,i  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #cecj  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #af1 #bjae  
,ms4 ,max9e ,wat]s ( ,cali=nia 7=       
h]self1 ,mr4 ,honda1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1    
,mr4 ,fattah1 ,mr4 ,brady (             
,p5nsylvania1 ,mr4 ,ellison1 ,ms4 ,lee1 
,ms4 ,norton1 ,mr4 ,pocan1 & ,mr4 ,coh57
 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y1 & 9     
addition to ! ,committee on ,en]gy &    
,comm]ce1 = a p]iod to be subsequ5tly   
det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* case =      
consid]ation ( su* provisions z fall )9 
! jurisdiction ( ! committee conc]n$  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to elim9ate m&atory m9imum    
s5t5ces = all drug (f5ses4  #a4 ,%ort   
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,m&atory
 ,m9imum ,re=m ,act ( #bjae4  #b4 ,f9d+s
 ,congress makes ! foll[+ f9d+s3  7#a7  
,m&atory m9imum s5t5ces are /atutorily  
prescrib$ t]ms ( imprisonm5t t          
automatically atta* ^u conviction (     
c]ta9 crim9al conduct1 usually p]ta9+ to
 drug or fire>m (f5ses4 ,abs5t v n>r[   

crit]ia = relief1 a s5t5c+ judge is     
p[]less to m&ate a t]m ( imprisonm5t    
bel[ ! m&atory m9imum4 ,m&atory m9imum  
s5t5ces = drug (f5ses rely solely ^u !  
weight ( ! sub/ance z a proxy = ! degree
 ( involvem5t ( a def5dant's role4  7#b7
 ,9 ! ,anti-,drug ,abuse ,act ( #aihf1 &
 at ! height ( ! public outcry ov] crack
 coca9e1 ,congress act$ ha/ily1 )\t     
suffici5t he>+s1 & enact$ h>d l9e       
p5alties t t>get$ l[-level drug (f5d]s4 
,^! p5alties includ$ new1 long m&atory  
m9imum s5t5ces = su* (f5d]s4  7#c7      
,accord+ to ! ,bureau ( ,prisons1 9     
#aihf1 :5 ! new drug law conta9+ l5g?y  
m&atory m9imum s5t5ces pass$1 ! prison  
population 0 #cf1jjj4 ,today1 ! ,f$]al  
prison population is ov] #baj1jjj       
prison]s1 up almo/ #fjj p]c5t 9 #bi     
ye>s4  7#d7 ,accord+ to ! ,bureau (     
,prisons1 ! av]age co/ to keep "o       
prison] 9 ,f$]al prison = "o ye> is     
approximately #bi1jjj4  7#e7 ,accord+ to
 ! ,(fice ( ,managem5t & ,budget1 annual
 sp5d+ on ! ,f$]al prison sy/em rose    

#eie p]c5t1 f #igj1jjj1jjj to m ?an #f4g
 billion 9 inflation-adju/$ doll>s1     
betwe5 #aihj & #bjac4  7#f7 ,accord+ to 
! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+ ,commission1 betwe5    
#aiie & #bjaj1 ov] #djj1jjj drug (f5d]s 
7 s5t5c$ "u ,f$]al law2 ( ^!1 almo/     
#bej1jjj 7#fa p]c5t7 receiv$ m&atory    
m9imum s5t5ces4  7#g7 ,accord+ to !     
,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+ ,commission1 drug (f5d]s 
releas$ f prison 9 #aihf :o _h be5      
s5t5c$ be=e ! adoption ( m&atory s5t5ces
 & s5t5c+ guidel9es _h s]v$ an av]age ( 
#bb mon?s 9 prison4 ,9 #bjac1 almo/     
two-?irds ( all drug (f5d]s receiv$ a   
m&atory s5t5ce1 ) mo/ receiv+ a #aj-ye> 
m9imum4 ,mo/ ( ^! (f5d]s are nonviol5t  
or l[]-level (f5d]s ) little or no      
crim9al hi/ory3 9 #bjac1 #di4f p]c5t _h 
few or no prior convictions1 #hc4h p]c5t
 did n h weapons involv$ 9 _! (f5se1 &  
only #g p]c5t 7 consid]$ lead]s1        
manag]s1 or sup]visors ( drug op]ations4
  7#h7 ,m&atory m9imum s5t5ces h        
consi/5tly be5 %[n to h a               
disproportionate impact on              

