New Ad Campaign Urges Senator Cramer 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 

(NORTH DAKOTA) 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. Kevin Cramer 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, and North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong, the bill’s lead sponsor in the House. 

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:

“The EQUAL Act is supported by the country’s most well-respected law enforcement leaders, prominent conservative organizations, 11 Republican Senators, and the vast majority of Republicans in the House of Representatives. They’re supporting the EQUAL Act because it protects the basic American principle that everyone should be treated fairly under the law, promotestrust in law enforcement, and benefits public safety. We hope Senator Kevin Cramer will join his colleagues standing with law enforcement, and support the EQUAL Act. 

Nelson Bunn, Executive Director, National District Attorneys Association: 

“Prosecutors and law enforcement leaders in North Dakota 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 Cramer 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.”

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 Cramer to get this important bill closer to the finish line. We strongly urge Senator Cramer to cosponsor the EQUAL Act now and help us make history.”

Jeremiah Mosteller, Senior Policy Analyst, Americans for Prosperity: 

“The EQUAL Act is a clear opportunity for Congress to end a failed policy that has caused injustice. The bold leadership of a bipartisan coalition of Senators proves that our representatives in government can work together to improve our federal criminal justice system. We hope that more Senators from both parties will join them in ending this unjust sentencing disparity that has failed to advance our country’s public safety or public health goals.”

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.