; Whereas in the spring of 1943 the Bulgarian people successfully prevented the deportation of 50,000 Jews to concentration camps; Whereas Bulgaria experienced its first free election after the end of the Cold War in June 1990; Whereas North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) heads of state and member governments, meeting in Prague on November 21, 2002, invited Bulgaria into NATO after verified reforms of Bulgaria’s political, economic, and military systems were completed in preparation for membership; Whereas Bulgaria was accepted as a member of NATO in April 2004, and has shown determination in enacting the continued reforms necessary to be a productive, contributing member of the Alliance; Whereas Bulgaria has made vital contributions to the security of the NATO alliance, including through its important role in the security of the Black Sea; Whereas Bulgaria was welcomed into the European Union in January 2007; Whereas the World Bank classified Bulgaria as one of the top 10 nations to have undertaken important economic reforms to attract business investment; Whereas Bulgaria is the only European Union nation to be listed in the top 10 of the World Bank’s classification as of 2018; Whereas Bulgaria has promoted stability in the Balkans by rendering support to Operation Allied Force and Operation Joint Guardian led by NATO, and by providing peacekeeping troops to the Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR) and to the Kosovo Force (KFOR) in Kosovo; Whereas Bulgaria hosts one of eight NATO Force Integration Units to better enable collective security on the European continent; Whereas Bulgaria is increasing its defense expenditures and expenditures on equipment in keeping with the 2014 Wales Pledge, including by purchasing F–16s to reduce reliance on Russian and old Soviet equipment and better integrate with NATO forces