SENATOR SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO BECOMES EIGHTH GOP SENATOR TO COSPONSOR BIPARTISAN SENTENCING REFORM BILL BACKED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

THE EQUAL ACT, SUPPORTED BY KEY CONSERVATIVE AND PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS, WOULD FINALLY & FULLY ELIMINATE FEDERAL CRACK VS. POWDER COCAINE SENTENCING DISPARITY

Legislation Passed the House with Overwhelming 361-66 Vote, Uniting Right, Center & Left

Justice Action Network Praises Capito

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) became the eighth Republican Senator to cosponsor the EQUAL Act, a bipartisan sentencing bill that would fully and finally eliminate the federal sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. The bill has strong support from law enforcement groups and prosecutors, and passed the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming margin of 361-66, including 143 Republican Members of Congress. Representatives David McKinley, Carol Miller, and Alex Mooney each voted in favor of the EQUAL Act, delivering the support of the entire state delegation.

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

Kristina McGlone, Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Advocate:

“As a West Virginia constituent and someone who knows the importance of reforms to strengthen our community, I’m so glad that Senator Capito is cosponsoring the EQUAL Act. This bill will reunite more families and will give our next generation the opportunities, support and love they deserve. It’s time to pass the EQUAL Act.”

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

“We are grateful for the leadership and support of Senator Capito, and applaud her commitment to a smarter, fairer, and more effective justice system. The federal sentencing disparity violates our fundamental belief that all people should be treated fairly under the law, and it diverts public safety resources that would be better spent addressing the opioid crisis in our own backyards. We encourage Senator Capito’s colleagues to follow her lead, and stand up for better economic outcomes, stronger families, and safer communities.

Nelson Bunn, Executive Director, National District Attorneys Association:

“NDAA welcomes the great news that Senator Capito has joined thirteen of her colleagues in the Senate in cosponsoring the EQUAL Act. As members of NDAA, the elected prosecutors in West Virginia know that promoting fairness and equity under the law by eliminating the disparity between crack and powder cocaine will only serve to strengthen community relations and improve public safety. On behalf of NDAA, we thank Senator Capito for joining this commonsense important improvement to our criminal justice system.”

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

 "Senator Capito's support for the EQUAL Act shows the broad bipartisan support behind this legislation. The EQUAL Act would benefit thousands of people who were disproportionately impacted by bad sentencing policy passed by Congress decades ago. History is watching and will judge the Senate based on what its members do next. We hope they're on the right side when the EQUAL Act inevitably passes."

Kandia Milton, Policy Director, Dream Corps JUSTICE:  

“We applaud Senator Capito's co-sponsorship of the EQUAL Act, a truly bipartisan bill that eliminates the disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine.  We are now one step closer to a more fair and just criminal legal system while also reuniting families and restoring communities.”

Kevin Ring, President, FAMM:

“We are grateful to Senator Capito for cosponsoring the EQUAL Act. This overdue reform will reunite thousands of families sooner, improve public safety, save taxpayers millions of dollars, and eliminate the most racially discriminatory law from the federal code. History will judge Senator Capito’s stance kindly.”

Senator Capito joins Senators 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), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) 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; some of the nation’s most influential conservative groups, including Americans for Tax Reform, Americans for Prosperity, Faith and Freedom Coalition, FreedomWorks, ALEC Action, Prison Fellowship, the Due Process Institute, R Street Institute, and Taxpayers Protection Alliance.