In fresh lobbying for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal within the US Congress, a group of influential lawmakers cutting across party lines made a strong pitch for a quick Congressional approval before the session ends on September 26.
Simultaneously, a Republican Congressman Joe Wilson asked House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman, a vocal critic of the deal, to schedule a quick hearing on the pact as the Bush Administration pressed hard for a waiver of the 30-day waiting rule for the deal in the Congress.
In what is seen as a positive sign for the deal to go through, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has already scheduled its hearing on the nuclear deal tomorrow.
The "target" adjournment of the 110th Congress is September 26 and since there is no guarantee of a Lame Duck session the Bush administration is keen that the legislation clears the Congress this month itself, preferably before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrives in Washington on September 25 to meet President George W Bush.
The 'Dear colleague' letter circulated to all the 435 members of the US Congresshas stressed that the expedient approval of the agreement will be beneficial to both the countries and it should be passed by the Congress before breaking for recess on September 26.
Signatories to the letter among the Democrats were Gary Ackerman and Joseph Crowley from New York and Frank Pallone from New Jersey while the Republicans were represented by Congressmen Joe Wilson from South Carolina and California's Edward Royce.
Seeking the support of Berman, Wilson has written to him asking for a mark up of the legislation the next time the House panel is in session to ensure lawmakers can vote on the agreement before the Congress is adjourned this month.