EQUAL Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-1693
Sponsor: Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8]
Introduced: 2021-03-09 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Criminal procedure and sentencing
Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-09
text: 

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. 

action_date: 2021-09-27
text: 

Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law Act of 2021 or the EQUAL Act of 2021

 
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 a sentencing court to impose a reduced sentence on a defendant who was convicted or sentenced for a specified crack cocaine offense before this bill's enactment. A defendant does not have to be present at the sentence reduction hearing. Finally, the bill prohibits the reduction of a sentence that was previously reduced. 

action_date: 2021-09-28
text: 

Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law Act of 2021 or the EQUAL Act of 2021

 
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 a sentencing court to impose a reduced sentence on a defendant who was convicted or sentenced for a specified crack cocaine offense before this bill's enactment. A defendant does not have to be present at the sentence reduction hearing. Finally, the bill prohibits the reduction of a sentence that was previously reduced.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-09-29
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2021-09-28
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2021-09-28
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 361 - 66 (Roll no. 297). (text: CR H5477)
action_date: 2021-09-28
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 361 - 66 (Roll no. 297).(text: CR H5477)
action_date: 2021-09-28
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5492-5493)
action_date: 2021-09-28
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2021-09-28
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1693.
action_date: 2021-09-28
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5477-5481)
action_date: 2021-09-28
text: Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2021-09-27
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 92.
action_date: 2021-09-27
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2021-09-27
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2021-09-27
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-128, Part I.
action_date: 2021-09-27
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-128, Part I.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended).
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-07-21
text: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2021-03-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2021-03-09
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-03-09
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2021-03-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-03-09
text: Introduced in House