1. Federal Affairs

Brewers Association Hill Climb 2023

Link to article 2023 BA Hill Climb attendees on capital building steps
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Senior Director of Federal Affairs

Katie Marisic is the senior director of federal affairs at the Brewers Association. Based in Washington, D.C. she plans and executes legislative, regulatory, and political strategies to drive the association's federal affairs presence on Capitol Hill. Prior to working for the BA, Katie was vice president of political affairs at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. She got her start in politics working on congressional campaigns during the 2006 and 2008 elections. A Pennsylvania native, Katie is a long time craft brewing supporter. In 2013 she helped to open Atlas Brew Works in Washington, D.C. When she is not advocating for the craft brewing community on Capitol Hill you can sometimes find her pouring beers at a local tasting room.

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On July 25 and 26, 100 brewery representatives, guild leaders, and allied trade members came to Washington, D.C., for the Brewers Association’s (BA) 2023 Hill Climb.

Attendees came to D.C. to help advocate on issues affecting small and independent breweries at the federal level. Topics of the day included the industry’s support for the United States Postal Service (USPS) Shipping Equity Act, appropriations requests for the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), hops and barley research, the brewing industry supply chain, and more.

Participants also received a state of the industry update from trade association economists, including the BA’s Chief Economist Bart Watson, and a regulatory update from BA General Counsel Marc Sorini. The day finished with a reception attended by members of Congress and House and Senate staff.

Fifteen percent of the 118th Congress is made up of new representatives and senators, many of whom have never dealt with the federal issues facing small and independent breweries. Members of Congress and their staff were able to learn firsthand about the issues that impact breweries in their state and congressional districts and connect with leaders in the industry.

Events like the BA hill climb are a fantastic opportunity for guilds and brewery owners to build and maintain relationships with their federal elected officials. With more than 9,000 breweries in the U.S., and 190,000+ direct jobs in the industry, breweries have a broad impact on issues ranging from manufacturing to hospitality. The hill climb gives a voice not just to the attendees, but to small and independent breweries overall.

Brewery owners and staff who were not able to make it to Washington, D.C. are encouraged to help amplify our message by inviting their federal elected officials to visit breweries during the August recess, and to encourage their legislators to support the USPS Shipping Equity Act using the BA’s contact congress form.

If you have any questions about how to connect with your federal legislators or about the BA’s federal legislative priorities, please connect with Katie Marisic, the Senior Director of Federal Affairs.

Link to author biography
Senior Director of Federal Affairs

Katie Marisic is the senior director of federal affairs at the Brewers Association. Based in Washington, D.C. she plans and executes legislative, regulatory, and political strategies to drive the association's federal affairs presence on Capitol Hill. Prior to working for the BA, Katie was vice president of political affairs at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. She got her start in politics working on congressional campaigns during the 2006 and 2008 elections. A Pennsylvania native, Katie is a long time craft brewing supporter. In 2013 she helped to open Atlas Brew Works in Washington, D.C. When she is not advocating for the craft brewing community on Capitol Hill you can sometimes find her pouring beers at a local tasting room.

See Katie Marisic's Articles