September in Review

September has been a busy month for the Hobby Distiller’s Association, and it’s not over yet! You’ve probably been following along with us on social media, but here’s a recap of what we’ve been up to and where we’re headed:

Cruz-ing Through Washington DC on September 16

Last week, Rick Morris and lobbyist Keith Nelson met with Representative Michael C. Burgess and Senator Ted Cruz in Washington DC in hopes of quelling any potential concerns related to the effects of legalizing home distilling. Due to his medical background, Burgess wanted his aides to conduct additional research on the dangers of alcohol poisoning, so Rick gave him a safety sheet and is also following up with him. Cruz was particularly interested in the HDA perhaps in part to his experience as the director of the Office of Policy Planning at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) years ago. Cruz obviously won’t commit to anything until his camp sees the language of the bill, but after last week’s DC meetings, we feel that we’re at least on the right track.

Back For More on September 23

Members of the HDA Membership Committee Tom Cowdry and Rick, along with lobbyist Keith, got together in DC this week to meet with Texas Senator John Cornyn as well as the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). We don’t have much info on the TTB meeting, but the discussions with Cornyn went well. Like Cruz, he was supportive although he would have to see the bill, of course.

What’s Next?

We’ve got a few ideas coming down the pipeline for what our next efforts will be, but nothing is set in stone yet. We’ll let you know as soon as we have more information. In the meantime, keep contacting your local Representatives and Senators, and spread the word about the HDA!

Thanks again for your continued support!