Premier Press Hosts Congresswoman and Co-Chair of the Congressional Printing Caucus
Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, 5th District of Oregon, took the time to visit Portland, Oregon’s Premier Press, spending time touring the facilities and gaining a true appreciation for the depth and breadth of what “print” really is.
As one of the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Printing Caucus, Chavez-DeRemer is helping lead the charge to educate her fellow Members of Congress in how print is a vital and thriving part of our economy, and contributes to nearly every aspect of our lives.
Chavez-DeRemer also took the opportunity to speak with staff of the Premier Press team, from sales, to design, to production, to learn more about how their work contributes to the whole, and helps bring client visions to life. She also was able to see how the entire Premier Press team is dedicated to helping educate and grow the next generation of printers — a cause she is passionate about herself when it comes to helping today’s students get a meaningful education and a career path that will help them find work and thrive in Oregon.
In fact, Chavez-DeRemer co-sponsored a bill with fellow Congressman Derek Kilmer from Washington last December seeking to expand training opportunities around digital skills and digital literacy — things the print industry offers in spades.
“In today’s technologically advanced economy, digital literacy is critical for building a well-rounded workforce,” said Chavez-DeRemer in a statement. “Our bipartisan Digital Skills Act will empower students, workers, and families by expanding the teaching of skills needed to succeed and advance in their careers.”
And this is a task Premier Press is helping push forward long before the bill was ever introduced, with multiple programs engaging local students and teaching them the power of print, and the many ways it touches lives, as well as the many different paths to a rewarding career in this industry.
Chavez-DeRemer was able to chat with multiple Premier Press employees on the topic, from the sales staff, to the marketing team, to the designers, and even the press operators, getting a better picture of not only what it takes to produce award-winning print pieces, but also how they are contributing to the growth of the industry and the next generation in everything from graphic design, to photography, to prepress, to sales and marketing, and yes, even press operation and production.
Premier Press creates everything from postcards, to stickers, to marketing materials, to banners and signs, to custom and unique brand activations that encompass print, digital components, promotional items, and everything in between. And since an acquisition completed last year, the company has added apparel printing as well, a rapidly growing segment of their business both today and for the future.
Chavez-DeRemer had the opportunity to see all of this, taking in the impressive and wide array of examples of the work Premier Press has done over the years, including multiple award-winning pieces for national brands and companies. She was also able to see how they support those brands with not just the flashy pieces that get noticed on social media, but also how they help them create an entire branding ecosystem that touches every part of a brand’s identity.
Shaping the Future
There are a number of important pieces of legislation to watch in the coming year, not to mention the goal of the Caucus to build awareness of just how vital the print industry is for America’s broader economy. While Chavez-DeRemer spent her time focused more on Premier Press, its people, and what it brings to Oregon than on future legislation, she will be instrumental in leading the charge on several topics, including:
- As Congress considers tax reform, there will be a focus on preserving the full deductibility of print advertising as an ordinary and necessary business expense. This component of the tax code is vital not only to the flourishing domestic printing industry, but also to the American economy, which thrives through competition, innovation, and consumer choice.
- IRC 162(a) allows companies to deduct "ordinary and necessary" expenses, including advertising, from taxable income. Current law deems advertising as deductible if it promotes a taxpayer's business, is reasonable in amount, and verifiable.
- Over the last decade, there have been several attempts by lawmakers to limit or eliminate the advertising tax deduction to raise revenue. However, these proposals have failed due to recognition of the disproportionate harm to small businesses and local newspapers.
- Revising the NAICS codes so they more accurately reflect the size of the printing industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) last updated the NAICS codes in 2022, and the next scheduled revision is not until 2027.
- Monitoring the extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws being enacted at the state level, and whether EPR discussions rise to the federal level.
And these are just a few of the top concerns the Printing Caucus, headed up by Chavez-DeRemer and her colleagues and fellow Co-Chairs Claudia Tenney from New York; Mark Pocan from Wisconsin; and Jared Golden from Maryland. The Congressional Printing Caucus is being billed as “a vital platform dedicated to advancing a public policy agenda that safeguards and promotes America's printing industry and its diverse communities,” and it was gratifying to see the founding members taking this role seriously, and making the time to get to know the printers in their own states and districts.
Toni McQuilken is the senior editor for the printing and packaging group.
