WASHINGTON, March 16: The Bush administration sent on Thursday a bill to the US Congress proposing legislation on the US-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement. The bill was introduced in both the House of Representatives and Senate, seeking legislative approval for the deal President Bush signed in New Delhi early this month for extending nuclear cooperation to India.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar introduced the bill, declaring: “I rise today to introduce, at the request of the administration, its proposed legislation to implement the recently concluded US-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement.”

By providing this draft legislation to the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Bush administration has taken the first step in initiating the congressional review of the India-US nuclear deal.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has held one hearing on the issue thus far.

Under-Secretaries of State Nick Burns and Bob Joseph, as well as outside experts, testified on the matter.

Last week, President Bush had invited Senator Lugar and other senior members of the House and Senate to the White House to discuss the deal.

Later, other senior members of the Bush administration also briefed Senator Lugar and other legislators, urging them to endorse the agreement which cannot be implemented without congressional approval.

“The Committee on Foreign Relations will review the proposed nuclear cooperation agreement, the Indian separation plan, and this legislation closely,” said Mr Lugar.

The Committee will commence the review with a classified briefing from Under-Secretaries Nick Burns and Bob Joseph in the last week of March.

During the first week of April, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will testify in an open hearing.

When the lawmakers return from the Easter Congressional recess, the committee will receive testimony from panels of outside experts who both support and oppose the agreement.