cooperation deal with India before lawmakers leave for a long break at the end of this week, putting aside one of President George W. Bush's top foreign policy initiatives until at least November, according to congressional staffers and analysts.

The Indian proposal, which would reverse decades of U.S. anti-proliferation policy, has strong supporters in both political parties and was overwhelmingly endorsed by the U.S. House of Representatives in July. But several high-profile bills probably will distract lawmakers as they scramble to finish work before they break for election campaigning.

"For this week, the Indian deal is number 58 on the top 10 list," said Henry Sokolski, director of the Non proliferation Policy Education Centre and a former Pentagon official. Mr. Sokolski and other analysts said lawmakers could take up the accord when Congress reconvenes after the November 7 elections.

Timing is important, because congressional passage is only one of several hurdles that must be cleared before the U.S. could begin shipping civilian nuclear fuel and technology to India. While a late push could occur to consider the bill this week, time is running out and the legislative agenda is full. Republican lawmakers, who control Congress, appear eager to make progress on issues of national security, which they see as key to a strong showing in elections that will decide whether their hegemony over both chambers in Congress continues. — AP

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