US President George W Bush will sign the legislation on the Indo-US nuclear deal, approved by the Congress, into a law on Wednesday, the White House said on Saturday. Bush will sign the Bill H R 7081, named after Howard Berman, a Democrat who was strongly opposed to the deal on non-proliferation grounds but was brought around to accepting it recently, on October 8 (Wednesday) at the White House.

“The President cordially invites you to the Signing of H R 7081, United States India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act,” reads an invitation sent out by the White House.

Ever since the Senate passed the legislation on October 1, senior officials have privately maintained that Bush will be keen on having a signing ceremony in which he will have the opportunity to thank not only members of his administration, especially at the State Department and the White House who worked to secure the deal, but also members of Congress and the leaders of the Indian American community.