Senate aide says 'at least three weeks' for China debate

"There will be a lengthy debate in the Senate," Aldonis said. "There will have to be time on the Senate floor to get it done."

He said the debate on the question of China's permanent normal trade relations status would probably come at the end of an already shortened 70-day legislative session that will be dominated by the fiscal year 2001 budget and the fall 2000 general election.

However, he said he thought Congress can approve the China trade legislation this year, noting that most trade bills since 1916 have been passed during election years.