Rep. Salazar Introduces Bipartisan Fairness for Craft Beverage Producers Act

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) introduced the bipartisan Fairness for Craft Beverage Producers Act alongside Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (VA-10). Congresswoman Salazar was recently selected to serve as the Ranking Member of the Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure.

"Over 80% of our local small businesses employ less than 10 people. Our South Florida craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries have created and supported thousands of jobs across our community," said Congresswoman Salazar. "I'm proud to introduce the bipartisan Fairness for Craft Beverage Producers Act alongside my colleague, Congresswoman Wexton, that provides full access to the Paycheck Protection Program loans to local small brewers and distillers. I look forward to continuing working in a bipartisan fashion to deliver immediate COVID-19 relief for our struggling local job creators."

"Craft beverage producers who rely on on-premise sales have been some of the hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Like restaurants and bars, they've closed or significantly reduced capacity in their taprooms and tasting rooms, making business all but impossible during the cold winter months," said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. "I've spoken with many of these small businesses owners across our district. Unfortunately, many are hanging by a thread, taking things week by week and doing all they can to keep their doors open. These small businesses drive our local economy, support jobs across our district, and add to the vibrancy and character of our region. We must swiftly correct this oversight in the second round of the PPP to keep our favorite breweries, wineries, and distilleries afloat through the next few months of this crisis."

Much like restaurants and bars, many craft breweries, wineries, distilleries, and other small beverage producers depend on in-person sales in their taprooms and tasting rooms. The coronavirus pandemic and resulting state and local government public health safety measures have devastated these craft producers.

These craft beverage producers were inadvertently excluded from increased maximum PPP loan amount eligibility, which is designed to aid the hardest-hit small businesses like restaurants and bars. The bill makes a similar correction to fix an oversight which excluded these businesses from receiving extended debt relief on other loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

The Second Draw PPP Loan program was designed to help small restaurant and bar owners by increasing the maximum loan amount available to them from 2.5x monthly payroll costs to 3.5x. Unfortunately, however, because craft beverage producers are classified with a different NAICS code than restaurants and bars, these small businesses that rely on in-person sales just like any other bar or restaurant are unable to take advantage of this larger maximum loan amount, putting their livelihoods and thousands of jobs at risk.

This bill would correct this oversight by making craft beverage producers that are reliant on in-person sales eligible for the 3.5x maximum loan amount. Craft producers that have already applied for a Second Draw PPP loan would also be made retroactively eligible for this expanded assistance.

Congresswoman Salazar represent Florida's beautiful 27th Congressional district which includes most of the City of Miami, its suburbs, and the beaches. She currently serves on the Small Business Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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