November 16, 2006: Nuclear Trade with India Passes

Nuclear Trade with India passes; Senate adjourns until December 4th; ten spending bills still must be addressed before the end of the year.

The Senate has passed a measure "[T]o exempt from certain requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 a proposed nuclear agreement for cooperation with India."  Opposition came in the form of five amendments, all rejected, which attempted, among other things, to prohibit the arrangment from fostering India's nuclear weapon program. An amendment conditioning nuclear trade with India on cessation of its military cooperation (e.g. training exercises) with Iran also failed.  That amendment, offered by Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA), got 38 votes, including some from several Republicans including Kyl and Santorum.  Feingold's amendment asked basically that the President make determinations that the nuclear trade not foster India's nuclear weapons program.  That got 25 votes, all from Dems.

Twelve senators voted against the final bill, largely because amendments they offered or supported were rejected. They are:

Akaka (D-HI)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Feingold (D-WI)
Harkin (D-IA)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Leahy (D-VT)

There you have it.  Nuclear trade with India is ratified by the Senate.