SENATOR CYNTHIA LUMMIS APPLAUDED BY CONSERVATIVE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS FOR SPONSORSHIP OF EQUAL ACT

BILL WOULD FINALLY & FULLY ELIMINATE FEDERAL DRUG SENTENCING DISPARITY  

EQUAL Act Passed with Overwhelming 361-66 House Vote 

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), a staunch conservative, became the seventh Republican cosponsor of the EQUAL Act, which would fully and finally eliminate the federal sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. The two substances are virtually identical and equally dangerous, and yet crack carries a shocking penalty that is 18 times that of powder cocaine. The bill passed in the House of Representatives by a margin of 361-66, including 143 Republicans. 

Senator Lummis joins Republican Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Susan Collins (R-ME) as cosponsors. Advocates from across the political spectrum say the addition of Senator Lummis is a clear indication that the EQUAL Act has the momentum needed to pass the Senate. 

Senator Lummis’ sponsorship of the EQUAL Act was applauded by leading conservative and law enforcement organizations: 

Holly Harris, President and Executive Director of the Justice Action Network and a veteran Republican strategist said:

“We are grateful for Senator Lummis’ commitment to better economic outcomes, stronger families, and safer communities. This federal sentencing disparity violates the fundamental notion that we treat people fairly, it has contributed to the explosive and expensive growth of the federal prison system and bureaucracy, and yet we still don’t see the public safety return we deserve. We hope Senator Lummis’ colleagues will follow her lead, and stand up for a smarter, fairer, and more effective justice system.’

Nelson Bunn, Executive Director, National District Attorneys Association: 

“NDAA welcomes the great news that Senator Lummis has joined twelve of her colleagues in the Senate in co-sponsoring the EQUAL Act. Now is the time to build on bipartisan support for legislation that promotes fairness and equity under the law by reducing the disparity in federal sentencing between crack and powder cocaine. We appreciate Sen. Lummis’ strong stance in support of the legislation and look forward to working with her and her colleagues to get the bill passed this Congress”.

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

“We applaud the leadership of Senator Lummis for cosponsoring the EQUAL Act. Her cosponsorship echoes how broad the support for the EQUAL Act is. It’s time to get this reform across the finish line. We urge all senators to cosponsor this legislation so that Congress can continue their bipartisan work in restoring common sense and fairness to our federal sentencing law.”

The EQUAL Act has support from groups across the political spectrum, including the Major Cities Chiefs Association, National District Attorneys Association, Americans for Tax Reform, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, Prison Fellowship, Due Process Institute, Americans for Prosperity, FAMM, Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition, Faith and Freedom Coalition, ALEC Action, R Street Institute, FreedomWorks, and Taxpayers Protection Alliance.