“I am proud to announce that Gov. Cuomo has signed into law new legislation that will help our local craft breweries, wineries and distilleries streamline their manufacturing process, market new products and increase their profits. The craft beer and wine industry is booming in Western New York, and I have made every effort to bolster their presence. By recognizing the value in this emerging industry, we can keep profits in the hands of local families, create jobs and make New York attractive to start-up companies looking to own a piece of the pie in this growing market.

“In essence, the newly created laws will allow retail stores to conduct liquor samplings, exempt micro-breweries from the burdensome regulation of certain tax filing requirements, and allow farm distilleries to sell gifts and souvenirs. I voted in favor of this legislation because New York needs to do everything in its power to ease the burden on small businesses; they are the backbone of our economy and a driving force in creating jobs.”