Bill · H.R. 4490· House(119-HR-4490)
PARTNER Act
- Introduced
- 7/17/2025
- Last activity
- 9/3/2025 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Sponsored by
- Joaquin Castro
- Cosponsors
- - 5 - 3
- Introduced
- Passed House
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
The PARTNER Act aims to amend the International Organizations Immunities Act. It seeks to extend various privileges and immunities to several international and regional organizations. These organizations include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Caribbean Community. Additionally, the bill modifies existing law regarding the African Union. The President is authorized to extend these protections under specific terms and conditions.
Yes· 3 of 5
Does this strengthen ties with allied countries?+5
The bill enhances the status of regional organizations like ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Caribbean Community through the extension of legal immunities.
Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad?+4
The bill facilitates better diplomatic engagement by granting the African Union mission and its members increased legal protections in the United States.
Does this give the federal government more power?+3
The bill expands the President's authority to determine the terms and conditions under which international organizations receive privileges and immunities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Extension of protections to regional groups: The bill allows the President to extend privileges and immunities to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Sec. 2), the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Sec. 3), the Pacific Islands Forum (Sec. 4), and the Caribbean Community (Sec. 5). This provides these organizations with legal protections similar to those of public international organizations the United States already participates in.
-
Enhanced status for African Union members: The bill extends privileges and immunities to the permanent observer mission of the African Union to the United Nations in New York, as well as its members (Sec. 6). This provides them with the same privileges and immunities enjoyed by permanent missions to the United Nations of member states.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Presidential discretion over terms: The bill grants the President the authority to determine the specific terms and conditions under which privileges and immunities are extended to several organizations (Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, and Sec. 5).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves International Alliances+5Improves Diplomatic Engagement+4Increases Foreign Aid+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For African Americans+2
- 9/3/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 9/2/2025
- The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3734)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3734)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4490.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3734-3736)
- Mr. Baumgartner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 7/22/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
- 7/17/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ed CaseDemocrat · Hawaii
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormickDemocrat · Florida
Bill FosterDemocrat · Illinois
Dusty JohnsonRepublican · South Dakota
Young KimRepublican · California
Gregory MeeksDemocrat · New York
Johnny OlszewskiDemocrat · Maryland
Aumua Amata RadewagenRepublican · American Samoa