,african-,am]icans4 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates    
,s5t5c+ ,commission1 9 a #ae-ye> ov]view
 ( ! ,f$]al s5t5c+ sy/em1 conclud$ t    
m&atory p5alty /atutes are us$          
inconsi/5tly & disproportionately affect
 ,african-,am]ican def5dants4           
,african-,am]ican drug def5dants are #bj
 p]c5t m likely to be s5t5c$ to prison  
?an ,:ite drug def5dants4  7#i7 ,accord+
 to ! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+ ,commission1 betwe5
 #aiid & #bjjc1 ! av]age "t s]v$ by     
,african-,am]icans = a drug (f5se       
increas$ by #fb p]c5t1 comp>$ to a #ag  
p]c5t increase among ,:ite drug         
def5dants4  7#aj7 ,accord+ to !         
,sub/ance ,abuse & ,m5tal ,heal?        
,s]vices ,adm9i/ration1 ,gov]nm5t       
surveys docum5t t drug use is r\ghly    
consi/5t across racial & e?nic gr\ps4   
,:ile !re is less data available reg>d+ 
drug sell]s1 rese>* f ! ,(fice (        
,national ,drug ,control ,policy & !    
,national ,in/itute ( ,ju/ice has f\nd t
 drug us]s g5]ally buy drugs f someone (
 _! own racial or e?nic backgr\nd4 ,b1  

accord+ to ! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+ ,commission1
 ov] #gj p]c5t ( all ,f$]al n>cotics    
(f5d]s s5t5c$ ea* ye> are               
,african-,am]icans &                    
,hispanic-,am]icans1 _m ( :om are       
l[-level (f5d]s4  7#aa7 ,z a result (   
,f$]al prosecutors' focus on l[-level   
drug (f5d]s1 ! ov]:elm+ majority (      
individuals subject to ! height5$ crack 
coca9e p5alties are ,african-,am]ican4  
,accord+ to ! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+            
,commission's #bjjg ,report to ,congress
 on crack coca9e1 only #h4h p]c5t (     
,f$]al crack coca9e convictions 7 impos$
 on ,:ite ,am]icans1 :ile #ha4h p]c5t & 
#h4d p]c5t 7 impos$ on ,african-,am]ican
 & ,hispanics1 respectively4  7#ab7     
,accord+ to ! ,u4,s4 ,c5sus1            
,african-,am]icans comprise #ab p]c5t ( 
! ,u4,s4 population &1 accord+ to !     
,sub/ance ,abuse & ,m5tal ,heal?        
,s]vices ,adm9i/ration1 ab\t #aj p]c5t (
 all drug us]s1 b almo/ #bf4e p]c5t (   
all ,f$]al drug convictions accord+ to !
 ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+ ,commission4  7#ac7     

,accord+ to ! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+            
,commission1 ,african-,am]icans1 on     
av]age1 n[ s]ve almo/ z mu* "t 9 ,f$]al 
prison = a drug (f5se 7#eh4g mon?s7 z   
,:ites d = a viol5t (f5se 7#fa4g mon?s74
  7#ad7 ,accord+ to ! ,u4,s4 ,s5t5c+    
,commission1 9 #bjac1 almo/ #cd p]c5t ( 
wom5 ent]+ ,f$]al prison did s = a drug 
(f5se4 ,l9k+ drug quantity ) puni%m5t   
sev]ity has _h a p>ticul>ly pr(\nd      
impact on wom51 :o are m likely to play 
p]iph]al roles 9 a drug ent]prise ?an   
m54 ,h[ev]1 because prosecutors c atta* 
drug quantities to an individual        
reg>dless ( ! level ( a def5dant's      
p>ticipation 9 ! *>g$ (f5se1 wom5 h be5 
expos$ to increas+ly punitive s5t5ces to
 inc>c]ation4  7#ae7 ,l[-level &        
mid-level drug (f5d]s c be adequately   
prosecut$ by ! ,/ates & puni%$ or       
sup]vis$ 9 treatm5t z appropriate4      
7#af7 ,! ,dep>tm5ts ( ,ju/ice1 !        
,treasury1 & ,homel& ,security are !    
ag5cies ) ! greate/ capacity to         
inve/igate1 prosecute & dismantle !     

