IV 

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; 

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•HRES 932 IH 

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; 

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•HRES 932 IH 

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 

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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; 

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•HRES 932 IH 

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 

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1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the 120th anniversary of diplo3 matic relations between the United States of Amer4 ica and the Republic of Bulgaria; 

5 (2) recognizes the enduring partnership between 

6 the United States of America and the Republic of 

7 Bulgaria as friends, strategic partners, and Allies; 

8 (3) expresses its conviction that the relationship 

9 remains rooted in our shared commitment to demo10 cratic principles and values, including the rule of law 

11 and respect for human rights; 

12 (4) acknowledges Bulgaria’s strategic role in 

13 the Black Sea region and expresses a shared com14 mitment to uphold the security and stability within 

15 the region; 

16 (5) notes the significant security challenges cur17 rently facing our two countries and supports our 

18 joint efforts to further enhance the security and de19 fense cooperation; 

20 (6) commends the Government and the people 

21 of Bulgaria for their contribution to the inter22 national efforts to preserve the rules-based inter23 national order; 

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1 (7) salutes the willing cooperation of Bulgaria 

2 and its increasingly vital role as a valuable Ally in 

3 the war against international terrorism; 

4 (8) acknowledges the commitment to deepen 

5 our cooperation on countering foreign malign influ6 ence and disinformation by enhancing societal resil7 ience and media and information literacy; 

8 (9) reaffirms the significance of intensifying co9 operation in innovations, research, and emerging 

10 technologies; 

11 (10) recognizes that the Bulgarian-American 

12 culture and heritage strengthen and enrich the di13 versity of the United States; and 

14 (11) looks forward to continued collaboration 

15 between the United States and Bulgaria in advanc16 ing shared values and interests in the years ahead. 

Æ