The lateness of the hour did not deter key lawmakers from expressing their satisfaction at the passage of the Indo-US nuclear bill by an overwhelming majority.

U.S. Senator Joseph R Biden, Jr. (Democrat, Delaware), co-author of enabling legislation  S. 3709, the U.S.-India Nuclear Bill, said he was extremely pleased at the bill's passage in the Senate.

"The passage of this legislation takes us a giant step closer to shifting forever US-Indian relations," Biden said in a statement. "This shift will increase the prospect for stability and progress in South Asia and in the world at large.

"It has become clich� to speak of the US-India relationship as a bond between the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy - but this clich� is also a fact.  Shared political values are the foundation for our relationship, a firm belief in the dignity of man and the consent of the governed.

"I, along with Senator Lugar, yield to no one in our commitment to nuclear nonproliferation. This bill allows civil nuclear cooperation with India to proceed and end India's nuclear isolation - but does so without seriously jeopardizing the hard won nonproliferation gains of nearly four decades," Biden, who helped pilot the bill through the Senate, said.

"The US-India agreement is also much more than just a nuclear deal.  I believe historians will see this as a historic step, part of the dramatic and positive departure in the US-India relationship that was begun by President Clinton and continued by President Bush.

"A close relationship with India will help our two countries toward our mutual goal of combating terrorism, while also facilitating continued cultural exchange.  In a time where relationships between states are critically important in shaping the world in which we live, no relationship is more important than the one we're building with India.

"In my view, this is a tremendous victory for US-India relations. And it is a victory we have achieved while doing our best to maintain the global effort to end nuclear proliferation."

Biden's co-author and outgoing chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Richard Lugar (Republican, Indiana), said "The Senate has taken a historic step," while lauding the adoption of the Additional Protocol.

He described the Senate passage of the bill "as critically important," and said it "takes one more important step for the vibrant and exciting relationship between our two great democracies."

Lugar thanked "all the Senators for their cooperation in completing Senate consideration at such short period of time. I want to thank especially Senator Biden for his strong support and his cooperation.

"This has been a bipartisan effort from beginning until final passage, and we are committed to continuing this effort through the conference process."

Senator Sam Brownback (Republican, Kansas), said the passage of the bill was "a big deal  for India," and was hopeful the conference committee would quickly resolve differences between the House and Senate bills, so "we can get it to the President in short order and show India and show the rest of the world this budding, growing, strengthening relationship."

Brownback was laudatory of Lugar for showing "such insightful, supportive, key leadership on an important topic."

Co-chair of the Friends of India in the Senate caucus Senator John Cornyn (Republican, Texas), said "India is a key ally of the United States in the global war on terror. 

"Passage of this critical legislation will not only advance our strategic relationship with India, but will strengthen our national security by bringing India into the mainstream of nuclear non-proliferation efforts. 

"As Secretary Rice has noted, our relationship with India will be one of the `most important partnerships the United States will have in the 21st century,' and with the Senate's passage of this agreement, we are continuing to move forward in a positive and responsible manner.  This legislation is a win-win for the United States and India."