LANDMARK, HISTORIC BIPARTISAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ADVANCES IN THE HOUSE

The EQUAL Act, Which Would Eliminate the Sentencing Disparity Between Crack and Powder Cocaine, Passes With Overwhelming, Bipartisan Vote 

Today, H.R. 1693 – The EQUAL Act, which would fully and finally eliminate the federal sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses – advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 36-5. In response to today’s vote, the Justice Action Network, the country’s largest bipartisan criminal justice reform organization working at the federal and state levels, released the following statement: 

“The EQUAL Act is on the move! Today’s overwhelming, bipartisan vote brings us one step closer to finally and fully eliminating the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, one of the worst vestiges of the failed War on Drugs,” said Justice Action Network President and Executive Director Holly Harris. “The broad support for this bill, from every faction of the Republican party, and every Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, shows that criminal justice reform continues to be an issue that brings people together. We’d like to thank all of the EQUAL Act’s sponsors, including Reps. Jeffries and Armstrong, who have worked together to champion this historic legislation, and Reps. Jordan, Chabot, Gohmert, Issa, Johnson, McClintock, Massie, Bishop, Spartz, Bentz, Owens, and Fitzgerald, who put people over partisanship in today’s vote. We call on the House to pass this bipartisan bill in a swift floor vote.”

The EQUAL Act is sponsored by Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Van Taylor (R-TX), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Thomas Massie (R-KY), David Trone (D-MD), Peter Meijer (R-MI), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), David Joyce (R-OH), Mondaire Jones (D-NY), Barry Moore (R-AL), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Val Demings (D-FL), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Tom McClintock (R-CA), and Burgess Owens (R-UT). 

Companion legislation in the Senate is sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH),  Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Pat Leahy (D-VT). Groups supporting the legislation include law enforcement leaders such as the National District Attorneys Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, and Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, as well as groups from the right, left, and center, including ALEC Action, American Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition, Dream Corps JUSTICE, Due Process Institute, FAMM, Faith & Freedom Coalition, FreedomWorks, Justice Action Network, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Prison Fellowship, R Street Institute, The Sentencing Project, Taxpayers Protection Alliance and the Tzedek Association. 

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