U.S. financial crisis diverts attention from N-deal By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington, Sept 23 (PTI) With just two days to go for
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's White House visit, there still
seems to be no clear indication on the status of the Indo-U.S.
civil nuclear deal with both the U.S. administration and the
Congress bogged down over the financial crisis in the country.

The focus has shifted to bail out the country from the
economic turmoil and the administration is trying hard to iron
out the parameters and specifics of the nearly USD 1 Trillion
package that is being put through to stabilise frightened
markets.

One of the legislative strategies being discussed
recently is that of attaching the Financial Package to the
'Continuing Resolution' that is needed to fund the government
past the end of the month.

Some are hoping that the civilian nuclear deal will also
be attached to this resolution so that the Congress can pass
one Omnibus measure prior to its adjournment for the season.

However, the Bush administration is pressing hard to form
an "acceptable framework and language" to get the deal
approved with parleys going on till late last evening at the
aides level between the Senate and the House of
Representatives on the Text of a Resolution of Approval of the
nuclear agreement.

Administration officials were at one time quite hopeful
that the India agreement would be ready to get through the
Congress prior to the adjournment of September 26, perhaps
even readying themselves for a signing ceremony at the time of
the Bush-Singh meeting scheduled for September 25.

Congress will have to pass a Continuing Resolution to
fund Federal Government beyond September 30, as most, if not
all, of the spending bills have not been passed.

At this time, it is maintained in many Congressional
quarters, the civilian nuclear agreement can only be attached
to a larger 'Continuing Resolution Package' as there will be
no time for it to be addressed as a 'Free Standing
Legislation'.

"I don't see the likelihood of any free standing proposal
would have any opportunity for consideration" the Acting Chair
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Christopher Dodd
told media persons Monday.

"The Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear deal will pass" remarked
a Senior Congressional aide working for the Republican
minority.

Indications suggests that if Congress cannot come to
terms with the Financial Stabilisation package then they are
probably going to have to sit for another week; and if the
work is still not finished then the President can ask for a
Lame Duck session of Congress that will probably start in the
first week of December.

One of the first substantive moves on the civilian
nuclear deal could come in the Business Session of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee this afternoon when law makers on
the Panel could decide to Mark Up the India Agreement to the
senate floor for action.

The Senate Committee has listed a number of things on
their agenda including the approval of several nominations;
but the Indian nuclear agreement is not one among the items.
Foreign Relations Committee headed by California Democrat
Howard Berman is yet to schedule a hearing.

"Chairman Berman is considering the matter with the
congressional leadership, with his colleagues and with the
Administration," the Spokeswoman of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, Lynne Weil told PTI.

"He is discussing legislation that will waive the 30-day
requirement – but it must be legislation that strikes the
right balance to attract sufficient congressional support, and
he is working out the details," Weil said.

Senior Congressional aides on the House insist that there
will have to be additional legislation to waive the thirty day
continuous session requirement on the civilian nuclear deal.

"The Hyde Act and the Atomic Energy Act stipulate the
thirty day requirement.It is the law, not a rule. Additional
legislation is needed to waive that legal requirement" a top
aide said.