[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 109 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4745-S4746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 567--CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN 
                        HOMEBREWERS ASSOCIATION

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Gardner, and Mr. 
Bennet) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 567

       Whereas on October 14, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed 
     into law Public Law 95-458, which legalized homebrewing under 
     Federal law effective February 1, 1979;
       Whereas on December 7, 1978, the following 2 intrepid 
     individuals founded the American Homebrewers Association in 
     Boulder, Colorado:
       (1) Charlie Papazian, author of the seminal book on 
     homebrewing entitled ``The Complete Joy of Homebrewing''; and
       (2) Charlie Matzen;
       Whereas the mission of the American Homebrewers Association 
     is to promote the community of homebrewers and empower 
     homebrewers to make the best beer in the world;
       Whereas because alcohol is predominately regulated by 
     individual States, the American Homebrewers Association has 
     worked diligently and successfully from the inception of the 
     association until 2013--

[[Page S4746]]

       (1) to ensure that homebrewing is a legal activity in each 
     State and the District of Columbia; and
       (2) to assist with drafting and advocating for State 
     legislation relating to homebrewing across the United States;
       Whereas homebrewing added $756,000,000 to the economy of 
     the United States in 2017, and created 6,983 full time jobs 
     in the United States in 2017;
       Whereas the American Homebrewers Association has more than 
     45,000 members;
       Whereas the American Homebrewers Association represents a 
     vibrant community of 1,100,000 homebrewers in the United 
     States who brew 1,400,000 barrels of beer each year;
       Whereas that community includes President Barack Obama and 
     would have included Presidents George Washington, Thomas 
     Jefferson, and James Madison;
       Whereas the American Homebrewers Association hosts--
       (1) the National Homebrewers Conference, also known as 
     ``Homebrew Con'', which--
          (A) has as many as 3,000 attendees annually;
          (B) has been taking place for 40 years; and
          (C) will be held this year in Portland, Oregon, from 
     June 28 through June 30, and will feature 66 informational 
     sessions, 92 speakers, and over 50 homebrew clubs;
       (2) the National Homebrew Competition, the largest beer 
     competition in the world, which has been taking place for 40 
     years and during which 143,240 brews have been judged;
       (3) ``Big Brew for National Homebrew Day'', which--
          (A) is held on the first Saturday of each May to 
     commemorate the anniversary of the designation by Congress in 
     1988 of May 7 as ``National Homebrew Day''; and
          (B) includes more than 350 events with 7,500 
     participants brewing more than 19,000 gallons of beer across 
     the world;
       (4) ``Learn to Homebrew Day'', which is held the first 
     Saturday of each November and was established in 1999 to 
     encourage homebrewers to introduce friends and family to 
     homebrewing;
       (5) rallies across the United States that offer homebrewers 
     the chance to connect with commercial craft brewers and other 
     beer enthusiasts and homebrewers in the area;
       (6) the Great American Beer Festival Pro-Am Competition, 
     which has been taking place for 13 years and involves award-
     winning American Homebrewers Association homebrewers teaming 
     up with Brewers Association member brewers; and
       (7) the Hill Staff Homebrew Competition, which encourages 
     bipartisan participation in celebrating homebrewing and the 
     rich history of homebrewing in the United States;
       Whereas the American Homebrewers Association publishes a 
     magazine entitled ``Zymurgy'' 6 times a year that is 
     circulated to 53,000 people per issue;
       Whereas the American Homebrewers Association provides 
     support to more than--
       (1) 700 local homebrew supply shops in the United States; 
     and
       (2) 1,500 homebrew clubs in the United States and around 
     the world;
       Whereas the American Homebrewers Association is a 
     predecessor to, and currently a division of, the Brewers 
     Association, a trade group in the United States that 
     represents and protects small and independent domestic 
     brewers, the craft beers made by those brewers, and the 
     community of brewing enthusiasts in the United States;
       Whereas in 1982 the American Homebrewers Association 
     presented the first Great American Beer Festival, which is 
     currently hosted by the Brewers Association and represents 
     the largest collection of United States beer ever served; and
       Whereas the American Homebrewers Association and its 
     members have contributed to the rise of the craft brewing 
     industry, which--
       (1) is now larger than the industry has ever been in the 
     history of the United States; and
       (2) consists of more than 6,000 small and independent 
     breweries located across the United States that are helping 
     to reinvigorate local economies: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the American Homebrewers Association and joins 
     its members, staff, and other beer enthusiasts in celebrating 
     the 40th anniversary of the American Homebrewers Association;
       (2) congratulates the American Homebrewers Association and 
     its members for leading the renaissance of craft beer in the 
     United States; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit enrolled copies of this resolution to the director 
     of the American Homebrewers Association, the president and 
     chief executive officer of the Brewers Association, and the 
     founder and past president of the Brewers Association.

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