We’ve known 2025 would be a defining moment for America’s family-owned wine and spirits wholesalers.
When Section 199A and the expanded estate tax provisions were first enacted in 2017 they were set to expire in 2025. WSWA’s mission was clear: these vital provisions had to be made permanent. From day one we had a single goal – make them permanent to provide long-term certainty for our members to invest, hire, and grow.
Last week, that vision became reality.
With the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Section 199A’s 20% deduction is now permanent, and expanded estate tax exemptions are secured. These victories ensure that WSWA members, family-owned, multigenerational businesses in every state and Congressional district, can plan for the future with confidence.
A Seven-Year Strategy
This achievement was no accident. It was the result of years of targeted, persistent advocacy by WSWA staff and, critically, our members.
Since 2017, WSWA members hosted more than 100 warehouse tours, met with an average of 200 Congressional offices annually at WSWA’s Fly-In, and contributed more than $7.18 million to pro-wholesaler candidates through the WSWA-PAC.
After years of dedicated lawmaker education, in 2024 efforts to support permanency legislation culminated in a record 194 bipartisan House co-sponsors and 34 in the Senate.
The Final Push
Over the last 12 months, our members stepped up in extraordinary ways:
Submitting dozens of letters to Members of Congress about how 199A has shaped their businesses.
Hosting educational roundtables with lawmakers and industry partners.
Engaging with major domestic media outlets like Bloomberg, Politico, the Washington Post, MarketWatch, and the Associated Press to bring their stories to the national stage.
The result? Together we proved that when Main Street talks, Washington listens.
None of this would have been possible without you—our members.
Strength in Unity
We’re incredibly proud of the WSWA staff who worked behind the scenes to navigate shifting political landscapes, build bipartisan coalitions, and deliver results. But we know full well that our strength as an association comes from the stories, voices, and leadership of our members.
Whether you hosted a tour, wrote a letter, showed up to the fly-in, or supported WSWA-PAC: you made this happen.
This is a historic win. One that will support America’s wine and spirits wholesalers for generations. One that proves when we engage together, we can shape national policy that strengthens Main Street and protects family-owned businesses.
What’s Next
This victory isn’t the end of the road. It’s a turning point. As our industry continues to evolve, new challenges and opportunities will emerge. And WSWA will continue to be there—advocating, educating, and building momentum for what’s next.
But today, we celebrate a promise kept and a milestone earned.
Thank you for your partnership, your advocacy, and your belief in what we can accomplish together.