By Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Manager, PRINTING United Alliance

2025 was a milestone year for PRINTING United Alliance advocacy. From Capitol Hill to statehouses across the country, we advanced policies that strengthen the workforce, support small businesses, and create a healthier regulatory landscape for our industry.

As a core sector of American manufacturing, print continues to play a powerful role in the economy—ranking third in establishments, 10th in employees, and 15th in total sales nationwide. And when you look at the broader mailing ecosystem, our industry helps sustain 7.9 million jobs and generates $1.9 trillion in annual economic activity. These numbers reinforce our message to lawmakers every day: print is essential and matters to our nation’s economy. 

Federal Wins 

Tax Relief in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act 
The Alliance helped secure critical tax provisions for print service providers including: 

• Permanent 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) tax deduction for companies organized as S corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietors. 
• 100% bonus depreciation and expanded expensing for equipment and capital investments. 
• Restored full Research & Experimental expensing for domestic innovation. 
• EBITDA-based interest deduction, improving access to affordable financing. 
• Preserved the advertising tax deduction, driving demand for printed materials, and reducing the tax burden on printing businesses. 

The manufacturing sector realized a 19% or $328 billion decrease in taxes. By aligning tax incentives with the realities of modern industrial investment, these provisions within the OBBB empower manufacturers to scale operations, embrace innovation, and strengthen domestic production.  

Workforce Development Win 

As a member of Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition, the Alliance played a pivotal role in securing passage of the bipartisan Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act—a major win for America’s skilled trades. Included in the OBBB, this law expands the use of 529 savings accounts to cover postsecondary training programs, technical education, and professional certifications. By transforming 529 plans from “college savings” into “career savings,” families, students, and workers can now use tax-advantaged funds to pursue career growth, mid-career retraining, and pathways beyond traditional degrees. This victory opens new doors for workforce development and helps close the skills gap across the print and packaging industry. 

Main Street Relief 

The Alliance called for a repeal or, at a minimum, a delay in the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The Act would have impacted Main Street employers, including many print service providers, with unnecessary, complex, and burdensome reporting requirements. Thankfully, due to the efforts of the Alliance and like-minded associations, the Treasury Department and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) paused enforcement of the CTA and developed new rules that exempt most businesses from having to file the reports. The Alliance continues to advocate for repeal of the CTA. 

Looking ahead

These 2025 victories reflect the power of member engagement and coalition advocacy—and set the stage for even greater impact in 2026. Because of your engagement, the Alliance continues to shape policies that strengthen the printing industry and ensure a vibrant, competitive future—thank you for making that possible. 

About the author: Stephanie Buka is the Government Affairs Manager for PRINTING United Alliance. In this role, she supports Ford Bowers, CEO, the Government Affairs team, and coordinates efforts with contracted lobbying firm, ACG Advocacy.