,,iv #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #efi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #bj1 #bjai ,mr4 ,wilson of ,south ,carolina 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,schneider1 ,mr4 ,rice of ,south ,carolina1 ,mr4 ,kelly of ,pennsylvania1 ,mrs4 ,walorski1 ,mr4 ,thompson of ,pennsylvania1 ,mr4 ,turner1 ,mr4 ,posey1 ,mr4 ,webster of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,bishop of ,utah1 ,mr4 ,murphy of ,north ,carolina1 ,mr4 ,bishop of ,north ,carolina1 ,mr4 ,timmons1 ,mr4 ,connolly1 ,mr4 ,mc,caul1 ,mr4 ,deutch1 and ,mr4 ,garamendi7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,resolution ,recognizing the #aaath anniversary of the independence of ,bulgaria4 ,whereas on ,september #bb1 #aijh1 ,bulgaria proclaimed its independence to become a full-fledged sovereign state under the name of the ,kingdom of ,bulgaria2 ,whereas this ,act marked the end of a long and dedicated struggle the ,bulgarian people waged against their ages-long foreign occupier1 the ,ottoman ,empire1 which conquered the medieval ,bulgarian state in the #adth ,century2 ,whereas although liberated in #ahgh1 ,bulgaria remained divided and dependent on its former ruler2 ,whereas with the proclamation of independence over #ajj years ago1 ,bulgaria took its rightful place among the family of nations and secured for its citizens in its ,constitution of #aiia the right to life1 freedom1 and property2 ,whereas the ,republic of ,bulgaria is a democratic nation1 a strong defender of freedom and human rights1 and a staunch ally of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the ,united ,states established diplomatic relations with the ,republic of ,bulgaria on ,september #ai1 #aijc2 ,whereas the ,united ,states acknowledges the courage of the ,bulgarian people in deciding to pursue a free1 democratic1 and independent ,bulgaria and their steadfast perseverance in building a society based on the rule of law1 respect for human rights1 and a free market economy2 ,whereas the people of the ,republic of ,bulgaria strive to preserve and continue their tradition of ethnic and religious tolerance2 ,whereas the ,bulgarian ,parliament1 the ,bulgarian ,orthodox ,church1 ,king ,boris ,,iii1 politicians1 intellectuals1 and citizens all played a part in the resistance to ,nazi pressure to carry out the deportation of ,jews living in ,bulgaria2 ,whereas in the spring of #aidc the ,bulgarian people successfully prevented the deportation of #ej1jjj ,jews to concentration camps2 ,whereas ,bulgaria experienced its first free election after the end of the ,cold ,war in ,june #aiij2 ,whereas ,north ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization 7,,nato7 heads of state and member governments1 meeting in ,prague on ,november #ba1 #bjjb1 invited ,bulgaria into ,,nato after verified reforms of ,bulgaria's political1 economic1 and military systems were completed in preparation for membership2 ,whereas ,bulgaria was accepted as a member of ,,nato in ,april #bjjd1 and has shown determination in enacting the continued reforms necessary to be a productive1 contributing member of the ,alliance2 ,whereas ,bulgaria has made vital contributions to the security of the ,,nato alliance1 including through its important role in the security of the ,black ,sea2 ,whereas ,bulgaria was welcomed into the ,european ,union in ,january #bjjg2 ,whereas the ,world ,bank classified ,bulgaria as one of the top #aj nations to have undertaken important economic reforms to attract business investment2 ,whereas ,bulgaria is the only ,european ,union nation to be listed in the top #aj of the ,world ,bank's classification as of #bjah2 ,whereas ,bulgaria has promoted stability in the ,balkans by rendering support to ,operation ,allied ,force and ,operation ,joint ,guardian led by ,,nato1 and by providing peacekeeping troops to the ,stabilization ,force in ,bosnia and ,herzegovina 7,,sfor7 and to the ,kosovo ,force 7,,kfor7 in ,kosovo2 ,whereas ,bulgaria hosts one of eight ,,nato ,force ,integration ,units to better enable collective security on the ,european continent2 ,whereas ,bulgaria is increasing its defense expenditures and expenditures on equipment in keeping with the #bjad ,wales ,pledge1 including by purchasing ,f-#afs to reduce reliance on ,russian and old ,soviet equipment and better integrate with ,,nato forces2 ,whereas ,bulgaria initiated a historic strengthening of military relations by inviting the ,united ,states ,armed ,forces to begin conducting joint exercises with its forces in ,bulgaria1 the first voluntary defense cooperation agreement with foreign troops throughout ,bulgarian history1 including the #a1cjj years before its declaration of independence2 and ,whereas ,bulgaria stood firmly by the ,united ,states in the cause of advancing freedom worldwide during its tenure as a nonpermanent member of the ,united ,nations ,security ,council3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 values the close relationship between the ,united ,states and the ,republic of ,bulgaria1 as well as the friendship between the ,american and ,bulgarian peoples2 7#b7 commends the ,republic of ,bulgaria for its efforts to strengthen relations with the ,united ,states over the past #aaa years2 7#c7 recognizes the continued contributions of ,bulgaria toward bringing peace1 stability1 and prosperity to the region of ,southeastern ,europe and the ,black ,sea1 including its contributions to regional security and democratic stability2 7#d7 salutes the important contributions of ,bulgaria as a valuable ally in countering ,russian aggression and economic coercion1 supporting ,,nato's mission in ,afghanistan1 and combatting international terrorism2 and 7#e7 encourages opportunities for greater cooperation between the ,united ,states and ,bulgaria in the political1 military1 economic1 and cultural spheres4