US Senate may not take up N-deal vote

Uncertainty looms large on the prospects of the US Senate taking up the bill on Indo-US civilian nuclear deal for vote this month owing to heavy business during its short session.

While the Bush Administration sounded hopeful on the issue, some Congressional sources said the legislation on the deal may not get a chance as the Senate will be pre-occupied with other bills, particularly the one on Appropriation and Homeland Security, which is being taken up on priority basis.

With the Congressional polls slated for November 7, the current session of the Senate is to end by October six, by which date the legislative business has to be completed. If the bill is not acted upon during this session, it may then go to the new Congress in 2007 when the entire process of reintroducing the legislation will have to be followed.

Congressional sources said on Tuesday that the bill was unlikely to be taken up during the current session as there are 'limited legislative days left' and so much work to do.

"However, there is a desire on the part of the Senate to get the legislation (on nuclear deal) through this month," a source told PTI, adding efforts are underway to come with a precise date for taking up the bill.

The White House has been talking to some key Senate leaders on the need to push this legislation through and the response has been positive. The House of Representatives has already passed a bill on the deal with overwhelming majority and the law was expected to be passed by the Congress by the end of the year. The deal, clinched in March, will end a 32-year-old ban on nuclear trade with India.