Both H.R. 1236 and S. 534 continue to gain support on both sides of the aisle in Washington.  The companion bills which were submitted, respectively, by Representative John Kerry (D-MA) and Senator Jim Gerlach (R-PA), earlier this year, look to lower the current excise tax levied on small brewers in half from $7 per barrel produced to $3.50 per barrel. Backers of this initiative believe that by passing these bills, craft brewers can reinvest the savings into equipment and jobs, thereby helping to get Americans back to work and help to bolster the economic recovery in the US. A study published about the impact of these bills supports this theory.

Currently, H.R. 1236 has 37 co-sponsors and S. 354 has 28 co-sponsors. Each sponsor list boasts a bi-partisan interest in the success of these initiatives. The House side bill, H.R. 1236 has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means while S. 534 currently resides in the Senate Finance Committee.

Learn more about H.R. 1236 and S. 534 in the Government Affairs section.