This week, Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) efficiently concluded its annual legislative fly-in, marking the third time WSWA members traveled to Capitol Hill to fulfill with members of Congress previously month.
In 2025, greater than 25 WSWA wholesaler members met with 150 Members of Congress, based on the group, representing 20 member firms throughout the nation. The 2-day occasion allowed WSWA members to construct relationships with lawmakers, advocate for common sense coverage reforms and highlight the important function that America’s family-owned wholesalers play in communities throughout the nation.
“Our face-to-face conversations with Members of Congress assist lawmakers perceive the real-world impacts of the insurance policies they debate,” stated WSWA chairwoman and president of Opici Household Distributing Dina Opici in a information launch. “These conferences strengthen relationships which are important to advancing insurance policies that help American family-owned companies, protect native jobs, and shield customers. Constructing upon the theme of my Chairmanship, it takes everybody to help the hassle to make sure we actively signify our business members.”
WSWA Advocates for Household-Owned Companies
All through the fly-in, WSWA states that members met with dozens of Members of Congress and employees to debate high legislative priorities, together with:
- Securing the permanence of Part 199A, a tax deduction for certified enterprise earnings that has enabled WSWA members to reinvest over $380 million of their operations, workforce, and communities since 2017. The Home Methods and Means Committee’s current development of laws to make this deduction everlasting is important for wholesalers.
- Urging the elimination of tariffs on imported wine and spirits that unnecessarily burden American companies and customers, whereas supporting truthful, focused commerce insurance policies that acknowledge the distinctive traits of single-origin merchandise.
- Calling for federal regulation of hemp-derived THC merchandise within the subsequent Farm Invoice, making certain accountable regulation that mirrors the confirmed beverage alcohol mannequin, whereas affirming states’ rights to regulate distribution and retail entry inside their borders.
“We’re happy to see Congressional recognition of the significance of tax insurance policies like 199A that empower family-owned companies to develop and succeed,” stated WSWA president and CEO Francis Creighton within the launch. “This progress is a significant step towards long-term certainty for our members. Our business invests domestically, helps 1000’s of jobs, and delivers merchandise safely and responsibly by a system that has stood the take a look at of time.”
The fly-in culminated with WSWA’s signature Toast to Congress reception — an annual celebration that unites Members of Congress, employees, wholesalers, media and business companions in a bipartisan gathering to spotlight the energy and custom of the U.S. wine and spirits business, based on the group.
