Rockland Reporter

The Partners in Diplomacy Act, a bipartisan effort introduced by Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) and co-led by Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), has been signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation, proposed in August, permits the State Department to form co-location agreements with U.S. allies at overseas facilities like embassies and consulates. These agreements are limited to NATO allies and major non-NATO allies.

Co-location agreements offer significant advantages for U.S. diplomacy. They facilitate deeper relationships with partners abroad, ensure aligned objectives, reduce costs for diplomatic office space, and allow for establishing new posts in strategic locations at lower costs. This approach is seen as particularly beneficial in the Pacific Islands, where a physical diplomatic presence is essential to counter the influence of the Chinese Communist Party.

"The Partners in Diplomacy Act will go a long way to strengthening the U.S. position in strategic regions and enhancing our relations with trusted partners," stated Congressman Lawler. "Setting our country up for success in the international space has been one of my top objectives as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I’m pleased that Congress and the White House understand the immense benefits of this policy, and I’m glad we could get this done in the 118th Congress."

This act marks Congressman Lawler's sixth bill to become law during the 118th Congress. His other successful legislative efforts include:

- The Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act

- The Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act

- The Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act

- The Undetectable Firearms Reauthorization Act

- The Enhanced Presidential Security Act

Congressman Lawler is noted as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which encompasses all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.