Thread by @PoliticsBrewing

I have been away from social media for awhile but I wanted to provide you with a quick update of what the BA is doing on the hill. Please forgive any typos.

For the past two weeks BA staff has been meeting with legislators and congressional staff to talk about the urgent situation that breweries and other small businesses are facing due to impact of COVID-19.

In that time a lot has changed, but our asks have been consistent. First is the reminder that breweries want to help do what is needed to keep their staff, customers and communities safe (cont.)

but to do so they need federal and state assistance, so they aren’t required to choose between public safety and their livelihood.

We are asking Congress to:
• Provide small brewers with direct monetary relief
• Provide loan deferments with no interest accruals on loans from the SBA from commercial lenders; (cont.)

• Make unemployment insurance available for all temporary laid off or furloughed employees, with no negative impact on employers’ insurance premiums;
• Provide paid sick leave for people lacking benefits;
• Provide a tax credit for out of code beer (cont.)

• Provide paid quarantine leave for employees of businesses shut down due to quarantine; and
•Provide a temporary suspension or deferral of federal excise taxes

These requests are as an individual association and with other beverage alcohol producers. You can see those letters here brewersassociation.org/brewing-indust…

Congress has already passed 2 pieces of coronavirus legislation, the second of which covers some of the items mentioned above. brewersassociation.org/brewing-indust…

It is a start but it is nowhere close to being enough. The BA continues to push for immediate relief for breweries through a suspension of SBA and commercial loans and grants/small business loans that can be forgiven if used to cover payroll and other business expenses.

Congress has been working on Phase 3, a so-called stimulus bill. The House and Senate introduced their own versions of the legislation,which include provisions that could positively impact breweries, but negotiations are ongoing and we don’t know what the final bill will include.

The BA is making sure Congress knows that breweries need them to act NOW and pass legislation that will help these small business support their employees and ensure that they will be able to reopen once we get past this unprecedented situation.

I wish I had more clarity to offer right now. We will update you as we get more concrete info from Congress. Please know this, we hear you; we understand how critical this is and we are advocating for you and your brewing family. We are all in this together.

brewersassociation.org/brewing-indust…

P.S. I have been so inspired by the amazing work the brewing community has been doing and how you have stepped up to help your peers and your community. Thank you for all you do.