Companion bills HR 836 and S 1058, the Brewers Excise and Economic Relief Act of 2009, have been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate respectively by Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-North Dakota) and Congressman Tom Latham (R-Iowa) and Senator Mark Udall (D-CO). This legislation seeks to reduce the tax burden for all brewers and specifically reduces the small brewer rate by 50% to $3.50 a barrel.
BA brewery members are encouraged to contact both their Representatives and Senators to ask them to sign on to both bills. Currently, HR 836 has 224 Representatives signed on and S. 1058 has 8 Senators supporting the measure. For background information and supporting material, see Excise Taxes.