Washington (PTI): The US administration has presented a "very strong package" to the US Congress on the civil nuclear deal with India and it is fully consistent with the requirements set out, a senior State Department official has said, hoping that a legislative nod for the 123 agreement will come around this month.

"We have presented a very strong package fully consistent with the requirements that Congress set out," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher said at a meeting organised by the US India Business Alliance at the Capitol Hill.

"We understand how tight the Congressional calendar is this fall. But we look forward to continuing with Congress on the initiative and we hope the legislation can be passed before Congress adjourns for the year," he added.

The comments came close on the heels of President George Bush's statement that American commitments to the Indian side under the Agreement were not "legally binding".

The Congress, which opened Sept 8, will be in session till Sept 26. It is therefore being asked by Administration to do away with the mandatory 30-day period before it can take up the Agreement for a simple yes-no vote without a debate.

Boucher also said that the agreement, which enjoyed great support at the Capitol Hill, is likely to generate a fair amount of discussion and a lot of questions in the House.

The event was attended by senior members of the House of Representatives, many of whom said while the clock has begun ticking on the thirty day requirement of the Hyde Act, there is still no set idea of how lawmakers will be going about the process in the existing time frame.