The Ripon Advance: Stivers, Larsen present Small Distilleries Fairness Act to Congress

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By Ripon Advance Reports

United States Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH), alongside fellow Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), introduced The Small Distilleries Fairness Act on Monday.

The bipartisan legislation would assist smaller, craft beer distilleries in competing on a level playing field with larger breweries, thus encouraging growth and job creation.

"My top priority in Congress is getting our economy back on track and putting Americans back to work," Stivers said. "I'm proud to co-sponsor this bill to provide more certainty on taxes for small business owners like Watershed Distillery in my district. Investing in local businesses allows them to grow our economy from the bottom up and create opportunity not just for Ohio, but for the nation as a whole."

There are 19 distilleries within Stivers' home state, including two in his constituency of the 15th Congressional District. Under current law, small distilleries pay the same amount of federal tax as large producers, while small breweries and wineries pay a much smaller tax rate than their larger competitors. The Stivers-Larsen bill would reduce the federal tax rates for all businesses producing less than 100,000 proof gallons of distilled spirits annually.

"Innovative local businesses like our craft distilleries in Washington state are working hard to make our state a leader in this growing industry," Larsen said. "Our bill will allow craft distilleries to invest more in their businesses, spurring job creation and encouraging new distilleries to open up shop. Because craft distillers rely on local farms for their ingredients, local farmers also stand to benefit from this bill. Small businesses are the engine of our economy."

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