The first of the killer amendments to the enabling legislation to facilitate the US-India civilian nuclear agreement introduced by Senator Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico Democrat, was soundly defeated by a vote of 73-26.

Bingaman's amendment called for the denial of nuclear fuel to India by the US as the nuclear deal provides for unless India commits to halt the development of fissile material.

Senators Richard Lugar and Joe Biden, co-authors of S 3709 the enabling legislation, led the charge against Boingaman's amendment and evidently convinced the majority of their fellow colleagues to soundly reject it.