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H.R. 4490

U.S. House•In Senate Committee

Summary

H.R. 4490, the PARTNER Act, was introduced in the House on Jul 17, 2025 by Rep. Joaquin Castro (D) with 8 co-sponsors. It was referred to Foreign Relations, and last saw action on Sep 3, 2025: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Record

Text

H.R. 4490 has 8 co-sponsors.

hb4490/engrossed-in-house.txt
119 HR 4490 EH: Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I
 119th CONGRESS  1st Session
 H. R. 4490
 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 AN ACT
To amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend privileges and immunities to certain additional international and regional organizations, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title; table of contents
This Act may be cited as the   Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations Act   or the   PARTNER Act  .
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Extension of privileges and immunities to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Sec. 3. Extension of privileges and immunities to the European Organization For Nuclear Research (CERN).
Sec. 4. Extension of privileges and immunities to the Pacific Islands Forum.
Sec. 5. Extension of privileges and immunities to the Caribbean Community.
Sec. 6. Extension of certain privileges and immunities to the African Union.
2.
Extension of privileges and immunities to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
The International Organizations Immunities Act ( 22 U.S.C. 288 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
18.
Extension of privileges and immunities to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Under such terms and conditions as the President shall determine, the President is authorized to extend the provisions of this title to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the same manner, to the same extent, and subject to the same conditions, as it may be extended to a public international organization in which the United States participates pursuant to any treaty or under the authority of any Act of Congress authorizing such participation or making an appropriation for such participation.
 .
3.
Extension of privileges and immunities to the European Organization For Nuclear Research (CERN)
The International Organizations Immunities Act ( 22 U.S.C. 288 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
19.
Extension of privileges and immunities to the European Organization For Nuclear Research (CERN)
Under such terms and conditions as the President shall determine, the President is authorized to extend the provisions of this title to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in the same manner, to the same extent, and subject to the same conditions, as it may be extended to a public international organization in which the United States participates pursuant to any treaty or under the authority of any Act of Congress authorizing such participation or making an appropriation for such participation.
 .
4.
Extension of privileges and immunities to the Pacific Islands Forum
The International Organizations Immunities Act ( 22 U.S.C. 288 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
20.
Extension of privileges and immunities to the Pacific Islands Forum
Under such terms and conditions as the President shall determine, the President is authorized to extend the provisions of this title to the Pacific Islands Forum in the same manner, to the same extent, and subject to the same conditions, as it may be extended to a public international organization in which the United States participates pursuant to any treaty or under the authority of any Act of Congress authorizing such participation or making an appropriation for such participation.
 .
5.
Extension of privileges and immunities to the Caribbean Community
The International Organizations Immunities Act ( 22 U.S.C. 288 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
21.
Extension of privileges and immunities to the Caribbean Community
Under such terms and conditions as the President shall determine, the President is authorized to extend the provisions of this title to the Caribbean Community in the same manner, to the same extent, and subject to the same conditions, as it may be extended to a public international organization in which the United States participates pursuant to any treaty or under the authority of any Act of Congress authorizing such participation or making an appropriation for such participation.
 .
6.
Extension of certain privileges and immunities to the African Union
Section 12(b) of the International Organizations Immunities Act ( 22 U.S.C. 288f–2(b) ) is amended:
(1)
by striking  to extend, or enter into an agreement to extend, to the African Union Mission  and inserting  to extend, or enter into an agreement to extend— ;
(1)
to the African Union Mission
 ;
(2)
by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(2)
to the permanent observer mission of the African Union to the United Nations in New York, and to its members, the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the permanent missions to the United Nations of member states, and their members, subject to corresponding conditions and obligations.
 .
      Passed the House of Representatives September 2, 2025.  Kevin F. McCumber,  Clerk.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-07-17
  2. Passed House2025-09-02
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House Jul 17, 2025

hb4490/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (07/17/2025)

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 permanent missions to the United Nations of member states.

Sponsors

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D) sponsors H.R. 4490, and 8 members have co-sponsored it, all of them from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 4490 went before 2 committees: Foreign Relations and Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Relations
Foreign Relations
Referred To · Sep 3, 2025 · 385 Bills
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Markup By · Jul 22, 2025 · 658 Bills

Actions

H.R. 4490 has taken 12 actions since Jul 17, 2025, the latest on Sep 3, 2025.

ChamberAction
Sep 3, 2025
Senate
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.Foreign Relations Committee
Sep 2, 202516:52
House
Mr. Baumgartner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Sep 2, 202516:52
House
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3734-3736)
Sep 2, 202516:52
House
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4490.
Sep 2, 202517:04
House
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3734)

Votes

H.R. 4490 has not gone to a roll call.

2 bills are related to H.R. 4490.

Titles

H.R. 4490 goes by 10 titles, 6 of them short titles.

  • PARTNER Act — Display Title
  • To amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend privileges and immunities to certain additional international and regional organizations, and for other purposes. — Official Titles from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text
  • PARTNER Act — Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
  • Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations Act — Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text
  • PARTNER Act — Short Title(s) as Passed House
  • Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations Act — Short Title(s) as Passed House
  • To amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend privileges and immunities to certain additional international and regional organizations, and for other purposes — Official Titles as Amended by House
  • PARTNER Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • To amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to certain additional international and regional organizations, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced

Cost estimate

The Congressional Budget Office has filed 1 estimate for H.R. 4490, the latest on Aug 28, 2025.

Lobbying

1 client hired 1 firm and 3 registered lobbyists who named H.R. 4490 in 1 quarterly filing, 2026. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.

Filed under Budget/Appropriations, Science/Technology.

Clients

Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.

ClientBusinessStateFirmsFilingsReported
FERMIFORWARD DISCOVERY GROUP, LLC——11$40K

Firms

Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.

RegistrantClientsFilingsReported
LEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES, LLC11$40K

Lobbyists

Named on the filings that cite the bill.

LobbyistFirmsClientsFilings
ANTONY DIGIOVANNI111
LELAND COGLIANI111
MICHAEL LEDFORD111

Filings

The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.

ClientRegistrantPeriodReportedDocument
FERMIFORWARD DISCOVERY GROUP, LLCLEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES, LLC2026 second_quarter$40K2nd Quarter - Report

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 4490 under International Affairs, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 7 legislative subjects.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 4490’s is International Affairs.

hr4490/policy-areas.txt
International AffairsAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArmed Forces and National SecurityArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Legislative Subjects

H.R. 4490 carries 7 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Africa to International organizations and cooperation.

hr4490/subjects.txt
AfricaASEAN countriesCaribbean areaDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadGovernment liabilityInternational law and treatiesInternational organizations and cooperation

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 4490, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 123 (Thursday, July 17, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. CASTRO of Texas:H.R. 4490.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Constitutional Authority--Necessary and Proper Clause (Art.I, Sec. 8, Clause 18)THE U.S. CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I, SECTION 8: POWERS OFCONGRESS CLAUSE 18The Congress shall have power . . . To make all laws whichshall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution theforegoing powers, and all other powers vested by thisConstitution in the government of the United States, or inany department or officer thereof.[Page H3476]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com