; 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