[Page H9264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING THE REPEAL OF PROHIBITION

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize the repeal of prohibition. On this day in 1933, the 21st 
Amendment was ratified, ending the prohibition of alcohol.
  Today, throughout Pennsylvania, breweries, wineries, and distilleries 
have become one of the Commonwealth's fastest growing industries, and 
quite frankly, agri-businesses. Pennsylvania is home to more than 300 
wineries, which produce more than 1.6 million gallons of wine each 
year. This equates to roughly $1.4 billion in economic impact.
  Recently, Woody Lodge Winery, a disabled veteran and female-owned 
business from Cambria County, racked up six awards at the Atlantic 
Seaboard Wine Association competition, including two best-in-category 
awards.
  The craft beer industry is also booming. Each year, craft brewers 
pump nearly $6 billion into Pennsylvania's economy and are responsible 
for more than 100,000 jobs and generate $2.2 billion in wages. For the 
past three years, Pennsylvania has been the number one producer of 
craft beer in the Nation.
  As we look back on 13 long years of prohibition in this country, 
let's raise a glass to how far we have come in the 86 years since.

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