Lawson, Buck re-introduce bipartisan bill to ensure fair aluminum pricing for brewers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Al Lawson and Ken Buck re-introduced a bipartisan solution to ensure a free and fair market for the pricing of aluminum in the United States.

The Aluminum Pricing Examination Act (H.R. 2698) grants the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) the statutory authority to conduct oversight of the aluminum market and to investigate price setting, benchmarking, and reporting entities. This bill also enables the Department of Justice to consult with the CFTC to ensure all regulatory and oversight actions align with antitrust statutes.

Lawson is a Democrat representing North Florida and Buck is a Colorado Republican. 

“I have spoken to brewers across North Florida, and the APEX Act will provide a lifeline to so many of them,” Lawson said. “By bringing it under the CFTC’s jurisdiction, it will guarantee that any potential deceptive practices and bad actors within the aluminum market can be investigated. This legislation will help to sustain jobs in the manufacturing industry and grow our local economy.”

Aluminum used in cans is the single most substantial cost in American beverage and beer manufacturing. The American economy has faced significant job losses and economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2020 alone, more than 568,000 jobs were lost in the beer industry. Almost one third of all non-alcoholic beverages come in aluminum cans, and more than 74 percent of all beer produced and sold in the United States is packaged in aluminum cans and aluminum bottles. 

“Colorado’s Fourth District is home to more than 50 breweries that employ thousands of Coloradans. These breweries and other beverages companies are currently experiencing unfair market prices for aluminum prices,” said Buck, Colorado Republican. “The APEX Act will ensure brewers and beverage companies across the United States have access to a fair and free market for aluminum purchases.”

H.R. 2698 is supported by the Beer Institute, American Beverage, National Marine Manufacturers, and the Flexible Packaging Association.

“We applaud Representatives Lawson and Buck for continuing their bipartisan work to level the playing field and ensure unfair market practices do not disproportionately harm the American beer industry or the 2.1 million jobs it supports,” said Jim McGreevy, president and CEO of the Beer Institute. “The APEX Act will bring much-needed transparency to aluminum benchmark pricing, which helps all those in the beer industry and the multitude of American job creators that rely on aluminum.”

“America’s beverage companies appreciate this effort to bring transparency, enhanced oversight and more certainty to a complicated metals pricing system,” said Katherine Lugar, president, and CEO of American Beverage. “We appreciate Mr. Lawson and Mr. Buck for continuing to lead the way on this bipartisan bill that will ultimately benefit American workers and consumers.”

Also in Washington last week, Lawson voted for H.R. 51 to grant statehood to Washington, D.C. This legislation would admit D.C. as the 51st state – securing voting representation in Congress and full self-government for the city’s 712,000 residents. 

“Our nation was built on a promise that all are created equal and are deserving of an equal say in our democracy. But for far too long, the residents of our nation’s capital have been denied adequate representation in Congress and the right to govern themselves at the local level,” Lawson said. “I am proud to support the movement for D.C. Statehood. Now it’s up to the Senate to swiftly pass this bill, admit DC into the Union and live up to America’s promise of government of, by and for the people.”

This legislation would grant the new state two voting senators and, based on its population, one voting representative to Congress. It would also establish an autonomous local government, which would no longer be subjected to Congressional control.