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Senate to take up nuclear deal next week

Washington: With the United States House of Representatives set to consider the India-U.S. nuclear deal, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid indicated on Friday that legislation on the subject in his chamber would be taken up and passed only next week.

“It appears quite evident that we are going to be in session next week. There are a lot of things that haven’t been done and I will mention just a couple of them,” Mr. Reid said.

In his opening remarks at the Senate on Friday morning, he said, “we have a DOD [Department of Defence] authorisation which is very important, rail safety, Amtrak, the finalisation of the financial crisis legislation.”

“We have the Indian Nuclear Agreement. I had a number of conversations with Secretary [of State Condoleezza Rice] and President [George W] Bush on this issue,” the top Democrat in the Senate said.

“We have a number of other bills ... that we have to find cloture, before we leave here,” Mr. Reid said.

The nuclear agreement, upon clearing the House after debate and carried with a two thirds majority, will go to the Senate. The House of Representatives is scheduled to take up the U.S.-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement (the Berman Bill, H.R.7081) later on Friday. — PTI