Alliance Statement in Response to Bill Withdrawal

From: Afford DC, June 11, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC – The Alliance for an Affordable DC, a coalition of residents, small-business owners, neighborhood organizations and community leaders, issued the following statement in response to Councilmember Brianne Nadeau’s withdrawal of the Nutrition Equity Act that would impose a 1.5 cent per ounce excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages sold in the District of Columbia:

“Our diverse coalition of working families, small business owners, faith organizations and labor leaders raised their voices to share the devastating economic consequences a new tax would have on DC residents, especially as our community begins to recover from the pandemic. We are thankful the DC Council heard these voices and took the necessary action to withdraw this regressive grocery tax.”