[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 16, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S2689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               Tax Reform

  Mr. President, on one final matter, later today I will be meeting 
with members of an industry with deep roots in my home State of 
Kentucky--our bourbon and spirits distillers.
  Judging by recent headlines, we will have plenty of good news to 
discuss. After 8 years of Democrats' policies enriching big cities but 
leaving small businesses behind, Republican policies are helping 
workers and job creators to thrive all across our country. From 
Louisville to Kansas City to Portland, our growing craft distilling 
industry is a perfect example. They are enjoying a pro-growth provision 
in the historic tax reform Republicans passed last year, which lowered 
excise taxes on beer, wine, and spirits and modernized the regulatory 
policy affecting each.
  Interestingly enough, the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform 
Act even began as a bipartisan effort with 56 cosponsors here in the 
Senate, led by Senators Blunt, Wyden, and Portman.
  Of course, not a single Democrat showed up when it was time to vote 
on tax reform. But Republicans accomplished it anyway, and now the New 
York Times can publish stories about how the measure is making a big 
difference for small craft distillers.
  As one such report puts it, distilling is a burgeoning source of 
jobs, tax revenue, and tourism dollars in every State. For example, the 
Kentucky Distillers' Association reported that just last year the 
bourbon industry accounted for 17,500 jobs and over 1 million visitors 
to my home State. That is a big shift from the so-called Obama 
recovery, when almost all the limited jobs and investment poured into 
the biggest cities. But it is a new day.
  Now, FEW Spirits, in Illinois, has hired more workers and is 
replacing its overseas glassmaker with an American one. J. Rieger & 
Co., in Missouri, has found extra room in the budget to expand its 
sales team and begin selling its products further across the country.
  In the Democratic leader's own backyard of Brooklyn, the New York 
Distilling Company recently cut the wholesale case price on its 
signature gin by more than 50 percent. According to one of its 
cofounders, Allen Katz, ``the reaction from our industry peers has been 
jaw-dropping.'' In Kentucky, which is home to more than 50 
distilleries, there are plenty of examples to choose from. Thanks to 
the lowered excise tax, Casey Jones Distillery, a small operation in 
Hopkinsville, is growing its team, increasing production and planning 
to enhance its event space. Copper & Kings, in Louisville, has been 
able to hire more workers and is preparing to expand its warehouse and 
add a new bar for guests. The Copper & Kings team recently shared with 
me that tax reform is ``one of the most important initiatives [the 
Senate] could pursue to help create jobs for small businesses in 
Kentucky.''
  My Democratic colleagues failed to block tax reform last year, and 
now they want to just keep arguing about it. They even propose to 
repeal it and roll back Americans' tax cuts, but entrepreneurs across 
the country are loving our new 21st century Tax Code. They are using it 
to expand operations and to create jobs.
  It is hard to argue with results--not that it has stopped our 
Democratic friends from trying, and I am sure they will continue to 
try. But Republicans will stay focused on taking steps like these and 
raising a glass to America's small businesses.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.