No schedule yet for India nuclear deal: Congress sources

Washington, June 8 (UNI) The Indo-US civilian nuclear deal is not likely to get Congressional approval anytime soon, according to Congressional sources here.

Countering the claim made by the Indo-US Political Action Committee (USINPAC) that a markup is slated for June 21, the Hill, a powerful newspaper for and about the US Capitol, today said neither the Senate Foreign Relations Committee nor the House International Relations Committee has scheduled any concrete dates to mark up the legislation.

USINPAC, claiming to be the largest Indian-American PAC, had given a press statement yesterday claiming that Rep Henry Hyde, International Relations Chairman, said in a private meeting that he plans to markup the legislation before or on June 21. A congressional aide said June 21 would be the target but dates are fluid. The PAC has called the approval of the deal its highest priority.

The USINPAC release touted Hyde's support for the deal as being ''critical to the successful passage of the deal.'' The Speaker of the House, Rep Dennis Hastert has expressed his full support for the agreement and has committed to bringing it to a resolution, claimed USINPAC's chairman, Sanjay Puri, who met with Hastert recently.

But according to the Hill newspaper a Hyde spokeswoman said Hyde ''has serious concerns regarding the proposed civil nuclear agreement.'' ''The chairman (Hyde) reiterated his support for the president's initiative in reaching an agreement with India, however he did tell [the] Indo-US PAC that he will be working with the administration and Democrat (Tom) Lantos to craft a bipartisan piece of legislation that supports the president's effort to strengthen ties with India,'' said Kristi Garlock, Hyde's committee spokeswoman.

Hyde is in the process of crafting his own bill, she added.

The newspaper quoting Kevin Madden, spokesman for House Majority Leader John Boehner said, ''It is an important priority that has support, and we hope and expect to move legislation to the floor before the August recess.'' But Madden added, ''No decisions have been made about when it will be considered on the floor calendar yet.'' Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he was relying on Sen Richard Lugar, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee ''to take care of it in the committee.'' Lugar backed the accord but indicated that he may seek to add some conditions.

''I think it is certainly the intent of the president and the Senate for the legislation to pass sometime this year,'' said Andy Fisher, spokesman for the committee.

But the Senate has a crowded schedule, debating a flag-burning amendment and a tax package with wide, bipartisan opposition. The Senate also has to consider the 2007 defense authorisation bill, and both the House and the Senate still have to deal with the 2006 emergency supplemental.

few more Democrats than Republicans oppose the deal, a lobbyist working on it said. Even so, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has indicated her support. While the issue is not expected to become a partisan fight, Democrats are not willing to give Bush ''carte blanche,'' a congressional aide said.

The administration initially proposed that Congress pre-approve the deal before the United States negotiated it with India, the aide said. Pre-approval would waive parts of the Atomic Energy Act once the president certified that India would make the necessary changes, the aide explained.

''The problem is that the administration's initial proposal was to enunciate some general principles and for Congress (to) pre-approve (those),'' the aide said. After the initial pre-approval, Congress would have a chance to overturn the deal, but only with a two-thirds vote.

''It is complicated procedurally,'' the aide said.

''They think some indication of congressional support is going to make a difference in terms of what they are going to do with the Indians,'' the aide added.

''The Indians have some tough decisions to make, and the idea is that if Congress is going to do something they will make the changes.'' Fearing that the agreement may not have enough congressional support to radically alter 30 years of US policy to punish India for developing nuclear weapons in the '70s, Lantos, the ranking member of the House panel, proposed a compromise intended to keep the agreement alive. Congress would commit to approving it under expedited procedures but would only formally change US law after lawmakers review the completed agreement and the IAEA safeguards accord.

Lantos is circulating his proposal in the House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over the matter. Even though President Bush announced the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal during a trip to India in March, the idea has yet to take off on Capitol Hill mainly because changes to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 seeking an India-specific waiver ''is no small task.'' ''The Atomic Energy Act is something you do not change lightly,'' one legislative aide said, adding, ''nonproliferation policy is important.'' The Bush administration is pushing for congressional approval by the end of July, before the summer recess. But Senate and House consensus may not come until the end of the year, says the Hill newspaper.

The nuclear agreement would allow India to import US nuclear technology in exchange for opening its civilian nuclear facilities to international inspections. India's nuclear-weapons program would remain secret.

The Bush administration wants Congress to pass amendments to the 1954 Atomic Energy Act that would give India specific waivers. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would gain access to India's civilian nuclear program.

India would place two-thirds of its reactors and two-thirds of its generating power under permanent safeguards, with international verification.

The Bush administration is pushing for congressional approval by the end of July, before the summer recess. But Senate and House consensus may not come until the end of the year, several sources indicated.

UNI