Whereas American Craft Beer Week is celebrated annually in breweries, brew pubs, restaurants, and beer stores by craft brewers, home brewers, and beer enthusiasts nationwide; Whereas, in 2018, American Craft Beer Week is celebrated from May 14 to May 20; Whereas small and independent brewers are a vibrant affirmation and expression of the entrepreneurial traditions of the United States— (1) operating as community-based small businesses; (2) providing employment for more than 135,000 full- and part-time American workers; (3) generating annually more than $26,000,000,000 in economic impact; and (4) often leading to the redevelopment of economically distressed areas; Whereas the United States has small and independent brewers in every State and more than 6,000 craft breweries nationwide, each producing less than 6,000,000 barrels of beer annually; Whereas, in 2017, 997 new breweries opened in the United States, creating jobs and improving economic conditions in communities across the United States; Whereas, in 2017, small and independent breweries in the United States sustainably produced more than 25,350,000 barrels of beer; Whereas the small and independent brewers of the United States now export more than 480,000 barrels of beer and are establishing new markets abroad, which creates more domestic jobs to meet the growing international demand for craft beer from the United States; Whereas the small and independent brewers of the United States support the United States agriculture industry by purchasing barley, malt, and hops that are grown, processed, and distributed in the United States; Whereas the small and independent brewers of the United States support local manufacturing through their purchase of cans, bottles, and brewing equipment