"None of the funds made available by this Act may be used before March 1, 2006, to enter into an agreement obligating the United States to contribute funds to ITER, the international burning plasma fusion research project in which the President announced United States participation on January 30, 2003." - House Amendment 200 to H.R. 2419.

The amendment was offered by House Science Committee Chair Sherwood Boehlert with the concurrence of House Appropriations Chair David Hobson. House Science Committee staff told Fusion Power Associates that Boehlert is concerned about the lack of agreement between the policy advocated by the Department of Energy, which would fund ITER in part by cutting the domestic fusion program, and that policy advocated by the fusion community, which would require that ITER construction funds not come at the expense of the domestic program. Staff told FPA that Boehlert believes it is "unrealistic" for the fusion community to expect the domestic program "to be held harmless" if ITER goes forward. The March 2006 date was chosen to ensure that Congress has the FY 2007 Presidential request in hand before allowing the Executive Branch to make a financial commitment to ITER.

Before becoming Law, the House Bill must be merged with a corresponding appropriations bill yet to emerge from the Senate. Differences would then be resolved in a House-Senate conference before being sent to the President for signature. Completion of the FY 2006 appropriations process is not expected for several months.