[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 174 (Thursday, November 10, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE 160TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEER INSTITUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RODNEY DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 10, 2022

  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, today, I would like to 
commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Beer Institute, one of our 
nation's oldest trade associations, which represents the $331 billion 
beer industry--an industry that employs more than two million 
Americans. Founded on November 12, 1862, the Beer Institute has 
advocated on behalf of the beer industry for nearly two-thirds of our 
nation's history. As a Beer Institute 2022 Beer Champion myself, I am 
proud of my long and accomplished relationship with the Institute and 
have genuinely enjoyed the many years of advocating with the Institute 
for such a vital and growing industry.
  160 years ago--amid the Civil War--representatives from 37 breweries 
met in New York City to address a new federal excise tax on beer to 
fund the war effort. With a primary focus on fair taxation, they formed 
the United States Brewers Association (USBA). In 1920, when the federal 
government instituted Prohibition, the USBA worked with brewers to 
adapt to and survive these changing political realities. Thankfully, in 
1933, Prohibition was repealed under the leadership of President 
Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Following the close of the Second World War, 
the beer industry wanted to demonstrate that beer has a place in 
everyday life. The USBA launched an iconic advertising campaign, ``Beer 
Belongs,'' which depicted men and women enjoying beer as an integral 
part of the American way of life. The middle of the 20th century also 
saw the advent of light beer and aluminum cans, which changed the face 
of the industry we know today.
  The USBA officially reorganized into the Beer Institute in 1986, 
opening membership to beer importers and industry suppliers. With a new 
name and infrastructure, the Beer Institute was ready to take on the 
challenges of the 21st century.
  Today, the Beer Institute continues to advocate for sound public 
policy and fair tax and regulatory frameworks for brewers and beer 
importers. True to its roots, the Beer Institute was pivotal in the 
passage of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, a bill 
which I cosponsored and strongly supported. This legislation provided a 
historic excise tax reduction for brewers and importers of all sizes, 
reaffirmed that not all alcohol beverages are the same and allowed them 
to reinvest in their businesses and their people. The Beer Institute 
also takes a leadership role in promoting responsible alcohol 
advertising and marketing, as well as the moderate consumption of 
alcohol, including an increasing number of low- and no-alcohol beers.
  I am proud of the beer industry's massive economic and cultural 
impact on our nation. As a man who enjoys a cold American-made beer, 
specifically Busch Light, I am forever grateful for the Beer 
Institute's long and storied history of supporting one of our nation's 
most cherished industries. I offer them the best for the next 160 
years. Cheers.

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