Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4490) to amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to certain additional international and regional organizations, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 4490

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 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. SEC. 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: ``SEC. 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.''. SEC. 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: ``SEC. 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.''. SEC. 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: ``SEC. 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.''. SEC. 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: ``SEC. 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.''. SEC. 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.''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the PARTNER Act, a forward-looking measure that strengthens America's ties with the international organizations shaping the global order at a moment when international competition is sharper than ever.

This legislation gives our Nation the ability to fully engage with influential regional and international bodies such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community, and the African Union by extending to them the same diplomatic privileges afforded under the International Organizations Immunities Act.

In doing so, we signal not only respect for their importance but also our determination to work alongside them as equal partners in tackling shared challenges.

From advancing security and prosperity to fostering innovation and confronting global health threats, these organizations are central to addressing pressing issues that do not stop at our borders.

If the United States is to lead effectively in this century, we cannot remain on the sidelines. We must be present in the rooms where decisions are being made, ready to cooperate and ready to lead. This bill ensures our diplomats and institutions are equipped to do exactly that.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the PARTNER Act and reaffirming America's commitment to principled and enduring international leadership.

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Mr. BAUMGARTNER.

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Mr. BAUMGARTNER. I have no more speakers, Mr. Speaker, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time until the gentleman yields back his time.

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Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Representative Castro and Representative Kim, for introducing this important bill. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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