highe/ level ( drug traffick+           
organizations4 ,l[-level drug (f5d]     
inve/igations & prosecutions div]t      
,f$]al p]sonnel & res\rces f prosecut+  
high-level traffick]s4  7#ag7 ,congress 
mu/ h ! mo/ curr5t in=mation on ! numb] 
( prosecutions ( high-level & l[-level  
drug (f5d]s 9 ord] to prop]ly reau?orize
 ,f$]al drug en=cem5t programs4  7#ah7  
,congress has an obligation to taxpay]s 
to use s5t5c+ policies t are            
co/-effective & increase public safety1 
9 addition to e/abli%+ a crim9al ju/ice 
sy/em t is fair1 effici5t1 & provides j 
s5t5ces = (f5d]s4 ,m&atory s5t5ces h n  
be5 conclusively %[n to r$uce recidivism
 or det] crime4  7#ai7 ,prisons are     
important & exp5sive2 ! limit$ res\rces 
9 ! ,f$]al crim9al ju/ice sy/em %\ld be 
us$ to protect society by incapacitat+  
dang]\s & viol5t (f5d]s :o pose a ?reat 
to public safety4 ,! ,f$]al judici>y has
 ! exp]tise & is 9 ! be/ position to    
s5t5ce ea* (f5d] & det]m9e :o %\ld be   
s5t to ,f$]al prisons & ! am\nt ( "t ea*

 (f5d] %\ld s]ve4  #c4 ,approval ( c]ta9
 prosecutions by ,attorney ,g5]al ,a    
,f$]al prosecution = an (f5se "u !      
,controll$ ,sub/ances ,act1 ! ,controll$
 ,sub/ances ,import & ,export ,act1 or =
 any conspiracy to commit su* an (f5se1 
:]e ! (f5se involves ! illegal          
di/ribution or possession ( a controll$ 
sub/ance 9 an am\nt less ?an t am\nt    
specifi$ z a m9imum = an (f5se "u       
section #dja7;b77#a77;,a7 ( ! ,controll$
 ,sub/ances ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4         
#hda7;b77#a77;,a77 or1 9 ! case ( any   
sub/ance conta9+ coca9e or coca9e base1 
9 an am\nt less ?an #ejj grams1 %all n  
be comm5c$ )\t ! prior writt5 approval (
 ! ,attorney ,g5]al4  #d4 ,modification 
( c]ta9 s5t5c+ provisions  7a7 ,section 
#djd ,section #djd7;a7 ( ! ,controll$   
,sub/ances ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #hdd7;a77
 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ n less ?an #ae
 days b2  7#b7 by /rik+ n less ?an #ij  
days b2 &  7#c7 by /rik+ ! s5t5ce beg9n+
 ,! imposition or execution ( a m9imum  
s5t5ce4  7b7 ,section #dja ,section     

#dja7;b7 ( ! ,controll$ ,sub/ances ,act 
7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #hda7;b77 is am5d$-- 7#a7
 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,a7--  7,a7 by /rik+  
:i* may n be less ?an #aj ye>s & or m   
?an & ins]t+ = any t]m ( ye>s or =2     
7,b7 by /rik+ & if dea? or s]i\s bodily 
injury results f ! use ( su* sub/ance   
%all n be less ?an #bj ye>s or m ?an    
life2  7,c7 by /rik+ :i* may n be less  
?an #bj ye>s & n m ?an life imprisonm5t 
& if dea? or s]i\s bodily injury results
 f ! use ( su* sub/ance %all be s5t5c$  
to imprisonm5t = any t]m ( ye>s or =    
life imprisonm5t & ins]t+ = any t]m (   
ye>s or = life2  7,d7 by /rik+ ! s5t5ce 
beg9n+ ,if any p]son commits a violation
 ( ?is subp>agraph2 &  7,e7 by /rik+ !  
s5t5ce beg9n+ ,not)/&+ any o!r provision
 ( law & ! s5t5ce beg9n+ ,no p]son      
s5t5c$2  7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,b7--    
7,a7 by /rik+ :i* may n be less ?an #e  
ye>s & & ins]t+ =2  7,b7 by /rik+ n less
 ?an #bj ye>s or m ?an1 & ins]t+ = any  
t]m or ye>s or =2  7,c7 by /rik+ :i* may
 n be less ?an #aj ye>s & n m ?an &     

