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Bill117th CongressFiled Mar 9, 2021Crime and Law Enforcement
H.R. 1693

EQUAL Act of 2021

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

Filed
Comm.
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Law

What it doesSummary passed house (Sep 28, 2021)

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.

What just happenedSep 29, 2021

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8](D-NY)Sponsor
56 cosponsors30 D26 R
Read on Congress.gov
56cosponsors3committees23actions1related bills2subjects
  1. Sep 29, 2021IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  2. Sep 28, 2021FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Sep 28, 2021FloorH37300

    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)

  4. Sep 28, 2021Floor8000

    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)

  5. Sep 28, 2021FloorH30000

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5492-5493)

  6. Sep 28, 2021FloorH37220

    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.

  7. Sep 28, 2021FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1693.

  8. Sep 28, 2021FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5477-5481)

  9. Sep 28, 2021FloorH30300

    Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  10. Sep 27, 2021CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 92.

  11. Sep 27, 2021DischargeH12300

    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  12. Sep 27, 2021Committee5500

    Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  13. Sep 27, 2021CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-128, Part I.

    Judiciary Committee
  14. Sep 27, 2021Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-128, Part I.

    Judiciary Committee
  15. Jul 21, 2021Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended).

    Judiciary Committee
  16. Jul 21, 2021Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Judiciary Committee
  17. Jul 21, 2021Committee

    Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.

    Judiciary Committee
  18. May 18, 2021Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

    Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
  19. Mar 10, 2021Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Health Subcommittee
  20. Mar 9, 2021IntroReferralH11100

    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.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  21. Mar 9, 2021IntroReferralH11100

    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.

    Judiciary Committee
  22. Mar 9, 2021IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  23. Mar 9, 2021IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed HouseSep 28, 202153

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.

Reported to House, Part ISep 27, 20218

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.

Introduced in HouseMar 9, 2021

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.

EQUAL Act of 2021 — Informed