H.R. 4490 · Passed House · International Affairs

PARTNER Act

What it does

Authorizes the President to extend International Organizations Immunities Act privileges, including immunity from certain lawsuits and property tax exemptions, to specified regional and research organizations.
Names the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Caribbean Community.
Includes the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN.
Authorizes extending to the African Union's permanent observer mission at the United Nations the privileges given to member state missions.

Official summary

Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations Act or the PARTNER Act This bill authorizes the President to extend diplomatic immunities and privileges provided by the International Organizations Immunities Act, including immunity from certain lawsuits and exemption from property taxes, to specified international regional and research organizations. Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to extend these immunities and privileges to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional organization with 10 members including Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam; the Pacific Islands Forum, a regional organization with 18 members including Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea; the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional organization with 15 members and 6 associate members including Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia; and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), an international research organization focused on particle physics. The bill also authorizes the President to extend to the permanent observer mission of the African Union to the United Nations the privileges and immunities provided to…

Latest action

Sep 3, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations