Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Colleagues to Urge Passage of Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined a bipartisan group of 57 Senators led by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rob Portman (R-OH) to urge Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to include the bipartisan Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act in the next appropriate legislative package and act upon it before the end of the year. 

Senator Baldwin is cosponsor and champion of the bipartisan Craft Beverage Modernization & Tax Reform Act, which would permanently cut taxes and modernize outdated regulations for brewers, as well as cider makers and distillers, to further promote job creation in each industry.

“It is imperative that the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act be included in the next appropriate legislative package and acted upon before the end of the year,” wrote the senators. “As businesses struggle to retain workers and stay open, allowing the current rates to lapse would force many businesses across the country to lay off workers or close their doors permanently. With the support of 77 Senators and 351 Representatives, this bill is a bipartisan priority and an important economic lifeline to thousands of businesses across the country.”

In addition to Baldwin, Wyden and Portman, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tom Tillis (R-NC), Jon Tester (D-MT), Mike Braun (R-IN), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tom Carper (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), Mazi Hirono (D-HI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Boozman (R-AR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Angus King (I-ME), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hoeven (R-ND), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Todd Young (R-IN), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Steve Daines (R-MT), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bob Casey (D-PA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Patty Murray (D-WA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

Full text of the letter can be found below and here.

Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer:  

We are writing today to ask you to pass the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (S. 362/H.R. 1175) and make the existing federal excise tax rates for beverage alcohol producers permanent.   

Every state in our nation is proudly home to craft distillers, brewers, wineries, cideries, and meaderies who without Congressional action, face a significant increase in their federal excise taxes on January 1, 2021.  

In addition to creating jobs in every state and Congressional district, beverage alcohol producers are critical partners to our farmers and agriculture producers, the tourism industry, the manufacturing sector, and the hospitality industry, including restaurants, bars, and other on-premise establishments. Together, these producers support over four million jobs across the country and contribute immensely to the vibrancy of our economy and communities.

However, with the economic duress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, producers’ businesses have been devastated which would be compounded by an increase in their federal excise taxes. Producers have already seen dramatic declines in revenue because of the closures of tasting rooms and restaurants, bars, and other on-premise establishments and cancelations of major sporting events and concerts. These losses ripple throughout the supply chain, affecting farmers, agriculture producers, manufacturers, truck drivers, warehouse workers, and countless others.  

It is imperative that the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act be included in the next appropriate legislative package and acted upon before the end of the year. As businesses struggle to retain workers and stay open, allowing the current rates to lapse would force many businesses across the country to lay off workers or close their doors permanently. With the support of 77 Senators and 351 Representatives, this bill is a bipartisan priority and an important economic lifeline to thousands of businesses across the country.  

Sincerely,