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SENATE 79117th CongressMessage on Senate action sent to the House.

A resolution notifying the House of Representatives of the election of the Secretary of the Senate.

Last Action
3/1/2021

Actions

  • 2021-01-28Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • 2021-01-28Introduced in Senate

CRS Summary

As of 2021-01-28 (00)

Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law Act or the EQUAL Act

This bill eliminates the federal sentencing disparity between drug offenses involving crack cocaine and powder cocaine.

Currently, different threshold quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine (e.g., 28 grams of crack cocaine and 500 grams of powder cocaine) trigger the same statutory criminal penalties.

This bill eliminates the lower quantity thresholds for crack cocaine offenses. Under the bill, the same threshold quantities of crack cocaine and powder cocaine trigger the same statutory criminal penalties.

The change applies to future cases and cases pending on the date of enactment. With respect to past cases, the bill authorizes resentencing of a defendant who was convicted or sentenced for a crack cocaine offense before the date of enactment.

Cosponsors (20)

  • Richard Durbin (D-IL)
  • Rob Portman (R-OH)
  • Rand Paul (R-KY)
  • Thomas 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)
  • Shelley Capito (R-WV)
  • Christopher Coons (D-DE)
  • Timothy Kaine (D-VA)
  • Jerry Moran (R-KS)
  • Charles Schumer (D-NY)
  • Richard Burr (R-NC)
  • Joseph Manchin (D-WV)
  • Roy Blunt (R-MO)

Subjects

  • Criminal procedure and sentencing
  • Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Read on Congress.gov

Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.