September 17, 2024

Castro, Foster Introduce the Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11), the co-chair of the Research and Development Caucus and the only Ph.D. physicist in Congress, introduced the Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act, legislation that would strengthen U.S. science and research partnerships by extending appropriate privileges and immunities to the CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

“For decades, collaboration between CERN and U.S.-based scientists has contributed to remarkable advances in human knowledge. The Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act will reduce the barriers to international cooperation and help the United States welcome more of the world’s top scientists. I’m proud to introduce this bill with Congressman Foster, and I look forward to the discoveries, innovations, and scientific progress that will result from expanding our nation’s collaboration with CERN,” said Congressman Castro.

“The exchange of knowledge and ideas across borders not only promotes peace, but also serves as a powerful instrument to address urgent global challenges. As a physicist, I spent more than two decades working with colleagues from around the globe at Fermilab in Illinois where international scientific collaboration transcended national boundaries and allowed us to better understand each other and the world around us," said Congressman Foster. "I’m proud to join Congressman Castro in introducing this legislation, which is an important step in solidifying our partnership with CERN and maintaining our nation's role as a leader in scientific research.”

Background

The International Organization Immunities Act, enacted in 1945, governs how the United States extends the rights and treaties to international organizations like CERN. The U.S. typically extends automatic privileges and immunities to international organizations to which it belongs (e.g. the UN, NATO), but a special act of Congress is needed to extend recognition to international organizations where the United States is not a member. The Strengthening Science Through Diplomacy Act would amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend necessary privileges and immunities to CERN. If passed, the legislation would protect the independence of CERN researchers, ease travel to the United States for CERN officials, and support research and development cooperation between CERN and U.S.-based scientists.

CERN currently partners with six U.S. National Laboratories, including Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab in Illinois, Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory in California, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. The partnership, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and CERN, enables researchers employed by American universities and national laboratories to work on the international high energy physics experiments hosted at CERN. These experiments contribute to innovations in computing, medicine, radiation sensing, cryogenic cooling, superconducting materials, and other fields that are critical to U.S. security, technological capability, and economic development.

Congressman Castro previously introduced the PARTNER with ASEAN Act, similar legislation to extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The PARTNER with ASEAN Act passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support in March 2023 and is currently awaiting consideration in the Senate.

The full text of the bill can be found here.