Legislation may be as early as July-end: Mulford

‘‘This (nuclear Bill) is a rare and unique experience…where a single country has been singled out for a major transformation in US law in a way never done before to bring a change in US post World War-II nuclear policy,’’ said Mulford.

While there are differences in the Senate and House versions of the Bill, Mulford said both were largely similar. In fact, he made the point that because of the similarity in both versions, the conference for reconciliation may not take much time.

He admitted there were technical differences on issues like end-use certification and fuel reprocessing.

‘‘There is every possibility in the course of a move to make a single Bill there is some giving and taking and it may well be that some provisions will be modified or dropped or maybe the language will be changed because people sense that it would be better to say something one way rather than the other way.’’

In end, he said, the law which is passed will be the ‘‘best amalgamation’’ of both versions. The Bush Administration will be in close touch with the US Congress through this entire process of reconciliation and indicate its views on changes that may bring all elements of the Bill closer to what has been agreed between both countries.

If the Bill is passed by July-end, the indication is that the President may notify the change in law by August. The target is to complete the bilateral agreement negotiations while this process is underway so that it can be brought before the Congress in its autumn session.

Mulford indicated that negotiations are ‘‘60 per cent complete’’. The Congressional approval for the agreement may not take this long as it is a straight up and down vote. This essentially means the Congress cannot introduce amendments like it can with the Bill.