2025 Advocacy Wrap-Up
by Stephanie Buka, Government Affairs Manager Nov 12, 2025

A Year of Major Policy Wins for the Printing Industry 

2025 marked a landmark year for PRINTING United Alliance advocacy. From Capitol Hill to state legislatures, the Alliance delivered meaningful victories that strengthened the workforce, protected small businesses, and created a more balanced regulatory environment. 

Powering America’s Economy 

The printing and graphic communications industry remains a cornerstone of U.S. manufacturing—ranking 3rd in establishments, 10th in employees, and 15th in total sales. Integrated within the larger mailing ecosystem, print helps sustain 7.9 million American jobs and drives $1.9 trillion in annual revenue. These facts continue to drive the Alliance’s message to Congress: print is essential and matters to the 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 which exempt most businesses from having to file the reports. The Alliance continues to advocate for repeal of the CTA. 

State Wins 

  • California: South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Rule 1171 adopted Alliance recommendations to balance air quality with practical compliance for printers regarding cleaning solvents. 
  • Maine: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bill now aligns their state packaging law with those in other states. The adjustments reduce compliance complexity and strengthen uniformity for producers operating across multiple states. 
  • New Jersey & New York: Protected printing inks in both states by successfully removing a carbon black ban in their respective EPR bills.
  • Ohio: Preserved long-standing tax exemptions for printed materials in the state budget, safeguarding jobs and businesses across the state’s robust print and publishing sectors. 
  • Pigment Violet 29: The printing industry was excluded from reporting requirements related to worker exposure to PV 29. 
  • Rhode Island: Successfully opposed the ban on microparticles which would have banned inks and toners. 

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. 

Advocacy Congressional Updates Legislation
Stephanie Buka Government Affairs Manager
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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. Buka is the chief editor of the Industry Advocate newsletter. She is responsible for advocacy campaigns, policy analysis, strategy development and team leadership, all aimed at promoting the Alliance's legislative agenda. She is also responsible for the administration of the Alliance's political action committee, PrintPAC.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Buka served as a senior legislative researcher, and later as a constituent services coordinator, for the 15-member legislative body representing 1.3 million residents of Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In addition to drafting legislation and addressing constituent concerns, Buka cultivated strong relationships with appointed and elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels of government.

Buka holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). She also earned a master's degree in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, along with a Certificate in Forensic Science and Law from Duquesne University.

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