US Senate to take up N-Bill after Nov 13

Now that it is certain the Indo-US civilian nuclear co-operation agreement would be taken up by the Senate “only after” the recess for the November 7 Congressional elections, senior Democrat and Republican leaders are hoping to reach an agreement before they leave for polls this weekend.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Minority Leader Henry Reid clashed today for the second time this week blaming each other’s party for the non-passage of the nuclear Bill this session. The pro-bill lobby now hopes the Bill will be taken up for vote as soon as the Senate reconvenes on November 13.

Reid in his speech at the Senate floor on Friday morning charged the Republicans with bringing in the Bill so late that there was no time for discussion. Reiterating his full support to the Bill, and terming it as one of the milestones for relationship between the two countries, Reid said: “I hope we take a limited number of amendments and have it set up so that when we get back this could be the first order of business we move to.”