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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 932 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 932

 Recognizing the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the 
         United States of America and the Republic of Bulgaria.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 13, 2023

 Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Dunn of 
 Florida, and Mr. Neal) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Recognizing the 120th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the 
         United States of America and the Republic of Bulgaria.

Whereas, September 19, 2023, marks the 120th anniversary of the establishment of 
        diplomatic relations between the United States of America and the 
        Republic of Bulgaria;
Whereas the first United States Diplomatic Agent to Bulgaria, John B. Jackson, 
        presented his credentials on September 19, 1903;
Whereas the first Special Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to the 
        United States, Stefan Panaretov, presented his credentials to President 
        Woodrow Wilson on December 22, 1914;
Whereas the enduring ties between the two nations are exemplified by the 
        founding of the American College of Sofia, dating back to a school 
        opened by American missionaries in Bulgaria in 1860;
Whereas, on September 25, 2023, the United States and Bulgaria held the second 
        high-level Strategic Dialogue to advance their bilateral, regional, and 
        global agenda and to further enhance cooperation as friends, Allies, and 
        partners;
Whereas the United States and Bulgaria stand together as North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization (NATO) Allies, determined to safeguard the freedom, common 
        heritage, and civilization of their peoples, founded on the principles 
        of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law, seeking to 
        promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area;
Whereas the United States and Bulgaria have signed numerous important documents 
        in key areas, including defense and security cooperation, 5G security, 
        civil nuclear cooperation, science and technology, and combating foreign 
        disinformation and propaganda;
Whereas the United States and Bulgaria stand united against aggression and 
        terror, condemning in the strongest possible terms Russia's brutal and 
        unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, and the heinous attacks on 
        the Israeli people by the terrorist organization Hamas;
Whereas Bulgaria remains committed to the collective defense, as exemplified by 
        hosting a NATO battlegroup with the United States participation, and by 
        establishing a NATO littoral countries mine countermeasures task force 
        to secure freedom of navigation in the Black Sea;
Whereas prior to becoming a NATO member and subsequently, as an ally, Bulgaria 
        participated in the United States-led and NATO missions and operations 
        in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Kosovo, and the Mediterranean;
Whereas Bulgaria was among the very first countries to denounce terrorism and 
        pledge active support to the United States in the fight against 
        terrorism following the attacks of September 11, 2001;
Whereas Bulgaria provided overflight and basing rights at the town of Bourgas 
        for Operation Enduring Freedom, representing the first stationing of 
        foreign forces in Bulgaria since World War II, and Bulgaria deployed a 
        nuclear, biological, and chemical protection detachment to Afghanistan 
        as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF);
Whereas the United States and Bulgaria recognize that Russia's full-scale 
        invasion of Ukraine has only underscored the geostrategic importance of 
        the Black Sea region, and the need to ensure that the region remains 
        free and secure from threats posed by Russia and other malign actors;
Whereas the bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) was signed in 2006, 
        regulating the status of forces, allowing for joint United States-
        Bulgarian military facilities, providing for bilateral and multilateral 
        exercises, and facilitating the movement and temporary stationing of 
        aircraft and vessels;
Whereas Bulgaria continues to invest in defense capabilities, interoperability, 
        and the development of a credible defense posture in cooperation with 
        the United States, as exemplified by the purchase of sixteen F-16 Block 
        70 fighter jets from the United States, and intending to purchase United 
        States Stryker combat vehicles;
Whereas the United States and Bulgaria share the understanding that energy 
        security is a crucial component of national security, and Bulgaria has 
        made significant progress in reducing its dependency on Russian energy 
        resources and in diversifying its energy sector in collaboration with 
        the United States;
Whereas the two nations acknowledge the significance of intensifying their 
        cooperation in innovations, research, and emerging technologies;
Whereas people-to-people exchanges between the United States and Bulgaria are 
        vital for bolstering the bilateral relationship and Bulgaria has made 
        progress towards meeting criteria for visa-free travel of Bulgarian 
        citizens to the United States;
Whereas the shared commitment to counter disinformation and hybrid threats was 
        demonstrated by the signing of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding 
        on Countering Foreign Information Manipulation on September 25, 2023;
Whereas the year 2023 marks the 80th anniversary of the historic rescue of 
        50,000 Bulgarian Jews during the World War II;
Whereas it is acknowledged with regret and sadness that 11,343 Jews were 
        deported to Nazi concentration camps from Macedonia, Thrace, and Pirot, 
        territories administered Bulgaria at that time;
Whereas Bulgaria takes pride in its Jewish community and remains resolute in its 
        stance against any forms of discrimination, intolerance, and 
        antisemitism;
Whereas the vibrant Bulgarian-American community is contributing to America's 
        prosperity, including to its remarkable economic achievements, the 
        preservation of its technological edge, and the enrichment of American 
        culture and society, through its diverse talents, rich traditions, art, 
        music, dance, cuisine, and language;
Whereas Bulgaria's presence in the world's biggest library, the United States 
        Library of Congress is marked with a collection of over 50,000 volumes 
        of Bulgarian cultural heritage, brought together by the Library of 
        Congress in collaboration with Bulgarian individuals and institutions 
        since the 1880s;
Whereas the American University in Bulgaria, the pioneer of American-style 
        liberal arts education in Eastern Europe, has been delivering 
        exceptional education for more than three decades;
Whereas there are 41 Bulgarian Sunday schools in the United States, which are 
        contributing to the preservation of Bulgarian language and traditions 
        and to the cultural diversity in the United States;
Whereas Bulgaria is the place of origin of the Cyrillic alphabet, which is 
        currently taught in the Bulgarian Sunday schools across the United 
        States;
Whereas the Bulgarian Caucus in the House of Representatives was formed in June 
        2002 and the following year a group for friendship with the United 
        States was formed in the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria 
        demonstrating a dedication to the bilateral relationship; and
Whereas America's most successful and enduring relationships are built on shared 
        values: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 120th anniversary of diplomatic 
        relations between the United States of America and the Republic 
        of Bulgaria;
            (2) recognizes the enduring partnership between the United 
        States of America and the Republic of Bulgaria as friends, 
        strategic partners, and Allies;
            (3) expresses its conviction that the relationship remains 
        rooted in our shared commitment to democratic principles and 
        values, including the rule of law and respect for human rights;
            (4) acknowledges Bulgaria's strategic role in the Black Sea 
        region and expresses a shared commitment to uphold the security 
        and stability within the region;
            (5) notes the significant security challenges currently 
        facing our two countries and supports our joint efforts to 
        further enhance the security and defense cooperation;
            (6) commends the Government and the people of Bulgaria for 
        their contribution to the international efforts to preserve the 
        rules-based international order;
            (7) salutes the willing cooperation of Bulgaria and its 
        increasingly vital role as a valuable Ally in the war against 
        international terrorism;
            (8) acknowledges the commitment to deepen our cooperation 
        on countering foreign malign influence and disinformation by 
        enhancing societal resilience and media and information 
        literacy;
            (9) reaffirms the significance of intensifying cooperation 
        in innovations, research, and emerging technologies;
            (10) recognizes that the Bulgarian-American culture and 
        heritage strengthen and enrich the diversity of the United 
        States; and
            (11) looks forward to continued collaboration between the 
        United States and Bulgaria in advancing shared values and 
        interests in the years ahead.
                                 <all>
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