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The Ways and Means Committee
of the House of Representatives held
a hearing last month, May 12th, to focus on Congressional priorities
in tax reform.
The good news for our industry, the reform of the Federal Excise Tax (FET) for small distillers, brewers, and
vintners was a subject of much testimony.
Congressman Dave Reichert
(R-WA), Congressman Ken Buck
(R-CO), Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY), Congressman Peter
De-Fazio (R-OR) and Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-MN) all focused on reducing the FET in order to advance growth for the craft industry. As much as any subject mentioned, this was a frequent issue among the approximately forty Members of Congress that testified.
ACSA was present for
the hearing and specifically spoke with Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky about the importance of parity to the craft spirits industry. Mr. Barr of Kentucky is a strong supporter of our efforts to reduce the FET and insuring that the tax code reflected interest expensing with aging rules for spirits.
There is some discussion among Members of the Ways and Means Committee that it is time to move a bill to fix many small inequities in the tax code, among them being the disparate treatment of FET for craft distillers. ACSA efforts helped bring about this hearing, beginning with our Texas distillers meeting with Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and his visit to two Texas distilleries in Texas in January.
ACSA is working aggressively to bring this issue to the fore in both the House and the Senate.
The events in the Ways and Means Committee were very helpful in moving our agenda forwa
rd.
And, just last week, the industry presented a united front with
this letter sent to Chairman Charles W. Boustany, Jr. of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy.
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SAVE THE DATE!
CONVENTION 2017
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4th ANNUAL DISTILLERS CONVENTION
& VENDOR TRADE SHOW
H
NASHVILLE, TN TOPS THE CHARTS
AS ONE OF THE HOTTEST CONVENTION SITES IN AMERICA!
AND... SPIRITS ARE ON FIRE HERE
NOT TO MENTION THE VIBRANT NIGHTLIFE
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A LOOK BACK AT CHICAGO 2016
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Margie A.S. Lehrman, ACSA's recently appointed Executive Director, addresses the attendees at the
3rd Annual Distillers Convention & Vendor Trade Show
at the historic Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago.
The numbers grew by the minute in the days and hours leading up to the event as the staff and volunteers of ACSA prepared to welcome a record crowd of DSPs and industry pros.
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ACSA WELCOMES FIVE
NEW BOARD MEMBERS
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Last month, ACSA officially welcomed its new board, with the five newest members elected by 60% of ACSA's voting membership base.
The officers were then elected from within that board.
*Newly elected members.
The following members will continue to provide
the vision and strategic leadership to execute
ACSA's
Mission:
To elevate and advocate for the community of the craft spirits producers.
While the board helps guide and lead the trade group, the following committees carry out the tactics, programs, and events to support ACSA's goals.
ACSA's Committee Chairs:
Membership: Mike Blaum, Dan Garrison
Ethics: Tom Jensen
Convention: Matt Hofmann, Mike Blaum, P.T. Wood
Education: John Jeffrey, Maggie Campbell
Judging: Maggie Campbell, Ted Huber, Dan Farber
Legislative Affairs: Nicole Austin, Mark Shilling
State Guilds: P.T.Wood, Nicole Austin
Technology: Chip Tate, Mike Blaum
Development: Thomas Mooney, Orlin Sorensen
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A BIG THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
ACSA was born, in large part, because of the generous support of its sponsors.
ACSA encourages you to review and use the products and services of these companies.
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Can you afford
not to be a member?
Support the only
Small Craft SpiritsProducers
National Trade Association!
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THE CRAFT SPIRITS CLASSROOM:
Quenching Your Thirst for Knowledge
"Simplifying the Complexity of OSHA Requirements for the Craft Spirits Producer"
Wednesday, June 15th
Noon PDT/3 pm EDT
This webinar is designed for those who are
in charge of safety: both compliance and reporting for the distillery. ACSA presents another opportunity to learn about OSHA,
this time from Hellman & Associates, Inc., with a focus on training requirements for each of the applicable standards and incident reporting and record keeping. Each attendee will receive a Health & Safety Manual template and a safety improvement checklist
to measure their own program.
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LEGISLATIVE POLICY CONFERENCE
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Distilled Spirits Council
June 7th & 8th
Washington D.C.
IT'S NOT TO LATE
TO BE A PART OF THIS EFFORT!
THERE IS NO FEE TO ATTEND
The primary feature includes opportunities to meet with home state legislators and expand support to lower the FET on distilled spirits.
If you have questions or ideas, contact us:
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DRIVING HOME THE MESSAGE
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U.S, Senator Coryn's legislative staff, Sandy Edwards and John Porter visited with Dan Garrison
Recently, three Texas distilleries hosted Congressional staff and helped educate on the beauty of craft distilling and the FET.
Congressman Roger Williams, visited with Nate Powell of Treaty Oak Distillery and Mark Shilling of Revolution Spirits. Not pictured are Rep. Kevin Brady (Ways & Means Chair) and Rep. Mike Conaway (Agriculture Chair).
If you have also hosted members of Congress, let us hear from you.
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ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY
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ACSA, Park Street, and IWSR (International Wine & Spirits Research) have embarked on a study of historic proportions.
Cutting across the industry tiers, information and data is being collected to study how craft spirits producers are impacting the economy.
CALLING ALL DSPS!
PLEASE HELP
US COLLECT THIS DATA
Be a part in this epic analysis of our industry!
The report is expected to be released this summer.
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MODERNIZING BEVERAGE LABELS
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Do you find TTB's labeling rules to be antiquated, confusing, frustrating, or occasionally ridiculous???
Of course you do. Luckily, there may be a solution on the horizon!
TTB is nearing internal completion of a multi-year effort to modernize beverage label regulations.
ACSA knows how important this issue is to all of our member producers.
Clear, consistent and truly informative labels gives consumers critical information about the liquor, including how it is made. This is an opportunity to shape what consumers can learn from our labels for years to come.
As your national trade association, ACSA will be working on your behalf to take advantage of th
is opportunity to clarify, update, and modernize 27 CFR Part 5 in accordance with our mission, to elevate and advocate for the community of craft spirits producers.
To be your most effective advocate, we need to hear from YOU about what you believe is essential for spirits labeling. Members, gather your thoughts and look for our email with a survey link. What needs to be kept, what needs to be eliminated, and what needs to be clarified?
Please
email your thoughts to:
If you are not yet a member of ACSA, join now to be a part of this historic conversation!
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