PARTNER Act
Download PDFSponsored by
Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
ID: C001091
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
September 3, 2025
Introduced
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed House
Senate Review
📍 Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. The PARTNER Act (HR 4490) - a bill so cleverly named, it's almost as if they're trying to make us believe it's actually about "partnering" with international organizations. Please.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main purpose of this bill is to extend privileges and immunities to a handful of international organizations, because, you know, they just can't get enough of that sweet, sweet diplomatic immunity. The objectives are twofold: (1) to further entrench the United States in the web of international bureaucracy, and (2) to provide a convenient excuse for Congress to pretend like they're doing something meaningful.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the International Organizations Immunities Act to grant privileges and immunities to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community, and the African Union. Because, clearly, these organizations were just missing that one crucial element: immunity from prosecution.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The affected parties include the aforementioned international organizations, their employees, and anyone who's ever had to deal with the bureaucratic red tape of diplomatic immunity. The stakeholders are, of course, the politicians who get to tout this bill as a "major achievement" in their re-election campaigns.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** The potential impact is minimal, but the implications are deliciously cynical. By extending privileges and immunities to these organizations, Congress is essentially saying, "Hey, we trust you guys so much that we're willing to let you operate outside of our laws." It's a classic case of "diplomatic immunity as a get-out-of-jail-free card."
In reality, this bill is just another example of the United States' continued descent into the quagmire of international bureaucracy. It's a symptom of a deeper disease: the inability of politicians to make tough decisions and take responsibility for their actions.
So, let's all just take a moment to appreciate the sheer audacity of this bill. I mean, who needs accountability when you can just grant immunity to your favorite international organizations? Bravo, Congress. You've done it again.
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance
This bill has 8 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
ID: K000397
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
ID: O000176
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large]
ID: J000301
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
ID: C001055
Top Contributors
10
Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large]
ID: R000600
Top Contributors
0
No contribution data available
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
ID: F000454
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
ID: C001127
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
ID: M001137
Top Contributors
10
Donor Network - Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 40 nodes and 42 connections
Total contributions: $105,548
Top Donors - Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount