US President's Statement on House Passage of India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Legislation

Washington, DC
July 27, 2006 

President Bush commends the House of Representatives for last night's passage of landmark legislation to enable U.S. civil nuclear cooperation with India. 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.

The U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation initiative will help India generate more nuclear power to meet its enormous energy needs in a manner that does not increase greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, or increase demand on global oil and gas supplies. This initiative also advances U.S. nonproliferation objectives by bringing India into the international nonproliferation mainstream.

The President urges the Senate to act expeditiously to pass companion legislation to enable this important initiative to become a reality.