WASHINGTON, D.C.03/05/2025– Paul Powell, Vice President and General Manager of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) member company American Premium Beverage, received a distinguished invitation from Representative Greg Murphy (R-NC) to attend President Trump’s address last night as his special guest. This honor underscores the essential role of WSWA and its members in shaping critical policy discussions on Capitol Hill.
Powell’s invitation reflects his leadership and commitment to advocating for the second tier. For the past 25 years Powell has been an integral member of the wholesale community and served in numerous leadership roles at WSWA. Most recently, he joined other family-owned wholesalers in calling for the extension of the Section 199A deduction for qualified business income—which allows America’s family-owned wine and spirits wholesalers to reinvest between $43.5-$54.3 million annually into their businesses, employees, and communities. With Section 199A set to expire at the end of this year, securing its permanence remains a top priority for wholesalers and WSWA in 2025.
"I am honored to be invited to the joint address as a guest of Representative Murphy and to represent the hardworking members of the wholesale tier," said Powell. "Section 199A has been a critical tool for our business, allowing us to reinvest $4 million annually into our operations with half of that directly supporting our employees and the other half supporting our facilities and community. Ensuring its permanence is vital for the continued growth and success of family-owned wholesalers like ours. I appreciate the opportunity to highlight the importance of this issue on a national stage."
Family-owned wholesalers across the nation are strongly advocating for the permanence of 199A. In the past year alone, WSWA members hosted three educational roundtables and more than ten warehouse tours across the country with Members of Congress to highlight the importance of making Section 199A permanent. In 2024, bipartisan support for the initiative reached new heights, with legislation to solidify the deduction securing a record 194 cosponsors in the House of Representatives. Representative Murphy, a key member of the House Ways and Means Committee, is a strong champion of the bill.
“We are thrilled to see American Premium Beverage recognized on this national stage,” said WSWA Executive Vice President, Government Affairs Dawson Hobbs. “This invitation is a well-deserved honor, and we appreciate Congressman Murphy’s recognition of an important local family-owned business.”
A joint address to Congress provides a critical platform for shaping national policy priorities. The presence of a key industry representative at this event highlights the wholesale tier’s vital contributions to the economy and regulatory landscape.