Senate panel clears India-US nuclear agreement

24 September 2008

Mumbai: A US Senate panel today voted 19-2 to approve the draft civil nuclear cooperation agreement with India, raising hopes of an early passage of the agreement by the full Senate.

Democrat senators Barbara Boxer (proxy) and Russel Feingold voted against the deal.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and the vice presidential candidate and current head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph Biden voted (by proxies) for the agreement.

''Today's committee passage is significant, but several steps remain before this bill becomes law,'' said Biden, adding, ''I hope the Congress can complete the job in the few days remaining before adjournment, and I'll continue fighting as hard as I can to achieve this important victory.''

The draft bill, approved by the Senate panel, did not include a controversial clause that would give Congress greater say over future deals.

House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Howard Berman had last week proposed changing US law to make Congressional approval mandatory for any future agreements.