Congress has overwhelmingly approved a deal to lift a 30-year-old ban on sending nuclear technology to India. Critics say the plan could spark a regional arms race. The Senate passed the bill by a voice vote. In the House, 59 lawmakers opposed it. Massachusetts Democrat Ed Markey said, “This bill is an historic mistake, a mistake which will come back to haunt the United States and the world.”

Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA): “You cannot preach temperance from a bar stool. The hypocrisy is at historical heights when the U.S. believes the rest of the world will listen to us preach.”

Congressmember Ed Markey also warned that the accord would set off a “nuclear weapons domino effect” by encouraging other nations to ignore the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Under the deal, the United States will send nuclear fuel shipments for civilian use. Critics say this will allow India to use its existing nuclear fuel to build up to 50 nuclear weapons.