[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO THE COORS BREWING COMPANY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAN SCHAEFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 1998

  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay 
tribute to a great American company, one that will be celebrating its 
125th anniversary next month. The success of Coors Brewing Company is a 
great American story. When Adolph Coors arrived in this country in 
1868, he didn't speak English, but he did know how to brew a great 
beer.
  From 1873 until today, Coors has made its reputation on the lasting 
values of its founder. The great American values of tradition, 
commitment, quality, and innovation. Those values helped Coors grow 
from a tiny local brewery in Golden, Colorado into a world-class 
competitor producing more than 20 million barrels of beer each year. 
Today, Coors' familiar products are sold not only across the U.S. but 
in 45 foreign countries as well.
  Through the years, Coors has been at the forefront of responsible 
community involvement, and today it is recognized as a leader in 
corporate citizenship. That's why Business Ethics magazine recently 
placed Coors in the top ten of its ``The 100 Best Corporate Citizens.'' 
Coors also have been cited numerous times for its outstanding record in 
attracting, hiring, and promoting minority Americans. It is what you 
would expect, given Coors record of investing hundreds of millions of 
dollars in economic development and other programs designed to 
strengthen Hispanic and African-American communities.
  When you do business in Colorado, respect for the environment is, of 
course, a must. And Coors is a leader here too. Coors launched the 
aluminum recycling revolution back in 1959 when it began offering a 
penny for every returned can. Since 1990, the Coors Pure Water 2000 
program has provided more than $2.5 million to support more than 700 
environmental programs across the nation.
  One of its most noteworthy accomplishments has been in developing and 
promoting effective programs to discourage abuse of its products. Coors 
has a record of encouraging responsible consumption of its products by 
adults--and only adults. Over the years, millions of dollars have been 
devoted to community-based education and prevention programs. Coors' 
``21 means 21'' message has been one of the elements responsible for 
the steady decline in underage drinking and drunk driving that we in 
the United States have been fortunate to see in recent years.
  Coors has set the standard for responsible advertising, and has led 
the industry with policies to ensure that its ads encourage moderation, 
and are directed only to those over the age of 21.
  This week, I urge my colleagues to join me in a toast to the 
thousands of Coors employees, those who work at Coors breweries in 
Colorado, Tennessee and Virginia, and at Coors distributorships in 
every state of the nation: Congratulations on a job well done.

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