Expedite N-deal: Bush to Senate

US Prez hails House of Representatives' approval of Indo-US deal as historic.

Hailing the House of Representatives' approval of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal as a "historic action" towards building a new strategic partnership between India and the US, President George W Bush on Wednesday urged the Senate to act expeditiously to pass a similar legislation to implement this important initiative.

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"President Bush commends the House of Representatives for last night's passage of landmark legislation to enable US civil nuclear cooperation with India," White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said in a Statement.

By an overwhelming vote of 359 to 68, the 435-member House passed the bill enabling the US to provide India greater access of sensitive nuclear technology, after defeating potential deal breaker amendments.

"This historic action by the House of Representatives is another important step toward building a new strategic partnership between the United States and India, the world's oldest and largest democracies," Snow said.

"The President urges the Senate to act expeditiously to pass companion legislation to enable this important initiative to become a reality," the Press Secretary added.