NEWS: SENATOR JOE MANCHIN COSPONSORS SENTENCING REFORM BILL BACKED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, CONSERVATIVE & CIVIL RIGHTS ORGS ALIKE - MOMENTUM GROWS FOR PASSAGE

Law Enforcement, Conservative, and Civil Rights Organizations Applaud Senator Manchin  

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) cosponsored the EQUAL Act, a bipartisan sentencing reform bill that would fully and finally eliminate the federal sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) is also a cosponsor of the EQUAL Act, along with nine of her GOP colleagues. The bill has strong support from law enforcement groups, and passed in the House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote of 361-66, including 143 Republicans. Every member of West Virginia’s House delegation voted in favor of the EQUAL Act.  

Senator Manchin’s sponsorship of the EQUAL Act was applauded by leading law enforcement, conservative, and civil rights organizations:

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

“Justice Action Network thanks Senator Manchin for his support for the EQUAL Act, and his commitment to the fundamental, bipartisan principle that all people should be treated fairly under the law. This  federal sentencing disparity has diverted resources from efforts to combat violent crime and address the opioid crisis, and made it difficult for law enforcement to build trust with communities of color. That's why law enforcement leaders, from prosecutors to police chiefs, strongly support this bill. We urge Senate leadership to follow Senator Manchin’s lead, prioritize this landmark bipartisan legislation, and schedule a vote on the EQUAL Act.”

Nelson Bunn, Executive Director, National District Attorneys Association:

“NDAA appreciates Senator Manchin for joining a strong group of bipartisan Senators in co-sponsoring the EQUAL Act. Our elected prosecutors throughout West Virginia 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. The growing bipartisan support for the EQUAL Act signals it is time for this common-sense criminal justice reform to pass the Senate.”

Janos Marton, National Director, Dream Corps JUSTICE:

 "Dream Corps JUSTICE is thrilled to have Senator Machin's support in co-sponsoring the EQUAL Act. Having both West Virginia's Republican Senator and Democratic Senator support speaks to this legislation's broad, bipartisan support, and the common sense it brings to fixing broken drug policies of the past."

Kevin Ring, President, FAMM:

“Senator Manchin knows that discriminatory sentencing laws don’t make West Virginia safer. They simply tear families and communities apart and waste taxpayer dollars. We are grateful for his leadership in supporting the EQUAL Act and ending this unwarranted disparity once and for all.”

Senator Manchin joins Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH), 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), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Richard Burr (R-NC) as cosponsors of the legislation.  

The EQUAL Act has been endorsed by leading law enforcement organizations, including the National District Attorneys Association, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; and groups from across the political spectrum, including Americans for Tax Reform, Dream Corps JUSTICE, FAMM, Buckeye Institute, FreedomWorks, NAACP, Pegasus Institute, Center for American Progress, Prison Fellowship, Faith and Freedom Coalition, National Urban League, ALEC Action, REFORM Alliance, Due Process Institute, The Sentencing Project, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, R Street Institute, Vera Institute of Justice, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.