The American Homebrewers Association recently posted a message to its
members asking individuals to contact their US Representatives to join
the House Small Brewers Caucus. By supporting our representatives to
join this committee, we can help support both our hobby and the local
breweries who do so much to support our passion.
These are our
US Reps (not state Reps) that we are talking about here. You can find
representative at the House website (several Reps from Washington are
already on the committee, see below):
http://www.house.gov/
Down at the bottom of the message there is a section that you can copy
and send to your representative.
You all have done such a good job of supporting the beer movement so
far. Keep involved and we can all do our part to make this a more
brewing friendly country!
Cheers,
Mark Emiley
Executive Chair - Washington Homebrewers Association
-------------
Copy of message from the AHA
Support the Community of Beer Enthusiasts
and Small Brewers:
Contact Your Congressional Representative
Dear Beer Enthusiasts and Homebrewers,
We're asking you to contact your U.S. Representative and ask him or her to join the House Small Brewers Caucus. What is the House Small Brewers Caucus?
The U.S. House of Representatives Small Brewers Caucus was formed in 2007 by interested Members of Congress.
Their mission is to gain a better understanding of all aspects of
small, amateur and professional craft brewing, from business and
regulatory issues to the brewing process and history of the small
brewing community. The
members of the Caucus are passionate about small brewers and craft
beer. Co-chairs Representative Peter DeFazio (OR) and Representative
Denny Rehberg (MT) have themselves been homebrewers and are avid beer
enthusiasts.
Currently, only 49 Representatives belong to the Caucus. To put that in some perspective, 344 Congressional districts
are home to at least one small brewery and we assume every one of the
435 districts is home to homebrewers and beer enthusiasts.
You
can help by asking your U.S. Representative to join the Caucus. Help
assure that you have the strongest voice possible speaking on your beer
behalf in Congress.
You've
come to appreciate the flavor, diversity and quality of your homebrew
or locally brewed beers from America's small breweries. In these
uncertain economic and legislative times you can imagine how important
it is to educate Congress about the community of homebrewers, beer
enthusiasts and small brewers.
Ask your Representative to join the Caucus.
Following are resource materials to assist you, including a brief
message you can use to make your contact, either sending it "as is" or
modifying it to add your personal message.
Thanks for all you do in support of America's small brewing community.
Charlie Papazian
President, Brewers Association
Gary Glass
Director, American Homebrewers Association
_________________________________________________________
Below is a list of the 49 U.S. Representatives who are currently Small
Brewers Caucus members. If your Representative DOES NOT appear on this
list, please take a moment and email your Member of Congress about joining the Caucus.
If
your Representative is already a member, please email him/her a brief
thank you for their support of both small brewers and you, the craft
beer drinker and enthusiast.
Please visit the official U.S. House of Representatives web site http://www.house.gov/
to access your Representative's personal web page and contact
information - just enter your zip code in the "Find Your
Representative" search box in the upper left-hand corner and then click
on your Representative's name on the page that displays to enter
his/her personal web page.
House Small Brewers Caucus Roster (as of July 28, 2009)
| District |
Representative |
District |
Representative |
| AR-02 |
Vic Snyder |
MT-AL |
Denny Rehberg |
| AZ-05 |
Harry Mitchell |
NE-02 |
Lee Terry |
| CA-01 |
Mike Thompson |
NY-12 |
Nydia Velazquez |
| CA-02 |
Wally Herger |
NY-17 |
Eliot Engel |
| CA-06 |
Lynn Woolsey |
NY-22 |
Maurice Hinchey |
| CA-49 |
Darrell Issa |
NY-24 |
Mike Arcuri |
| CA-50 |
Brian Bilbray |
OK-03 |
Frank Lucas |
| CO-01 |
Diana DeGette |
OK-04 |
Tom Cole |
| CO-02 |
Jared Polis |
OR-01 |
David Wu |
| CO-03 |
John Salazar |
OR-02 |
Greg Walden |
| CO-05 |
Doug Lamborn |
OR-03 |
Earl Blumenauer |
| CO-07 |
Ed Perlmutter |
OR-04 |
Peter DeFazio |
| GA-05 |
John Lewis |
PA-06 |
Jim Gerlach |
| HI-02 |
Mazie Hirono |
PA-08 |
Patrick Murphy |
| IA-02 |
Dave Loebsack |
PA-15 |
Charles Dent |
| KS-03 |
Dennis Moore |
SC-01 |
Henry Brown, Jr. |
| MA-01 |
John Olver |
TX-23 |
Ciro Rodriguez |
| MA-09 |
Stephen Lynch |
TX-25 |
Lloyd Doggett |
| MA-10 |
William Delahunt |
VA-05 |
Tom Perriello |
| MI-01 |
Bert Stupak |
VT-AL |
Peter Welch |
| MI-02 |
Peter Hoekstra |
WA-02 |
Rick Larsen |
| MI-04 |
Dave Camp |
WA-04 |
Doc Hastings |
| MI-06 |
Fred Upton |
WA-08 |
Dave Reichert |
| MI-11 |
Thaddeus McCotter |
WI-02 |
Tammy Baldwin |
| MO-03 |
Russ Carnahan |
|
|
Suggested letter for your U.S. Representative
Dear Representative _____________,
As
your constituent, I am writing to ask you to join the House Small
Brewers Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Peter DeFazio and Denny
Rehberg.
The
purpose of the Small Brewers Caucus is to provide Members of Congress
and their staff an opportunity to learn about activities of the
American craft brewing
community, which includes over 1,500 small and independent American
brewery businesses, and beer and homebrewing enthusiasts that
participate in and contribute to local community activities
and economies. The Small Brewers Caucus also offers opportunities to
learn about the science and art of beer and brewing, the dynamics of
running a small business as a brewery, the associated regulatory and
societal issues and the value of craft beers and small brewing
activities.
As
a beer enthusiast and ardent supporter of America's small professional
and amateur brewers, I appreciate the many contributions their small, independent businesses
make to their local communities. From their flavorful and distinctive
locally brewed beers to their community involvement, small breweries
are important economic and social hubs in their local communities.
Please
contact the Washington office of either Representative DeFazio
(202-225-6416) or Representative Rehberg (202-225-3211) to learn more
about the Small Brewers Caucus and to join. Thank you for considering
my request.
Sincerely,
|
