The White House on Thursday urged the U.S. Congress to pass the U.S.-India Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation, which he approved. In a statement released by White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, Bush's approval of the Agreement marks the completion of the U.S-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative. The Initiative “has been a priority for both President [George W.] Bush and Prime Minister [Manmohan] Singh, and strengthens the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership,” Perino said. The Bush administration is racing to get approval of the agreement before Congress adjourns on September 26, and already after Singh has committed his government to the plan. Singh is set to meet with Bush at the White House on September 25 to discuss U.S.-India issues, Perino said. Passing the agreement through Congress may be tough because of a 2006 law saying that Congress must be in session for 30 days before considering the final negotiated agreement, which would not be possible in this session's remaining time. Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman, both California Democrats, have not yet said if they will support removing the 30-day requirement in order to consider the agreement. In the White House statement, Perino touted the agreement by saying: “this historic achievement will bolster international nonproliferation efforts, provide economic and business opportunities in both countries, and help India address its growing energy needs in an environmentally responsible manner. The President looks forward to working with Congress to ensure passage on the agreement this year.”
