New Ad Campaign Urges Senator Cassidy To Support Bipartisan Sentencing Reform Bill Backed By Law Enforcement

The EQUAL Act, Supported by Conservative and Public Safety Leaders, Would Eliminate Federal Sentencing Disparity between Crack and Powder Cocaine 

With Eleven GOP Senate Cosponsors, EQUAL Act is Poised for Senate Floor Vote 

(LOUISIANA) A new ad campaign from Justice Action Network (JAN), the nation’s largest bipartisan criminal justice reform organization working at the federal and state levels, urges Sen. Bill Cassidy to support the EQUAL Act, a bipartisan sentencing bill backed by prosecutors and law enforcement leaders. The bill passed in the U.S House of Representatives with an overwhelming margin of 361-66, including 143 Republicans. 

See the ads at www.JusticeActionNetwork.org/equalactmedia

Just last week, the EQUAL Act gained its eleventh Republican cosponsor in the Senate, Missouri Senator Roy Blunt, pushing the bill past the 60-vote threshold for passage, and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged to bring the bill to a floor vote. 

And new polling from Public Opinion Strategies found 75% of Americans, including 70% of Trump 2020 voters, support the EQUAL Act. 

Holly Harris, President and Executive Director of the Justice Action Network:

“Senator Bill Cassidy has long been an advocate for commonsense, bipartisan reforms to address our nation’s greatest challenges, and we hope that he will once again be on the right side of history. The EQUAL Act is backed by the country’s most well-respected prosecutors and law enforcement leaders, and 11 of his Republican colleagues in the Senate, because it promotes fundamental fairness under law, and builds trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. We urge Senator Cassidy to stand with law enforcement by supporting the EQUAL Act.”

Nelson Bunn, Executive Director, National District Attorneys Association: 

“Prosecutors and law enforcement leaders in Louisiana know that promoting fairness and equity under the law by eliminating the disparity between crack and powder cocaine will assist law enforcement in protecting the communities they care deeply about. We urge Senator Cassidy to join the strong group of bipartisan Senators in ending the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. It is time for this common-sense criminal justice reform to pass the Senate.”

Patrick Purtill, Director of Legislative Affairs, Faith & Freedom Coalition: 

“The strong bipartisan support for the EQUAL Act, which would end the federal prison sentence disparity between crack cocaine and powdered cocaine offenses enacted with overwhelming bipartisan support in 1986, is the capstone to Congress’ cautious and measured approach to the new realities of substance abuse in America. We hope Senator Cassidy will join in this effort and support the EQUAL Act.”

Jason Pye, Director, Rule of Law Initiatives, Due Process Institute: 

“Thousands of families are waiting for Congress to pass the EQUAL Act to reform the long-standing unfair sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine. We need the support of Senator Cassidy to get this important bill closer to the finish line. We strongly urge Senator Cassidy to cosponsor the EQUAL Act now and help us make history.”

Senate cosponsors of the EQUAL Act include Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH), Roy Blunt, (R-MO), Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Richard Burr (R-NC),  Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Ed Markey (D-MA). 

The EQUAL Act has support from law enforcement groups including the National District Attorneys Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, former Attorneys General, U.S. Attorneys, and state and local sheriffs, police chiefs, and district attorneys; and leading conservative advocacy organizations, including  ALEC Action, Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Buckeye Institute, Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition, Digital Liberty, Due Process Institute, Empower Mississippi, Fair Trials, Faith and Freedom Coalition, FAMM, FreedomWorks, Pegasus Institute, Pelican Institute, Prison Fellowship, R Street Institute, Right on Crime, and Taxpayers Protection Alliance.