The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the PARTNER Act, a bipartisan bill that extends diplomatic privileges to several international organizations, including the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and others. The legislation, officially named the Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment to Enhance Relations Act, was cosponsored by Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa and passed by voice vote.
The bill was introduced by Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) with support from Young Kim (R-CA), Ed Case (D-HI), Aumua Amata Radewagen (R-AS), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Bill Foster (D-IL), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). It amends the International Organizations Immunities Act to grant privileges and immunities to international organizations considered vital for U.S. foreign policy.
“I’m happy to be a cosponsor of the House-passed bipartisan PARTNER Act, which extends important diplomatic privileges to Pacific Islands Forum nations and other key international U.S. relationships. This is another way for our nation to show commitment and diplomatic engagement with nations especially throughout our strategic Pacific region,” said Congresswoman Amata of American Samoa.
“The PARTNER Act is a concrete step to strengthen U.S. leadership, deepen our alliances, and keep America at the center of global diplomacy and science,” said Congressman Castro (D-TX). “At a time when our competitors are working overtime to expand their influence in Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Africa, we cannot afford to sit back. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill and get it on the President’s desk.”
“The Indo-Pacific is central to America’s national and economic security—when we show up for our allies in the region, we win,” said Congresswoman Kim (R-CA). “The PARTNER Act is a necessary reaffirmation of America’s engagement with allies and partner organizations around the world. I’m proud to work alongside Rep. Castro to strengthen key partnerships and promote a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
“Our country’s Indo-Pacific Strategy states in no uncertain terms that no region is of more consequence to the world and to everyday Americans than the Indo-Pacific,” said U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-HI). “The United States and our allies and partners around the world who are aligned with an international rules-based order share the common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific whose governance, priorities, goals and prosperity are determined by the countries of the Indo-Pacific without manipulation and dominance by malicious actors. This is especially true of the Pacific Islands themselves, in the heart of the Pacific, which today face the challenges of increased natural disasters and human and drug trafficking, economic sustainability, threats to democracy and more. It is crucial that the United States continue to extend our hand of full partnership in assisting the countries of the Pacific to meet these challenges, as we have for generations.”
The PARTNER Act provides privileges similar to those given under existing law for officials from ASEAN, CARICOM—the Caribbean Community—and PIF so they can operate independently within their roles related to diplomacy or research collaborations involving U.S. interests. The legislation also covers officials from CERN—the European Organization for Nuclear Research—and extends privileges specifically addressing gaps concerning representation from entities such as Africa Union’s Observer Mission at United Nations.
“Extending privileges and immunities to these international organizations will help facilitate and deepen the United States’ engagement with them,” said Congressman Meeks (D-NY). “Our partnerships with ASEAN, PIF, CERN, CARICOM and the African Union’s mission to the UN have been vital to a range of U.S. national security interests and will be greatly strengthened through this common-sense legislation. I thank Ranking Member Castro for his tireless efforts advancing this bill, as well as all Members who’ve worked in a bipartisan way to move it forward.”
“The U.S. needs to collaborate globally to solve shared challenges, and the PARTNER Act will do just that—strengthening diplomacy and the institutions that build trust and cooperation among our allies and partners around the world,” said Congressman Olszewski (D-MD). “I am also proud that this legislation includes my bipartisan African Union Diplomatic Parity Act, which deepens our partnership with the African Union and promotes American leadership across the continent.”
“The exchange of knowledge and ideas across borders not only promotes peace but also serves as a powerful instrument to address urgent global challenges,” said Congressman Foster (D-IL). “As a physicist, I spent more than two decades working with colleagues from around the globe at Fermilab in Illinois where scientific collaboration transcended national boundaries…I’m proud that my colleagues came together to pass PARTNER Act which will help solidify long-term partnership with CERN…”
“The countless contributions of Caribbean-American community can be felt across South Florida,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “With House passage PARTNER Act we are strengthening diplomatic engagement CARICOM laying foundation deeper economic security cultural ties yield long-term strategic benefits.”
