WASHINGTON - Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) and colleagues introduced legislation to protect premium cigar small businesses in Southwest Florida and nationwide from burdensome regulations.
“Premium cigars are a staple of Southwest Florida’s vibrant community and contribute to our local economy. As a cigar enthusiast, I believe this great pastime unites people and brings great pride and economic benefit to the countless families and entrepreneurs who dedicate their lives to this unique commodity. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill that shields the premium cigar industry from overburdensome regulations from the FDA that will unnecessarily cause my community and several others economic hardships.
Representatives Horsford (D-NV), Cuellar (D-TX), Titus (D-NV), Gallego (D-AZ), Panetta (D-CA), Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Langworthy (R-NY), Amodei (R-NV), Bost (R-IL), and Calvert (R-CA) are cosponsors.
“We commend Representative Donalds for his leadership in bringing this issue to the Congress. As the congressman who represents our headquarters and our workers, he has taken the time to understand and appreciate the way that unnecessary regulation burdens small businesses like ours and the adverse impact it has on wages and benefits for his constituents who work here. This bill fundamentally saves American jobs and preserves small businesses. We have spent 26 years of our lives building this business. We started in a garage in California with two employees and now have over 3,000 employees working directly and indirectly with us. Our small business also provides a half million jobs in Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic - jobs that provide critical economic opportunity and stability for our workers and their families, significantly reducing pressure on irregular migration.” - Rocky Patel, Founder & CEO, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars
“Our company believes that although premium cigars are tobacco, it is a niche industry made up mostly of small family owned businesses and do not pose the same level of health and addiction risks as other tobacco products. The courts affirmed this in its decision and this bill is vital to the long term survival of our industry by memorializing it legislatively. We greatly appreciate Congressman Donalds’ efforts in pushing this bill forward” - Cory Bappert, CEO, Oliva Cigar Company
