"The Bush Administration is running on fumes and fiction.  There is simply not enough time left on the Congressional calendar this year to vote on US-India nuclear deal once the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) have considered it.  The NSG may not finish the rule changes necessary for this deal until the late fall, at which time the Congress likely will have adjourned for the election," Rep. Markey said.

The Hyde Act of 2006, which governs the pending nuclear trade deal between the United States and India, requires that the deal must sit before the Congress for 30 days of continuous session before a vote. The 30-day clock can only begin after the IAEA has approved India's safeguards agreement and the NSG has approved the necessary rule changes.

"The NSG should not be rushed as it carefully considers how to ensure that the rules governing any nuclear trade with India meet the conditions required by the Hyde Act.  India must understand that sensitive enrichment and reprocessing technologies will not be transferred, that reprocessing of fuel will not be allowed, and that testing nuclear weapons again will lead to an immediate halt to all nuclear trade," Rep. Markey concluded.

During the past three years, Rep. Markey has led efforts to strengthen the nonproliferation conditions in the U.S.-India nuclear deal. More information available here.