ins]t+ = any t]m ( ye>s or =2  7,d7 by  
ins]t+ imprisonm5t = any t]m ( ye>s or =
 aft] if dea? or s]i\s bodily injury    
results f ! use ( su* sub/ance %all be  
s5t5c$ to2 &  7,e7 by /rik+ ! s5t5ce    
beg9n+ ,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law 
& ! s5t5ce beg9n+ ,no p]son s5t5c$2 &   
7#c7 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,c71 by /rik+ ( n 
less ?an tw5ty ye>s or m ?an life &     
ins]t+ = any t]m ( ye>s or to life      
imprisonm5t4  7c7 ,section #ajaj        
,section #ajaj7;b7 ( ! ,controll$       
,sub/ances ,import & ,export ,act 7#ba  
,u4,s4,c4 #ifj7;b77 is am5d$--  7#a7 9  
p>agraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by /rik+ ( n less  
?an #aj ye>s & n m ?an & ins]t+ = any   
t]m ( ye>s or =2  7,b7 by /rik+ & if    
dea? ! fir/ place x appe>s & all t      
foll[s ?r\gh #bj ye>s & n m ?an life !  
fir/ place x appe>s2  7,c7 by /rik+ ( n 
less ?an #bj ye>s & n m ?an life        
imprisonm5t & ins]t+ = any t]m ( ye>s or
 = life2  7,d7 by /rik+ & if dea? or    
s]i\s bodily injury results f ! use (   
su* sub/ance %all be s5t5c$ to life     

imprisonm5t2 &  7,e7 by /rik+ ! s5t5ce  
beg9n+ ,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law 
& ! s5t5ce beg9n+ ,no p]son s5t5c$2     
7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#b7--  7,a7 by /rik+ n 
less ?an #e ye>s &2  7,b7 by /rik+ ( n  
less ?an tw5ty ye>s & n m ?an & ins]t+ =
 any t]m ( ye>s or =2  7,c7 by /rik+ ( n
 less ?an #aj ye>s & n m ?an & ins]t+ = 
any t]m ( ye>s or to2  7,d7 by /rik+ &  
if dea? or s]i\s bodily injury results f
 ! use ( su* sub/ance %all be s5t5c$ to 
life imprisonm5t2 &  7,e7 by /rik+ !    
s5t5ce beg9n+ ,not)/&+ any o!r provision
 ( law & ! s5t5ce beg9n+ ,no p]son      
s5t5c$2 &  7#c7 9 p>agraph 7#c71 by     
/rik+ ( n less ?an tw5ty ye>s & n m ?an 
life & ins]t+ = any t]m or ye>s or =    
life4  7d7 ,section #dah ,section #dah (
 ! ,controll$ ,sub/ances ,act 7#ba      
,u4,s4,c4 #hei7 is am5d$ by /rik+ !     
s5t5ce beg9n+ ,except to ! ext5t ea*    
place x appe>s & by /rik+ ! s5t5ce      
beg9n+ ,! m&atory m9imum4  7e7 ,section 
#dai ,section #dai ( ! ,controll$       
,sub/ances ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #hfj7 is 

am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ ! s5t5ce beg9n+   
,except to ! ext5t ea* place x appe>s & 
by /rik+ ! s5t5ce beg9n+ ,! m&atory     
m9imum2 &  7#b7 by /rik+ subsection 7d74
  7f7 ,section #dbj ,section #dbj ( !   
,controll$ ,sub/ances ,act 7#ba         
,u4,s4,c4 #hfa7 is am5d$--  7#a7 9 ea* (
 subsections 7b7 & 7c71 by /rik+ !      
s5t5ce beg9n+ ,except to ! ext5t2  7#b7 
by /rik+ subsection 7e72 &  7#c7 9      
subsection 7f71 by /rik+ 1 7c71 & 7e7 & 
ins]t+ & 7c74