"I want to applaud the House of Representatives for passing an important piece of legislation when it comes to America's relationship with India," Bush said in a speech to a manufacturing association.

The House voted 359-68 late Wednesday in favor of the legislation, which supporters say will be the cornerstone of a strategic alliance and critics charge will only fuel tensions between India and nuclear rival Pakistan.

"The president urges the Senate to act expeditiously to pass companion legislation to enable this important initiative to become a reality," Bush spokesman Tony Snow said in a statement.

"The US-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," said Snow.

"This initiative also advances US nonproliferation objectives by bringing India into the international nonproliferation mainstream," the spokesman said.

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