[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 176 (Monday, December 7, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1716-E1717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING PETER H. CRESSY, EdD.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TODD C. YOUNG

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 7, 2015

  Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and commend 
Dr. Peter H. Cressy, Ed.D., the President and CEO of the Distilled 
Spirits Council of the United States on his remarkable career and wish 
him well as he is set to retire from this position in January.
  Dr. Cressy has led an impressive career that includes 28 years of 
service to our nation in the United States Navy which concluded with 
his retirement as a Rear Admiral. His leadership roles continued with 
some of the nation's most prestigious academic institutions, and in 
government service roles where he held senior positions at the State 
Department, on Capitol Hill, and the Pentagon.
  Dr. Cressy's most recent leadership role at the Distilled Spirits 
Council of the United States has led to a stronger, more responsible, 
and transparent industry. Under his leadership the distilled spirits 
industry has grown both domestically and internationally all while 
placing an emphasis on and commitment to responsible and transparent 
practices. This commitment is evident in the industry's advertising and 
marketing Code of Responsible Practices which has been referenced as a 
model of responsible industry self-regulation as well as the Council's 
efforts to work with retailers and wholesalers, universities, and

[[Page E1717]]

health professionals to support programs to prevent alcohol abuse. Dr. 
Cressy's leadership has demonstrated the value of transparent and 
responsible ethics and has resulted in tangible successes across all 
facets of the industry.
  Dr. Cressy's passion for responsible business practices and the 
expansion of business are tremendous but he also takes great pride in 
preserving the storied history and heritage of the U.S. distilled 
spirits industry. One of his most notable successes with respect to 
historical preservation was his leadership in undertaking the $1.6 
million dollar reconstruction of George Washington's Distillery at 
Historic Mount Vernon. Since the project's completion the Council and 
the industry have maintained an ongoing relationship with the estate 
which now carries out a historic preservation and educational mission. 
In fact it is where they hold their annual industry Spirit of Mount 
Vernon dinner gala which has raised over $4 million to advance the 
educational mission at Mount Vernon.
  Dr. Cressy's leadership will be sorely missed at the Distilled 
Spirits Council of the United States and by those who have come to know 
him through his work, but I know the entire distilled spirits industry 
and many others join me in recognizing his career full of achievements 
and wishing him the best as he moves into a new chapter of his life. 
Again congratulations to Dr. Cressy on his retirement and a job well 
done.

                          ____________________